Character descriptions: is less more?
By Awinds
@Awinds (2468)
United States
August 27, 2011 11:46pm CST
I keep seeing contradictory advise all over the web on this. Some say that to much description of a character's looks, traits and clothes drags down the story and is the sign of an amateur writer. The people who take up this position say less is more. Just a few details on your character's appearance is enough they say. Spare the audience and let them use their imaginations to fill in the details.
Then there is the second camp. These people say that more is...more. Writers should feel free to go into extreme detail. They should describe liberally and in great amounts. They say that character descriptions can be a valuable narrative tool and can actually add to the story a lot, so why not use that tool?
What do you think? It is best to be sparing or thorough when describing characters? Is less more or is more, more? Which method do you like more: describing the bear essentials or describing lots of detail?
2 people like this
9 responses
@samafayla33 (1856)
• United States
28 Aug 11
from what i am told, "show don't tell" if you show from another looking at a photo or a distinguishing article of clothing, anatomy like nose, very thin lips and a long mouth a weird scar somewhere that distinguishes some character without giving too much away too soon. You want to reveal your character not give him away all at once, good luck to you
@SpikeTheLobster (6403)
•
28 Aug 11
I'm with samafayla on this one - less is more. I read an excellent article on this recently, where the author suggested writing it ALL down for yourself, then using bits and pieces where appropriate. You need to know all about the person and you need to reveal enough that the reader knows what kind of person the character is - but knowing everything is too much. A simple descriptive word or three in phrases - combing unruly hair, the habit of sticking their thumb through the hole in the end of their sleeve that's always there whatever they wear, unmatched socks, Gucci shoes and so on - makes all the difference.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Aug 11
I would says it depends. For instance, if the character is a historian, he would observe what the other character looked like as would be someone who is a detective. I would suppose if you had to know the character's description so someone would say , "Aha Lord Balfour, I know it was you by your red tartan and your large nose," but you wrote that Gordie Calhougn also had a red tartan, and a large nose, but he had grey eyes whereas Lord Balfours eyes were blue.
I do believe a little description is also fine if by note doing, the reader is going assume a different nationality or race of the character then what the author intended.
And that would be a disaster when the novel goes to the screen.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
30 Aug 11
I am also thinking of mistaken identity. Saying that you have to use the power of imagination of the reader is just as wrong as giving a full description that sort of reminds me of the romantic novels where the heroine gazed into the mirror and saw her lucious red hair, her full bosom, her green eyes, and the green bodice with the pearl inlays as she waited for Lord Falstaff to appear.
I think of description of how someone passes the character and sees the most important as well as some that may be like someone else. I think ethnicity is important, because a wrong description might make people think different of the outcome. For instance, if I was writing a character who had dark black hair, olive skin and lived in Atlanta, and forgot that part about his thin lips, slightly hooked nose, someone would have the idea that he was black, rather then Jewish. And if he is being persecuted for something he did not do, would think it is because he is black, not because he helped the Nazis in World War II and sent many of his friends to the gas chamber.
(Sounds like a pretty good story.) So instead of a story about retaliation it becomes the story of a victim. So in some cases, you have to have more detailed character description.
@Awinds (2468)
• United States
29 Aug 11
No one has mentioned that great point yet! :) It can vary by character. And you have another great point: if more should be done with the novel, like turning it into a movie, the potential for grave errors exists. That of course would cause the ire of the fans which would bode badly for the movie.
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
28 Aug 11
I think it would be better to give the description of a character, as this will give a chance to the reader to visualise better about the character.
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
29 Aug 11
I think, as much details could be given so that a reader could 'understand' the character, there is no limit. I love reading graphic details about a character.
@BeckyAnn (265)
• United States
2 Sep 11
There's a happy medium in there that works best. Here's what I do for the most part:
Before I write, I compose a long and complete list or paragraph describing everything about each of my important characters. I do this for personality as well, but I use that differently than this.
On introduction, describe in some detail their most striking features (through the eyes of the narrator when I write in limited third person or first person).
Throughout the rest of the story, mention little details in passing when they're relevant--if the character has a beauty mark, a moment when two characters are close to each other may be a good time to point it out; or describing the way their hair is styled when a character does something to draw attention to it: "She brushed her chestnut curls over her shoulder nonchalantly."
I find that that kind of method avoids long, Mary-Sue sounding descriptions and generally improves the flow of the story.
@celticeagle (159008)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Aug 11
Less is always more when writing. Finding the right word instead of writing sentence after sentence trying to describe a character. There is also activity and dialogue that teachs the reader about the character. You can give alot of detail in alot of ways. Not just description.
@maezee (41997)
• United States
29 Aug 11
I'm not a writer, not really, but I used to be an avid reader (I'm trying to get back into it, I have been lately that is). I enjoy a little bit of a balance in that. I mean, essential information is necessary, but I feel like a little mystery added to it is key as well - just because if you lay it all out on the table, there's no room for imagination or a plotline! *shrugs*. That's my theory anyway!
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
28 Aug 11
There is a fine line to watch out for. As a voracious reader my whole life, there needs to be enough information to depict the scene and draw the reader into the story. Too much can be overwhelming, but enough needs to be shown so the reader IS able to fill in the blanks. It depends on the scene and how important it is. An unbiased reader can help you with that. It is hard to edit your own work.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
28 Aug 11
I like it when a character is described to a tee, so I can picture him or her. for a few years I had a great fun trying to cast the main character of the Lawrence Sanders books. Why? because he was described so well in the books.
@HeartROB (434)
• Philippines
28 Aug 11
For me, a lot of character description is really important in writing a story. It really gives the eccentricity of the character of your own story. A detailed character description helps you think or imagine a character that is only existing in your own story.
On the other hand, less detail in character description gives away the eccentricity of your character. It feels like i am reading a character from the another story. For example, the character from story1 feels like it is the same in story2. Therefore, for me, more detailed character description is better.
