When you can't "see" a character

[Djmac1031]

One option - one that may not fit your narrative - is to describe something that she does/participates in that tends to conjure an image in the mind.
Revealing that she is - or was - a shot-putter or a gymnast or fitness competitor or marathoner or runway model or etc.) is enough.

Excellent suggestion. Will definitely consider.

 

[SimonDoom]

I am seriously considering this approach, too.

Like I said, I have done it before and it worked out fine.


I'm also really trying for a different feel for this one. Less Tab A / Slot B, more feelings and emotions.

We'll see how that works out of course

This can be a fun and interesting challenge. I just finished reading a few Henry James stories, and he goes into great detail about all the nuances about what characters are thinking and feeling, but without much physical description, either of the characters, or of much else. I've always wondered how he would write a sex scene. There would be no tabs or slots, for certain. You could try something like that: just focus on the emotions and thoughts without getting into the physicality of it. It could be a fun change.

 

[EmilyMiller]

With women characters, it varies; some I write VERY detailed, like Jenna, or Sister Emily.

Kiernan Shipka can play Sister Emily as well .

Em

 

[Bazzle]

So I'm experiencing an interesting conundrum while writing a new story idea.

I have a pretty good handle on the plot; what I want to happen, the conflicts, the resolution.

I also know my two main characters personalities pretty well; who I want them to be.

My problem is... I'm not SEEING them. Physically. Especially my female lead.

Is she tall? Short? Slim? Curvy? Petite?

What color are her eyes? Her hair?

I'm not even sure how big her boobs are yet lol.

I think part of my problem is I'm trying too hard not to borrow from characters I've already created, not to repeat myself, or make her too similar to them.

I've worked around this in the past by keeping physical descriptions to a bare minimum with Chloe in The White Room. And many readers complimented me on letting them form their own vision of her in their heads.

For this new story though, I think I'm gonna need more than just a vague description, especially since the first part will be about her and the male lead loosing their virginity together. It's told from his POV and I think he'd wanna relay more details than "she had nice breasts."

I think my solution for now is to simply write it vague and get the story out.

Perhaps she will form more clearly in my head as I do that, and I can always go back and add more details.

Curious if anyone else has this issue sometimes, and how you resolve it.

I tend to try and work out what underwear she is wearing, if any, then has she painted her toes...because I'm looking at her feet are they slim or chubby, as that then builds their legs. So then we get to the hips... And on it goes until she runs her hands through her blonde/red/brunette hair.

 

[intim8]

I almost always leave my MMC descriptions vague, especially the ones told from his POV.

And my rationale for that was simple: it let's guy readers pretend they're my character easier.

It's also technically clunky to have a character describe themselves. It's always looking in a mirror, or other reflective surface, and that gets tropey really fast.

 

[Djmac1031]

Kiernan Shipka can play Sister Emily as well .

Em

Had to Google her. But I suppose I can see that.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Whenever I'm having trouble describing something, I'll look to excerpts from my favorite writers to read how they wrote about their characters. Sometimes I'll steal...

If I were in your shoes trying to visualize a female character - I'll go through excerpts from my favorite books about my favorite female characters. I'll copy paste them into a word document, then go down the quotes and highlight all the little details I love. It's a fun exercise.

As an example, here's Holly Golightly by Truman Capote:

“She was still on the stairs, now she reached the landing, and the ragbag colours of her boy’s hair, tawny streaks, strands of albino blond and yellow, caught the hall light. It was a warm evening, nearly summer, and she wore a slim cool black dress, black sandals, a pearl choker. For all her chic thinness, she had an almost breakfast-cereal air of health, a soap and lemon cleanness, a rough pink darkening in the cheeks. Her mouth was large, her nose upturned. A pair of dark glasses blotted out her eyes. It was a face beyond childhood, yet this side of belonging to a woman. I thought her anywhere between sixteen and thirty; as it turned out, she was shy two months of her nineteenth birthday.”

*Edit to show how I would go through and highlight the details I love (and may steal). So then I'll go through many excerpts from many different authors this way until I feel inspired. It sounds tiresome, but I really love doing this.

Now that is writing!!!!

Em

 

[AG31]

My problem is... I'm not SEEING them. Physically. Especially my female lead.

For this new story though, I think I'm gonna need more than just a vague description, especially since the first part will be about her and the male lead loosing their virginity together.

Curious if anyone else has this issue sometimes, and how you resolve it.

I have a similar problem that's not going away. I have what's called aphantasia. That is, I don't form visual images in my brain. For those that do (most people) this is a little hard to imagine. Anyway, I don't describe my characters at all, beyond saying that they're well built and handsome. I don't KNOW what they look like. I've never gotten criticized for this, although I've gotten a lot of other criticisms ("don't say enough about what they're feeling.") People can fill in their own visual ideas.

So for this particular story, go with SimonDoom's advice.

Take it as a sign from your muse that you're not SUPPPOSED to have any picture of this character.

 

[EmilyMiller]

It's also technically clunky to have a character describe themselves. It's always looking in a mirror, or other reflective surface, and that gets tropey really fast.

Maybe it’s tropey too, but I’ve had my MMC watch a movie and compare herself to an actress in it (not an actual celebrity).

Em

 

[EmilyMiller]

Had to Google her. But I suppose I can see that.

What do you watch? Oh right Ahsoka .

Em

 

[ElectricBlue]

The opposite. I see people on the street, or in pictures, and my mind just starts making up a back story for them. Sometimes that becomes a story I'll actually type out.

Same. If I don't have an image of a character in mind, I can't write them. Once I get going with a character, I'll usually go find images, "Yes, that looks like her." Unless they're based on real life, then I don't need to.

 

[Djmac1031]

This can be a fun and interesting challenge. I just finished reading a few Henry James stories, and he goes into great detail about all the nuances about what characters are thinking and feeling, but without much physical description, either of the characters, or of much else. I've always wondered how he would write a sex scene. There would be no tabs or slots, for certain. You could try something like that: just focus on the emotions and thoughts without getting into the physicality of it. It could be a fun change.

Without delving too deep into the premise, the first section will feature the characters when younger...18 of course.

Lifelong friends, deciding to try out this sex thing.

I want it different from the norm. I actually want to write a scene of two good friends with no idea what they're doing trying to figure it out.

I want it sweetly awkward, clumsy but funny. They're going to struggle, laugh, accidentally hurt each other a little, etc.

They're going to enjoy it in the end. But I don't want "Two teens suddenly become marathon porn stars."

There will be a second part, later, when they're older. That might be a more typical sex scene.

 

[ElectricBlue]

When I have written male voice, I’ve had multiple people call me out for the MMC noticing too many details about clothes.

I figure my MMCs are metrosexual.

Em

I'm a shocker for doing that. I blame my daughter, she got right into fashion as a teenager. I'd sit and watch America Next Top Model with her.

 

[intim8]

Without delving too deep into the premise, the first section will feature the characters when younger...18 of course.

Lifelong friends, deciding to try out this sex thing.

I want it different from the norm. I actually want to write a scene of two good friends with no idea what they're doing trying to figure it out.

I want it sweetly awkward, clumsy but funny. They're going to struggle, laugh, accidentally hurt each other a little, etc.

They're going to enjoy it in the end. But I don't want "Two teens suddenly become marathon porn stars."

There will be a second part, later, when they're older. That might be a more typical sex scene.

You just described my "Last Summer" story.
Edit: I'm NOT telling you not to go with it. Everybody's story is different.

 

[Djmac1031]

You just described my "Last Summer" story.
Edit: I'm NOT telling you not to go with it. Everybody's story is different.

I may check it out. I'll try not to steal anything from you

 

[intim8]

I'll try not to steal anything from you

Steal away. It's the best compliment you could give. It's not stealing, its an 'homage"

 

[pink_silk_glove]

When I read a story, if there isn't a clear description of a character within the first few pages I create an image in my mind and then get mad when the writer adds descriptions that don't match up with mine.

Totally agree. When a writer says that they like to leave the descriptions sparse so that the reader can fill in their own ideal, that's a cop-out. The reader shouldn't have to do that work. The reader needs pictures in their head formed by what you describe. When I meet a cast of characters with little to no physical descriptions I can't tell them apart. Describe the setting so that we can imagine that we are really there and describe he people so that we can imagine them before our eyes. You're a writer. It's your job to do it. Tell us who is there, where they are and what they are doing. Don't make the readers fill in any blanks. Let them sit back and watch the show.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Oh, lord, I looked at her and went blind. My eyes, my eyes, I can't see the love of my life. What a cold, cruel trick.

So I'm experiencing an interesting conundrum while writing a new story idea.

I have a pretty good handle on the plot; what I want to happen, the conflicts, the resolution.

I also know my two main characters personalities pretty well; who I want them to be.

My problem is... I'm not SEEING them. Physically. Especially my female lead.

Is she tall? Short? Slim? Curvy? Petite?

What color are her eyes? Her hair?

I'm not even sure how big her boobs are yet lol.

I think part of my problem is I'm trying too hard not to borrow from characters I've already created, not to repeat myself, or make her too similar to them.

I've worked around this in the past by keeping physical descriptions to a bare minimum with Chloe in The White Room. And many readers complimented me on letting them form their own vision of her in their heads.

For this new story though, I think I'm gonna need more than just a vague description, especially since the first part will be about her and the male lead loosing their virginity together. It's told from his POV and I think he'd wanna relay more details than "she had nice breasts."

I think my solution for now is to simply write it vague and get the story out.

Perhaps she will form more clearly in my head as I do that, and I can always go back and add more details.

Curious if anyone else has this issue sometimes, and how you resolve it.

I couldn't resist please forgive me.

 

[Djmac1031]

When a writer says that they like to leave the descriptions sparse so that the reader can fill in their own ideal, that's a cop-out

Going to respectfully disagree. Although I get your point, especially in stories with larger casts. We need to be able to tell characters apart.

But there's also a case to be made for the "less is more" approach. I suppose in the end, it depends on the story for me.

 

[Djmac1031]

Oh, lord, I looked at her and went blind. My eyes, my eyes, I can't see the love of my life. What a cold, cruel trick.

I couldn't resist please forgive me.

I suppose it's better than going with the more obvious joke about masturbating too much making me go blind

 

[MillieDynamite]

I managed to resist that one.

I suppose it's better than going with the more obvious joke about masturbating too much making me go blind

 

[Rob_Royale]

Watch a few 70s/80s Burt Reynolds movies. Hotties galore.

 

[Zootonius]

What’s wrong with writing clothes? It’s fun.

Em

In fact, I pay attention to what the woman is wearing. Someone undressing a lover for the first time! So, I do look at women's clothing ads, silk blouses, V-necks, etc. to get some idea. It allows the undressing to at least sound credible.

 

[Djmac1031]

Watch a few 70s/80s Burt Reynolds movies. Hotties galore.

Hmm.... my setting IS in the 80s...

 

[intim8]

When a writer says that they like to leave the descriptions sparse so that the reader can fill in their own ideal, that's a cop-out. The reader shouldn't have to do that work. The reader needs pictures in their head formed by what you describe.

It's not work. It's what most readers do anyway. If you overdescribe, you risk conflicting with their own imagery. Yes, you have to distinguish the characters and set a general type that fits what you want the character to be, but that can be done with a few details while leaving most of the specifics to the reader's imagination. You couldn't put the picture in their heads if you tried -- that's not how it works; that's not how any of this works -- you give them enough for them to build a picture from that is their version of what you want your character to be.