Character Descriptions?

[smMiller]

So I've always found it hard to incorporate character descriptions without them feeling like I'm stopping the story, giving the description, then starting the story again. Especially in situations that introduce a lot of characters to the story but are not being introduced to the main character or group of characters. I was wondering how everyone else dealt with character descriptions?

[Lykaios]

I generally . . . don't. Most people create their own images of characters, regardless of what the author writes, so I don't feel it's entirely necessary to fully describe someone. The important things can be shown in actions, speech, movements, etc, and images form as you get to know the characters. Unless some part of another character's image is important to my MC, I don't go into terrible detail. Cameo characters who I won't ever see again in the story, will be described with the bare minimum - my character won't remember them forever, so the reader shouldn't need to either. But it's always good to avoid the whole 'he/she has _____ hair, ____ eyes, and [inserts distinguishing feature/item of clothing]' because that's boring and well overdone.

[katanasky]

Here, see the difference:

Tyler's eyes widened as he took in the girl. Her electric green eyes briefly met his and she brushed a lock of auburn hair back. It seemed to be in slow motion to Tyler. She wasn't too tall, but she seemed perfect in a way that seemed graceful and coordinated at the same time. Her perfect teeth chewed her bottom lip as she glanced around the crowded room. The one empty desk was by Tyler. He gulped.

And...

The girl had auburn hair and green eyes, she bit her lip as she looked around the room. She was graceful and co ordinated. The one empty desk was beside Tyler. He gulped.

Hope that helped, but more importantly, just practice. When you see a stranger somewhere just take a second and note what you first notice, height, hair, eyes, and that should help too. So... hoped I helped.

-katanasky

[Dabs]

Here, see the difference:

Tyler's eyes widened as he took in the girl. Her electric green eyes briefly met his and she brushed a lock of auburn hair back. It seemed to be in slow motion to Tyler. She wasn't too tall, but she seemed perfect in a way that seemed graceful and coordinated at the same time. Her perfect teeth chewed her bottom lip as she glanced around the crowded room. The one empty desk was by Tyler. He gulped.

And...

The girl had auburn hair and green eyes, she bit her lip as she looked around the room. She was graceful and co ordinated. The one empty desk was beside Tyler. He gulped.

Hope that helped, but more importantly, just practice. When you see a stranger somewhere just take a second and note what you first notice, height, hair, eyes, and that should help too. So... hoped I helped.

-katanasky

The second one is the better one, just so you know. It seems like you were trying to make it sound worse, but it's not. You don't want detail to clutter up the flow of the story, and you don't want to describe things in a melodramatic fashion.

Give sparse, precise details and you'll paint a vivid picture without stopping the story. This is where a thesaurus might come in handy. And one detail can create a whole image. Like if your character has red hair then he/she probably has fair skin, too, and if, say, they have an irish name, then maybe they have freckles, and maybe their face looks a certain way--but you won't have to describe any of this because it's implied through the smaller details.

[Georgy]

The second one is the better one, just so you know. It seems like you were trying to make it sound worse, but it's not. You don't want detail to clutter up the flow of the story, and you don't want to describe things in a melodramatic fashion.

Give sparse, precise details and you'll paint a vivid picture without stopping the story. This is where a thesaurus might come in handy. And one detail can create a whole image. Like if your character has red hair then he/she probably has fair skin, too, and if, say, they have an irish name, then maybe they have freckles, and maybe their face looks a certain way--but you won't have to describe any of this because it's implied through the smaller details.

Hi,Dabs. It would be better call you Sherlock Holmes. Excellent deduction. But what if your reader is Dr Watson?:D

[Dabs]

Hi,Dabs. It would be better call you Sherlock Holmes. Excellent deduction. But what if your reader is Dr Watson?:D

Then I suppose he might concur with my deduction, foil me in some way, or attempt to persuade me not to consume cocaine.

[Georgy]

Then I suppose he might concur with my deduction, foil me in some way, or attempt to persuade me not to consume cocaine.

Ha,ha, ha, you'll be the death of me yet. When you become a famous writer, you'll have not one Watsonlike reader, I think, but a bunch of ingenuous admirers, ocean of fans.
You will be pleased to experience the contrast when your deduction is humbly accepted. But what would you say when you see crowds of people, wandering around your house and shouting: " Hey, Debbie, don't drink too much coffee. This is bad for your health! Don't sit long at the computer. It hurts your eyesight!"
Thousands "moms", buzzing under your windows. :D