[Descriptions:] Writing Beautiful Characters

     People are fascinating. I love just sitting somewhere noticing how very unique everyone is. (Haha, yes I know, that sentence was an oxymoron. But it's true.) I enjoy peoples' little quirks and mannerisms to no end.

      It seems the more one gets to know somebody, the more that somebody's uniqueness is made obvious, and the more beautiful they become in one's eyes. Eventually, when I know someone very well, when I think of them, their personality is what I imagine, not their physical appearance. Noticing the individuality of humans increases my wonder at the glory of God and how amazing his creation is. When people love each other and find joy in one another, it's only a very tiny sliver of what it's like to be loved by God and find true joy in him. 

      As writers, we want to reflect the uniqueness of real people in the characters we create. We want readers to relish the beauty of our characters. So how do we do that?

     Start by figuring out what your character looks like. In real life friendships, the first thing you get to know about a person is their appearance. So it should be with fictional characters. A reader will assume your character is a person by default. So there's no need to say something like "She had two eyes below her forehead, and just under the space between the eyes, her nose protruded from her face, right above the lips." Just note the details of your character, the ones that make them stand out. Important parts of someone's looks to mention are their hair (color, length/style, and if it's curly/straight), eyes (people notice eyes and eye color. So give your reader this detail to visualize.), body type (height, build, physical condition), and anything unusual about their appearance (maybe they have a scar from some childhood accident, or a mole that's more noticeable than normal).

     The second part of a character's appearance is mannerisms. Does your character have the need to be moving at all times? Does he have certain body language that he favors? Just as each person has a different 'voice', (specific words and expressions they use, and how they arrange them) people have certain motions they use more than others. For example, in reaction to a friend proposing plans for an outing, one character might nod, and another give a thumbs up.

      You can add more depth to a character's mannerisms if you really dig into what makes them tick. Say you have a drummer character. He's always tapping his feet or patting something with his hands in a rhythm, because he loves playing the drums. A character doesn't have to be a drummer to like that sort of tapping, but when we have a reason, it makes it a bit more interesting. I'm not saying that every tiny little motion has to have a reason behind it. Most people don't analyze themselves and figure out reasons for every tiny flick of their hand; it's not necessary. But writers are the analysts of the world, who dig a little deeper than the rest into the reasons things are.

     Once you're familiar with the outside of your character, it's time to look on the inside. There are lots and lots of methods for getting to know characters. Try several to see which ones work best for you. List the personality traits of your character and expound on them. What is your character's favorite subject of conversation, and why? (Always ask why.) Even if your character doesn't know the answer why, you will know. One can tell a lot about a person the closer you observe them. What is your character's opinion on social gatherings, the outdoors, sports, music, *insert whatever you wish*? How does the character's background and childhood affect how he acts and thinks now? What would his description of an ideal friend be?

     An outward description can help a reader visualize the character, but it's really the inward attributes that will cause a reader to love your characters. Everyone has an extraordinary personality, and the more you develop your characters, the more apparent that will be.

     P. S. I haven't got a question for you this week, but comments are always very encouraging!

On Fandoms

     Ah yes, the widespread topic of where one's loyalties lie as far as books, movies, TV shows, and what-have-you are concerned. (Stories. The word I'm looking for is stories. That covers all four of the things I just mentioned.)

     Loosely defined, a 'fandom' is a collection of people who are fans of something. I've fallen into many fandoms over the years, and find it hard to answer when people ask which ones I'm in. Inevitably I forget a few when listing them all off. Several of my fandoms include: the Lord of the Rings, the Chronicles of Narnia, Doctor Who, Anne of Green Gables, Tangled(and other Disney movies), the Princess Bride, Les Miserables, Star Wars, How to Train Your Dragon, Ranger's Apprentice, and the list could go on and on...

     I've heard it said that a person's favorite character is often who it is because he identifies with them the most. So too, people have the strong desire for a story they relate to. We may not live in outer space or Middle Earth or Narnia or a galaxy far far away, but that isn't what makes a story relatable or not. People fall in love with stories that contain real life situations, not because the places are familiar. The world may not be full of people running off on quests, but it is full of friendship and choices and people in need of a hero. C. S. Lewis said, "We read to know that we are not alone." And that is completely true. That is what catches people's hearts in stories; the feeling of being understood because 'oh look, someone else is thinking in just the same way I do, and they have the same problems I do'.

     Not only do fans have things in common with the characters in a story, the people in each fandom often have a lot in common with each other. (They at least have the similar enjoyment of whatever it may be.) Fandoms are inviting. Who wouldn't want to band together with a group of people who appreciate the same type of story as you? Shared excitement over things is an important form of support. It's encouraging to know you're not the only one crazy enough to want to live in other worlds and befriend made-up people.

      People express appreciation of things in different ways. Within fandoms, there are various outcomes of people voicing their delight uniquely. Some dress up as certain characters, a few write fan fiction, others draw fan art. The diversity of humans is so glorious, and we can enjoy each other through giving support.

      For me, a successful story is one that inspires me, and a successful drawing is one that does the same. Fandoms are a way for people to rejoice together over imagination and emotion and artistry. They provide a platform of common ground, from which the 'members' can inspire each other and dig deeper than surface level, analyzing the innermost parts of whatever-it-may be, and sharing excitement over it.
Without shared joy in stories, we might think ourselves more alone than we actually are.

     What fandoms are you in?


     P. S. My very cool friend has started a vlog on YouTube. You should check out her first video and subscribe so that you can stay tuned for further epicness. (And also perhaps follow her on all those different social media things she has.)