Whether writing fiction or nonfiction, beginning with an effective character description attracts your reader's attention and sets the mood or tone for your story.A great character description is both vivid and realistic, and it creates a visual image for the reader that seems to come alive by offering crucial insight into this character's personality and background.
Step 1: Start with a character profile.
A character profile contains a wide range of details about your character, including how they look, where they are from, what they do for a living, their likes and dislikes, and much more.It will help you figure out which visual aspects of the character are important to share.If you are an artist, draw a picture of your character.Provide as much detail as possible.You can pick out the unusual ones if you know more details.If you aren't an artist, you can use a character illustration generator website or software to help you visualize your character.Don't dress them in a generic plain t-shirt without detailing what makes it different from every other shirt like it.Is it possible that this is a favorite shirt?A brand that shows their personal style or places they frequent is a possibility.
Step 2: Focus on the quirks of your character.
To create a visual snapshot of an interesting person your readers want to know better is your goal.Don't detail every facet of your character's appearance.What is the first thing that you notice about this person?Do they have scars, tattoos, or unusual physical features that make them stand out?Does a hat or sunglasses hide their face?
Step 3: Creative descriptors are used instead of simple ones.
A description that does not encourage imaginations will not be interesting.metaphors can be used to compare two unrelated things.You can use metaphors like "blind as a bat," "a blanket of snow," and " a heart of gold." Instead of simply stating your character has green eyes, for example, describe the exact shade of green by referencing an object readers will recognize.They are either pea green, forest green or the color of Crayola finger paint.Don't use clichés and aim for original comparisons.Readers instantly recognize Clichés like "she is lovely as a rose" because they are so common.The statement doesn't say anything important about the woman since beauty is subjective.Use your imagination and be specific.
Step 4: Add personality traits to your character profile.
List their talents, strengths and weaknesses, moral beliefs, likes and dislikes, and any other personal information you have considered.Readers don't need all of this information, but they need to know your character in order to make decisions about what to present.Think about how others see them.Do these images clash?Do their dreams match their talents and strengths?You want your reader to leave with an impression of who your character is, not just what they look like.
Step 5: The character's personality is connected to clothing and personal objects.
Are their clothes neatly pressed and tailored, indicating attention to their appearance, or do they look like they rolled out of bed and threw everything on the floor?You should note anything that isn't expected.Are they walking in the snow without a coat or shoes, or fully dressed in 100 degree weather?
Step 6: He or she should be an active participant.
If you write about how your character interacts with his or her environment, you can give insight into how they think and act, so that your writing becomes a story and not just a biographical sketch.Be specific and concrete.What type of websites are they looking at while surfing the web?Are they taking large, confident strides or shuffling their feet while walking?The fact that s/he is not doing anything gives insight into their personality and thoughts.
Step 7: There should be a stream of consciousness or dialogue.
Recording the character's thoughts or conversations keeps the reader engaged.When using dialogue, remember the speaker's tone or inflection, any pauses or tics, or unusual words choices.Do they use body language or gesture?Are they hiding their true nature or saying what they really think?
Step 8: Active verbs should not be limited to a character's movement.
Their physical attributes should be active as well.Their hair may fly around wildly if they are wearing a long skirt.Maybe their coffee cup is motionless because they are too focused to drink.
Step 9: Take a picture of the character's immediate surroundings.
Something significant about their personality or state of mind should be suggested by their surroundings.What is about to happen should be set up in your description.Details about the location, size and condition of structure, how it is decorated, and your character's housekeeping skills can offer clues as to their personality or habits.If your setting is a public space, like a coffee shop, tell readers if the shop is well-known or a dive that few people know about.If they sit in the back, you can tell.
Step 10: It is important to appeal to the reader's senses.
It's important to consider your audience so that you can appeal to them.To make it more realistic and engaging, tell your audience what the character sees, feels, smells, or hears.Don't just tell your audience that your character is drinking coffee, give details about the type of coffee: straight espresso, a syrupy latte, or plain black Columbian coffee.Mention the smells in the shop, the noise from the drink machines, and the people talking at tables nearby.Can they hear a dog outside?Is the sun forcing them to wear sunglasses?
Step 11: They should be placed in an uncomfortable environment.
You can develop your character's personality by doing this.Were they trying out a new place on their own, meeting someone for the first time, or are they bad at reading directions?Tell us what makes them uncomfortable.