Sparkatale

Hmm, not really good at this either, but when i create my protagonist i try to keep him under one attitude or character for example a person with an anger issue, or a hermit sorta personality, and i try to either get them to change or have them get worst until he/she is in a life or death choice where they have to either go up or down :) Best thing is to read up other stories and study characters that different authors write, and try to see if you can identify and use the type of persona the author has given the character within that story. Hope this helps, cuz i'm not good myself :(.

F.D. Charles | September 17, 2013

I agree with FD Charles in that last bit. I think everyone does it different and you have to find what works for you. I know I usually try to use some sort of action to at least get a bit of their description out right away and then refine it as the first chapter progresses. It's amazing how something as simple as scratching a beard or tucking hair behind an ear can at least get a reader thinking about the gender of the character and basic coloring. Even using stereotypes with nationalities can (though your story is a fantasy so that might not work). I personally like the way Terry Goodkind writes his if you're looking for an example.

D.M. Gergen | September 18, 2013

Thanks for the advice! In one of my stories I tried to use names as a tale-tell sign that my main character was a female i.e. "Taya" but I guess that name isn't female enough, I'm not entirely sure. But as you said most of my stories are fantasy and in my stories they have no nationalities or races or any of the other cumbersome differences that humans have to deal with, just types based off of powers or size and abilities. I am hesitant to try and explain even those differences right off because I don't want the readers to try and stick any sort of stereotypes on any of my characters. That is why I go out of my way to make it more about the individual character and their surroundings. I can, however, try and make the sex of the character known a bit quicker. Thanks again for the comment.

Elizia Brittian | October 1, 2013

And FD Charles you're too modest. I thought yours were pretty good.

D.M. Gergen | September 18, 2013

Thanks for the advice! I'll have to get back to my reading. My anatomy class has been taking up so much of my time that I haven't had the chance to read OR write anything in awhile! But being that my stories are usually in present tense first person and most of the books that I read are in the past tense I'll have to try and find a non-obnoxious way to introduce their looks and etc. Thanks again for your help.

Elizia Brittian | October 1, 2013

I like to describe my characters as they come into the story. a lot of authors don't do this, but I prefer descriptive writing and don't like stories that don't paint a clear picture in my head, so I want to describe the characters as they appear. Just cover hair color, gender, eye color and other necessary descriptive traits for starters, and add anything else you want to add to make that character unique. You don't want them to sound all the same. ^^

A . Nonymous | September 18, 2013

Thank you for commenting! I like that idea but being that my stories are in first person present tense I don't think that will come off the right way to the readers. I don't want to come off as obnoxious or anything. (Unless I am purposely making my characters personality that way.) I try to use the other characters to describe what my main character looks like. Like the occasional compliment or description of "fire red hair" etc. I guess I will just have to figure out how to do it sooner. Thanks again for commenting.

Elizia Brittian | October 1, 2013

Well, this is a unique subject, since anything you do isn't necessarily right or wrong. It differs from one person to the next, so I can't exactly tell you what would be good for YOU, as an individual. But I CAN tell you what helps for me-or what I do, any who. I tend to give a simple description of the said person first, like a rather...simple subjective view. Then I do an objective view. And, since I'm a rather vivid, imagery person, I add whatever I think fits. Any who: What does your character (The main character) think about the side character, or the minor main character? What does he/she see? Desire? Imagine? Etcetera. Or, if describing the main character-if it's in first person, you may just want to full-out SAY what your character thinks/does/remembers/etc.-in third person, make minor moves, like, habits and such. Personalize your characters! Give them an individualized feeling, meaning, don't make any two characters EXACTLY the same. Whether the characters are talking, doing something, or etc., they shall have a WAY of doing it, separating them from others. Any who, I know this isn't very good, but I hope that it helps.

K M Rowe | September 21, 2013

Is your story in first person or second person? And what tense is it written in if you don't mind me asking? I find it difficult to do some suggestions given to me because of the fact that I write in first person present tense. I do realize that I need to better describe my main characters and their housing/ surroundings because as I have gone back over my stories I realize that I can visualize what everything looks like but thats because I made them! I don't go into enough depth with the descriptions. I will have to practice this. Thanks for your help.

Elizia Brittian | October 1, 2013

I think it's been pretty thoroughly covered already- description or the lack thereof is really a stylistic choice. You look at C.S. Lewis' works, and you find up-close and personal descriptions of all his characters up-front, and little mentioned afterwards, while Tolkien preferred to describe the setting are great length (emphasis on length) but spent almost no time at all on the characters. All writing appeals to the senses, but there are five of them, plus emotional, cognitive, theoretical, academic and artistic tastes. How you describe something (or don't) will determine to which sense or taste you're appealing. If you want to be visual in your characters and setting, then it would be a good idea to describe them, but if you want to focus on action rather than exposition, then you have to alter the style of your description to match the goal of your writing. It all comes down to this; who are you writing for, and what do you want to say?

Eleanor Damaschke | September 28, 2013

Thanks for your help. I pretty sure I've mentioned what tense and etc my stories enough in previous comments (lol) so I will take your advice into much needed consideration. Thanks again.

Elizia Brittian | October 1, 2013

I'm the type to sort of drag it out over time. unfortunately sometimes you don't realize a character had that trait until it changes because of that though so I need to work on it >.<

Omar Scriven | September 30, 2013

Thanks for commenting!

Elizia Brittian | October 1, 2013

no problem. although I wasn't too helpful I think '>.>

Omar Scriven | October 2, 2013

Thank you all for taking the time to comment and give advice! I greatly appreciate it!

Elizia Brittian | October 1, 2013

I do character descriptions depending on the genre and the story itself. I also think about how its written. like if its in 1st person or not. hope this was useful for you ^__^

Emma Amos | October 14, 2013

That's my style I believe. I write all of my stories in first person. It appears that this method is rather unusual according to most writers but that's the style I like most. I need help getting enough detail out there early enough is I guess my problem. Thanks for commenting.

Elizia Brittian | October 23, 2013

Generally speaking, one of the best ways to give descriptors while in first person is to have a "mirror scene" early on [basically your first person narrator comes across a mirror and comments on their appearance as they see it] or to describe it through dialogue of the people they meet. This requires certain circumstances, and I wouldn't try it unless you can manage to make the dialogue sound natural, but I know one of my friends managed this well in the first chapter of her story.

Melody Hallows | November 9, 2013

The mirror scene is too cliche (did it a couple of times). In my opinion the best it to introduce the character features in a subtle way, gradually instead of dumping a full-blown description paragraph.

Malgorzata Wyrwas | January 12, 2014

Thank you very much for your input. I agree with your methods but it seems most feel like it should be dumped on the reader in the beginning. I have to find a healthy medium.

Elizia Brittian | January 12, 2014

For me, at least, I don't do much in the way of physical character descriptions. I also write in first person and find that it's sometimes really unnecessary to shoehorn in a really detailed self-description from the protagonist. I can absolutely destroy the flow of the chapter. I know that it can be very tempting to describe this person who means so much to you in great detail. You created this character after all. But I find it best to give a few basic details and allow the readers to take it from there. Its better for the flow of your book and allows the readers to relate better to the character when they have more control over his or her physical description. 

Ean Arnold | September 15, 2014