As a Author and Reader, do you like describing Looks and reading Looks?

[Baztrachian]

I tend to stop reading when someone feels it necessary to open their story with a description of a woman with absurdly large breasts. As in '50DDD' or some shit like that.

However, if they do so in context like in describing how she has backaches, can't find a decent bra that doesn't cause back and shoulder pain, etc. then I may continue reading.

 

[Nynah]

I try not to line-item character descriptions right out the gate when I'm writing a story. When I am providing what they look like, I don't use quantitative measurements because I think those are a little tacky, but I will describe basics like eye and hair color and body type. As for looks, I don't get too granular with describing every single detail; I find using adjectives like "beautiful" or "gorgeous" to be preferable since that allows the reader some freedom to fill in how they see the character.

While I am bisexual, I definitely enjoy looking at women more so my descriptions will tend to favor them over men. I think it also helps that most of the readership is male so my lack of specificity on the men's side helps any reader who fits the bill see themselves more readily in those characters' shoes.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

I stared hungrily at her, those luscious ___ that reminded me of ___. Her ____ hair, those ____ eyes, daring me to gaze more ____ at her defiantly abbreviated shorts. I felt my ____ ____ stir beneath my briefs, knowing that soon my ____ would be ____ into her ___ creating ____ amounts of ____ and that her ___ would squeeze with ____ pleasure and her ___ of ecstasy would reverberate about the ___.

You're not supposed to tell us the paragraph. You're just supposed to give us "list 3 nouns, to adjectives, 2present tense verbs, 1 past tense verb, 1 adverb." Then once you get a few replies, you give the paragraph with the replies plugged in.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

I think it also helps that most of the readership is male so my lack of specificity on the men's side helps any reader who fits the bill see themselves more readily in those characters' shoes.

Ah, yes, the self-insertion argument. I dismiss that completely in my work because I write for anyone to read it. Any reader (regardless of gender, but yes this reader skews heavily male) who wishes to self-insert isn't all that interested in your story or plot or characters so much as he is interested in reading a fantasy that matches his own. To skimp on the male description is really to pander to that porn fantasy reader rather than to tell a story, and generally produces a weaker piece. If one truly wishes to write a genuine reader-self-insert then the best technique would be to write second person. Then you could write a true reader-insert fantasy. Otherwise, if one is writing a story with plot and characters, our two (or three - nothing against groups) characters should get equal description because they are equally important to the plot.

 

[Nynah]

Any reader (regardless of gender, but yes this reader skews heavily male) who wishes to self-insert isn't all that interested in your story or plot or characters so much as he is interested in reading a fantasy that matches his own.

I'd posit that a lot of readers here are interested in finding a story that roughly matches a fantasy they have. And I can't control why readers read my work, so I don't really mind if they're not interested in the plot or characters.

To skimp on the male description is really to pander to that porn fantasy reader rather than to tell a story, and generally produces a weaker piece.

To be clear, I write the way I do not because I want to pander to any particular type of reader. I write for myself (and those who have been kind enough to leave feedback, to a degree). I was merely making an observation about how the way I do things tends to align with the desires of a large part of the readership here, which is a plus but not something I am striving for in any way.

 

[THBGato]

QUESTION: How important is it to you as an author to describe what your characters look like, and how important is it to you that the authors describe what their characters look like?

As a truly voracious reader, one of the things that immediately puts me off is detailed descriptions of what characters look like or what they are wearing in the first couple of paragraphs. If the writer gives height, weight and cup size, I tend to stop reading. It's just so clumsy, and it tells me that they will be forcing their vision on me. Drip feed it through or don't even bother (unless it is vital as a plot point).

 

[Djmac1031]

In all honesty, for me it really just depends.

Sometimes I have a very clear vision of what a character looks like. And so I'll include details, but I try to do it in a way that flows and not the typical exposition description dump.

Other times my characters appearance is far more vague. Not that the character has less substance to me, but I wind up writing them in a way that leaves it more to the reader to paint the image more fully.

And sometimes, it's somewhere in between lol.

I will say im far more lazy writing male characters. Although since I generally write male POV, it does allow male readers to self insert.

 

[ChuckWolf]

For sex stories, I think appearance details can be important for people who are masturbating while reading or before.

If the author has detailed descriptions, I'm cool with that (within reason) or leaves it up to the reader to fill in details, I'm OK with that too.

 

[TheRedChamber]

As a truly voracious reader, one of the things that immediately puts me off is detailed descriptions of what characters look like or what they are wearing in the first couple of paragraphs. If the writer gives height, weight and cup size, I tend to stop reading. It's just so clumsy, and it tells me that they will be forcing their vision on me. Drip feed it through or don't even bother (unless it is vital as a plot point).

The plot point thing is important. This is the beginning to my story, A Day with Miss May.

I first see her standing just outside the beach shop. It’s no more than a wooden shack with a bunch of buckets and spades arranged around the roof. There’s a humming electric generator powering the cooler, and a miniature TV showing some overblown Italian soap opera. She’s talking in a broad American accent, something southern, and the owner is talking back in broken English. They’re not arguing exactly, but she’s loudly making it clear that she still doesn’t understand him.

The strings of a black bikini disappear under a towel she has wrapped around her like a shawl. Lower down is a pair of tight denim shorts with a Discman hooked into them. She’s waving around a pair of sunglasses in one hand and a bottle of sun-tan lotion in the other as she attempts to communicate. That’s more or less all that is visible from the back, except the bright golden hair spilling from under a broad sun hat all the way down her shoulders and some very long legs which end in a disappointingly ordinary pair of flip-flops.

Suddenly, I decide that what I need most in all the world is a Coke.

I'm not claiming I'm the best writer in the world, but I'm pretty happy with this opening (a year later) as it does a few 'neat' things.

- It establishes both the general and specific setting (Italy, a beach) and also hints at the time period (Discman).
- The female Love Interest is introduced actually doing something, and that action spills into the rest of the description.
- The FLI is described only from the angle she can be seen by the MC.
- Even though the FLI is a (generic-brand) Playboy model there are still touches of the ordinary about the description. (the flip flops)
- The description is important because it immediately has the MC doing something that they wouldn't otherwise have done.

Funnily enough, I don't really need much more description after that because it's quickly established that the FLI is a Playboy model and we all know what they look like (the reader can even substitute their favourite into the story if they have one).

One the other hand I've now published 12 stories in my 'Hannah has Plans' series and I think the most I've established about Hannah is that she is a) not six-foot tall even in heels and b) not blonde. The stories are narrated by her long term boyfried who isn't too keep on you perving all over her, but is happy for you to know what a great and creative sex life *he* has by dating her.

 

[SkyBubble]

QUESTION: How important is it to you as an author to describe what your characters look like, and how important is it to you that the authors describe what their characters look like?

I'm really curious where other people fall on this..

As far as where I fall...

Me The Reader: I'm often disappointed when I start reading a story and the woman or man is described as a super model. And I usually don't get through the story once it starts happening. If the way the characters look feel 'real' to me, then I quite enjoy reading about how they look.

But after reading a lot of stories that describe there characters like super models, I realized it effected how I write, and I just noticed it today lol.

I started writing a story like a month ago that has an inexperienced guy who meets up with an inexperienced dominatrix, then they kind of become friends and stuff.

I'm working on part 6 now, and when I read it back again to see where story wanted to go, I noticed something I use almost no details about looks. Maybe subconsciously trying to avoid the thing I run into often when reading erotica.

The only thing my story describes in detail with the main characters is the dudes penis size, the chicks hair color, and they're about the same age. And I kind of tell there ages cause I know there ages in my head, and in the story they both mention watching original Pokemon, which means they were kids in 90's and 00's, putting them at late twenties, mid thirties.

And since there's already 5 parts out, I don't think it would be wise to add looks-details now even if I wanted to, since anyone who read them already decided what they look like other aside from dudes wiener and ladies hair color.

Anywho, if you got opinions on this topic, feed them to me. nom nom nom

I have one series that has 5 stories. I briefly described the female protagonist in the first one. I was told that I needed to describe her again. If it's that important, read the first story where I described her.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

I have one series that has 5 stories. I briefly described the female protagonist in the first one. I was told that I needed to describe her again. If it's that important, read the first story where I described her.

If it's a stand alone story you need to describe her again. If it's chaptered then no you obviously don't.

 

[Writer61]

Reading or writing I prefer a simple outline to help create an image in my head. Height, age, hair-colour, is usually enough, sometimes size or ethnicity. I avoid specific measurements, nobody needs to know the character's shoe size*.

*bonus: neatly side-stepping the differences in US, UK, and European sizes.

 

[ElectricBlue]

The only context in which I describe a character’s physical traits at length is in a well-disguised parody or satire.

Looking forward to reading that one...

 

[ElectricBlue]

No, you don’t. You haven’t when you could...

Matter of fact, you're wrong. I read several of your stories from your Tilan incarnation. I thought they were a little overdramatic, but at least they were there to be read. Unlike the well disguised parody and satire you're so proud of, which is so well disguised it's not there.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Then maybe you did read one of those well-disguised pieces and mistook it for melodrama.

In your dreams.

 

[EdwardsOtherSide]

Both as a reader and as a writer; imperfections make people interesting.

I don't want to read or write about "she was a super model/pin-up girl/guy straight off a romance novel/they had movie star looks" (unless the movie star was Humphrey Bogart, or she looked like Jewel Staite). I much prefer characters with very human elements, not idealized archetypes and glossy, air-brushed marketing products.
There is definitely a place for the "blonde, blue eyed, big titty girl" or the "strong chin, broad shoulders, and chiseled abs guy" but when I am writing, that is a sure sign they are a supporting character or a victim rather than someone whose actions shape the story.

Exception; if I am going down the "non human" path, "perfection" and "ideal" makes sense. I am thinking in terms of angels and demons, but I can see the point to a "perfect, dream girl/guy" in a horror or alien story also.

As for when to describe; early.
As a writer, the appearance of my characters shapes the tone of the story.
As a reader, it is a bit jarring to form a mental image and get well into the story to have that mental image derailed.

Someone criticized throwing around specific heights, weights, cup sizes, etc. I agree; this is lazy. It is fine to have these numbers in your head as a writer, but tell the reader how the character fills out their clothes, how their physique communicates their presence when the enter the room, how other people react to their presence or looks, not "she was 5'7"/170cm and 125lb/57kg with firm C-cups" go for "she was taller than average and every straight guy's and lesbian's eyes lingered on her cleavage and her trim bottom".

Re: self-insert; in my writing, look for the guy with a film noir vibe coming off him. I am average looking, a little older, a little soft around the middle but otherwise reasonably fit so I totally identify with the Sam Spade look.

 

[Duleigh]

How important is it to you as an author to describe what your characters look like, and how important is it to you that the authors describe what their characters look like?

Very to both.

A successful author understands that males are predominantly visually oriented. There's a reason we ask "Can we do it with the lights on?" we like to see our partner.

One doesn't need to go into long winded descriptions of each character but we are in the job of painting pictures with words so it would be a complete disservice to the reader to leave the description of your characters unspoken. Especially the primary characters. A well drawn character captures the readers attention and makes them invest emotionally in your story. It gives the readers a sense of authenticity, a belief that these characters are real. Readers stay connected with your stories and will eagerly look forward to your next next story when they can identify with your character. A proper description makes the characters more memorable to the reader. When you hear from a reader something like "Are you going to write another Darla story?" you scored. You not only created but described your character perfectly.

We can't compare our characters to a real person because not everyone knows what that person looks like. To me one of the most beautiful women ever was a 30 year old Heddy Lamar, but that was 1943. We don't want our future readers diving for a history encyclopedia to find out what our character look like. How about "Perfect skin, pale as the finest silk and free from blemish, full lips a deep red that invited a night of passion with every word they formed. A tiny nose with an endearing crinkle when she smiled, sparkling blue eyes whose color changed with the available light and framed with long luxurious lashes, eyebrows manicured to perfection, and ebony hair, thick and full that fell in rebellions waves, yet brooked no nonsense."

That will stay with a reader much longer than "She looked like Billy Joel's ex wife."

 

[Writer61]

That will stay with a reader much longer than "She looked like Billy Joel's ex wife."

Complete agree but for a different reason.

I really hate it when a character is described in relation to a real person. It presumes that the reader is familiar with their appearance. Why should they (that is me) have to research somebody because the writer is too lazy or too incompetent to describe them?

Personally, I have no idea what Billy Joel's ex-wife looks like nor any wish to.

 

[Duleigh]

Complete agree but for a different reason.

I really hate it when a character is described in relation to a real person. It presumes that the reader is familiar with their appearance. Why should they (that is me) have to research somebody because the writer is too lazy or too incompetent to describe them?

Personally, I have no idea what Billy Joel's ex-wife looks like nor any wish to.

Totally agree. It's lazy. It's putting unneeded work on the reader, it's not their job to fill in the blanks, it's ours.

Billy Joel's ex wife:

If you can't put this into a paragraph, you can't write.

 

[TiberiusPrime]

Complete agree but for a different reason.

I really hate it when a character is described in relation to a real person. It presumes that the reader is familiar with their appearance. Why should they (that is me) have to research somebody because the writer is too lazy or too incompetent to describe them?

Personally, I have no idea what Billy Joel's ex-wife looks like nor any wish to.

It all depends on which ex-wife, too. He has 3. His last 2, Christie Brinkley and Katie Lee, look absolutely nothing alike.

Personally speaking, you can expect descriptions of my main characters. In many cases, it matters within the story I'm telling. I'll also say that the vast majority of my characters are Caucasian (because I am) unless I specify otherwise.

 

[GrantBricksly]

QUESTION: How important is it to you as an author to describe what your characters look like, and how important is it to you that the authors describe what their characters look like?

I'm really curious where other people fall on this..

As far as where I fall...

Me The Reader: I'm often disappointed when I start reading a story and the woman or man is described as a super model. And I usually don't get through the story once it starts happening. If the way the characters look feel 'real' to me, then I quite enjoy reading about how they look.

But after reading a lot of stories that describe there characters like super models, I realized it effected how I write, and I just noticed it today lol.

I started writing a story like a month ago that has an inexperienced guy who meets up with an inexperienced dominatrix, then they kind of become friends and stuff.

I'm working on part 6 now, and when I read it back again to see where story wanted to go, I noticed something I use almost no details about looks. Maybe subconsciously trying to avoid the thing I run into often when reading erotica.

The only thing my story describes in detail with the main characters is the dudes penis size, the chicks hair color, and they're about the same age. And I kind of tell there ages cause I know there ages in my head, and in the story they both mention watching original Pokemon, which means they were kids in 90's and 00's, putting them at late twenties, mid thirties.

And since there's already 5 parts out, I don't think it would be wise to add looks-details now even if I wanted to, since anyone who read them already decided what they look like other aside from dudes wiener and ladies hair color.

Anywho, if you got opinions on this topic, feed them to me. nom nom nom

Unless there is a detail about the character's looks that is important to the story: IE Cup size, Dick size, hair color (for plot purposes), etc... Then I try to avoid too much detail when I can in a typical erotic story. Why? quite simple really:

I want the reader, to be able to insert themselves (or whomever they want) into the story in place of my character as they read. But, If say, the reader is 4'2" and chubby, and I've described my main character as 7' tall and build like a linebacker. And worse, I constantly refer to that description...then the reader, is going to have a very hard time picturing themselves doing the things the main character is doing..
I also tend to avoid race and skin color for similar reasons. If it isn't essential to the plot, I don't put it in there.

 

[yowser]

There is a tendency amongst most Lit stories to skimp on detail. I understand the desire to leave a MC a bit vague in the interests of drawing in the reader (particularly with First person or close Third POV) but then I think it's best to outline the inner qualities of the narrator fairly carefully. The MC exists as a human (in most cases) and is located in the world, with appropriate sense faculties. Best not to ignore them entirely.

As for non-MC characters, going light on description (and I blanch at height, weight, hair color, etc notes if done in a lazy or perfunctory manner) makes for a bland and murky read.

Those other characters need to be vivid. I don't usually care how tall they are, but why do they scrunch their shoulders that way? What does that tell me about their demeanor? Do their eyes dart around with alarm? Or just confusion? Please give me some insight into their mindset and their presentation of self.

And of course, the nature of the story itself dictates all of this.

 

[iwatchus]

I want the reader, to be able to insert themselves (or whomever they want) into the story in place of my character as they read.

kd lang always wrote her lyrics completely gender free so that anyone could believe the song was for them.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

I want the reader, to be able to insert themselves (or whomever they want) into the story in place of my character as they read. But, If say, the reader is 4'2" and chubby, and I've described my main character as 7' tall and build like a linebacker. And worse, I constantly refer to that description...then the reader, is going to have a very hard time picturing themselves doing the things the main character is doing..

What about the character that the main character is fucking?

 

[Writer61]

It all depends on which ex-wife, too. He has 3. His last 2, Christie Brinkley and Katie Lee, look absolutely nothing alike.

Another reason to avoid such comparisons. Am I/ the reader expected to keep up with the amorous relations of some random celebrity?

I'll also say that the vast majority of my characters are Caucasian (because I am) unless I specify otherwise.

I do the same, which bothers me.