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Position:Home>Books & Authors> When writing a novel in the first person, how do you establish what a characterQuestion: When writing a novel in the first person, how do you establish what a character looks like!? I'm currently writing a novel from the characters' points of view and I've run into a problem!. What is the best way to establish what the characters look like!?
I've read novels where the character in question describes how OTHERS look, but very rarely, how they themselves look!. Www@QuestionHome@Com Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I've noticed, in those sorts of stories, the character's physical characteristics usually reveal themselves slowly, giving hints here and there!. How they may dress themselves, descriptions of morning grooming, mentioning physical attributes while comparing them to other characters!. Describing other characters reactions to the main character can help as well, like " I could only imagine what thoughts were running through her mind at the sight of me, a tall, lean!.!.!.etc!. etc!.!.!."!. Little hints through out the story will keep the image fresh, if you simply describe the character once, the reader may lose touch!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Maybe this is a little juvenile, but you have you thought about the character looking in a mirror!? If not that, then maybe it could be brought up in some way that is in reference to other characters!. Perhaps they could be talking about a family member, and think about the differences between the father's or mother's appearance to their own!. I think it's a valid question you ask, but often I find that when a book is written in first person, the appearance doesn't really matter too much beyond if it's a male or female, because as the character is explaining their viewpoints about things, you get a deeper sense of who they are, beyond the physical description!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Why is it important how a character looks!? Is that integral to the story!? I think skillfully developing the character so that the reader would be able to use their own imagination of how he/she looks is more important!. If you MUST describe, you could do it a dialogue from another character's view point: "You know, I think you would look so much better if you put some highlights in that mousy brown hair of yours," Sarah stated as she sized me up!. I advise against using the 'looking in the mirror' technique unless you can really pull it off!. It's cheesy and cliche!. Www@QuestionHome@Com I personally add bits here and there, that way the reader knows what he/she/it looks like without just saying it!. You can also have him/her/it just say it in the beginning as if that person is writing a essay of something like that even though he isn't!. One more way is that you can describe another character close to the main and casually add it in there!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Don't use the mirror one!.!.!. While it would work, it's kind of cliche and a little too obvious!. I think the best way would be for you to reveal parts of the character's appearance gradually!. Usually, when I'm working on a piece, I have someone else say things about the characters appearance!. It works a lot better if that person is in a romantic relationship with the main character!.Couples occasionally flatter each other on their appearanceWww@QuestionHome@Com When im writing i have the same problem, but i do it by what others say to them, like "your hair is getting too long - and did you have to die it black!?" or "Wow you've grown! You must me 6 foot now!" or you could just make the main character look in a mirror, or if it is a diary they could make a quick note or moan about there appearance!. or they could flick there ginger hair out of there eyes, or they wear high heels just so they can look taller, or they've joined a gym because they are a bit on the chubby side - hope i helped! and good look with your book :PWww@QuestionHome@Com The suggestions already posted of having your character look into the mirror or compare him or herself to parents or siblings are great ideas!. even comparing to people in the street!.!.!. capturing their reflection in a shop window as they go by!.!.!. eg!. as i rushed down the busy streeets, surrounded by people, cars, noises etc i turned the corner to notice my long blonde hair being wisped behind me( OR some other chracteristic) in a reflection of shop window typical i thought to myself, i look as stressed as i feel!.!.!.!. ( i think the idea of writing in first person is more about seeing the world and people around them from a personal perspective!. to build your character progressivley, so that with each event, each glimpse, more about your charachter is revealed!. i hope this helps, but im no expert either!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Adding by bits and pieces works well!. "I can't buy that shirt, brown doesn't look good with the black hair!.!.!." The mirror thing is very corny!. You can also use surroundings to compare with!.Www@QuestionHome@Com when they wake up one day and look in the morning and are like critisizing themselves or if they have a high self esteem then they would praise how they look!.!? work!?!? =DWww@QuestionHome@Com You could always work it in as that char!. is describing the other characters!.Www@QuestionHome@Com |