Character Description

I really don't do much for physical description unless it's plot relevant. It's because my writing style doesn't seem to leave room for physical description, and also I'm mostly writing fanfiction and therefore am dealing with canon characters. I do describe original characters, but again with just plot relevant details.

Also, I think physical description was advised against many times in all the years I've spent reading about writing, so I've been trained not to have it in there unless it's important to know.

i tend to use physical description often, or i at least try to. i'm trying to more often now. i think i tend to leave it out by habit, i'm not sure why.

I usually just use face claims for my characters. I'm really bad at explaining what they look like and everything. :c

Like Astinus, lately I haven't done too much physical descriptions as they tend to be canon characters and if their looks will be plot relevant. On my most recent works I perhaps mention a thing or two on their looks and what they're wearing, though that's usually if a character recognizes that person and such.

Bardothren said:

Without that sensory detail, your story may as well feature source less voices in a colorless, empty box.

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Sensory detail is definitely useful, but it doesn't have to come from how the characters look. It can come from the setting or action as well. I'm also of the opinion that if the characters' voices and personalities are sufficiently well defined, then readers won't have any trouble imagining them to have an appearance that's appropriate to the character, and moreover that they won't notice or mind.

The approach I usually take is to try to convey a complete emotional picture of a character, and to include physical description only where it contributes to that emotional picture. For example, I might include height if a character has a complex about being short, or maybe I'll mention the difference in height and physique between two characters if it affects the power dynamic between them. By default I leave height and basically any other physical descriptor out unless I think of a character- or plot-based reason to include them. Speaking anecdotally, I've never gotten a complaint for leaving out characters' physical descriptions, even in stories where I gave their rough ages and genders and that's it.

I used to be really ham about describing characters, because I was more used to drawing and therefore having an exact picture of them, but now I narrow it down to specific physical details, ie bright red frizzy hair, a scar taking up half their face...

I usually just do a general body description; hair, eyes, female's mouths, body type i.e. weight and height and so on. If there's something important or different about them though I'll touch in on that, such as a limp, missing limb, lazy eye or a piece of jewelry.

Especially for more romantic writing I don't like when people skimp out on more intricate facial and hand features and also the way that people don't describe the way that someone's face appears in climactic moments.

I honestly don't know how most of the characters look like in stories I've read, unless I've seen some piece of art of them. I rarely remember the intricacies of the description anyway, so while stuff like 'long blonde hair' will stay with me, descriptions that take more than two or three paragraphs are generally quickly forgotten. Especially because as soon as the description starts to sound even just vaguely like a character I know, or an actor, their face just takes its place. Because of that, I don't really use very detailed descriptions in my writing either. A quick rundown of the list of general features such as length, weight and hairstyle and color, and anything that is meant to stand out, but other than that, I try to keep it down.