Question by : When and how should I describe my MC?
I am wondering how I should describe my main character and when? Like what she looks like.
@Katniss-LOL so sorry. I wanted to change my avatar 😛
Best answer:
Answer by Meagon Lee
It all depend on how you write and your story. There is no “real” answer to this question. Just throw it in somewhere and if you don’t like it you can go back and edit it later.
Good luck. Have fun!
What do you think? Answer below!
Throughout the whole novel. It should flow. The reader should know about the MC bit by bit in each chapter or part. So the first chapter you can start simple. Don’t be too obvious. For ex: 16-year-old Sally looked out the window. She could almost see her reflection through the glass. Her brown eyes, dark brown hair and fair skin blah blah… You know what I’m saying? Be discreet. Show their personality through dialogue. How they speak with other people. How they react to things. That will show clearly how their personality is. As for physical, you can go slow. Maybe mention their parents eye color. ” Sally looked into her mother’s deep chocolate brown eyes, the same as hers.” It sounds much better instead of saying “Sally had brown eyes.” So the point is, don’t show the character’s personality and physical description in just the beginning. Build on it. So that in the end, the reader can know almost everything about the character. Good luck!
haha, at first i saw the little blue person sign next to your name (contact symbol) and i was like…omg..who is that who is that who is that…and im like racking my brain thinking of how i know you. then i look @ your profile and it says “previously Black Swan” and im like *phew* ok im not losing it.
to answer your question, i usually describe my character in the first or second chapter. but NOT bluntly. the all time cliche way is to conveniently say “i looked in the mirror and noticed my honey blonde hair dangling wretchedly in front of my full, pink lips.” no. just no.
another no-no is getting ready in the morning. “i sraightened by golden hair, applied mascara to my fabulous hazel eyes, and touched up the blemishes on my tan skin. then i was ready.” ew..
tip: dont describe everything at once: my lips are this, my hair is this, my body type is this. just make little references in between conversation. so, say 2 characters are having an intense conversation. “suppressing hiccups of sadness, i pushed my auburn hair out of my face, took a deep breath and started again. “i was at the party last night.” i told her” see? easy. notice i didnt say “i pushed my auburn hair that matched my fair skin and piercing blue eyes” perhaps in the next chapter, you reveal the eye color. “She stared into my intensely ominous brown eyes. i tried to glare her into confession, but she was stubborn.” for skin type you could have the other character say “oh wow! you’re skin is SO tan. im jealous” or “dude, you seriously need to hit the beach and tan”
goodluck, Black Swan!