[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!