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Contests & Activities: October 16, 2024 Issue [#12794]




 This week: Character Descriptions
  Edited by: spidey Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

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Welcome to the Contests & Activities Newsletter. I'm spidey Author Icon, and I'm your Editor this week!



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Letter from the editor

Character Descriptions

I'm curious, as a writer and a reader, how important are character descriptions to you?

Do you like to describe your character down to the smallest detail so your reader can have a very clear image of what you are presenting to them? Or do you prefer the reader to come up with their own vision of the character? Maybe that way they can see themselves in a character easier? Which do you prefer as a reader?

There are lots of ways to describe a character. I often see in writing the author presenting eye color and hair color first. Is that enough?

There are a lot of ways to describe characters:

*Idea* Physical appearance. Probably the most obvious. This includes things like hair color and eye color, but also the shape of their eyes or nose or chin. You can convey a lot in specific features, I think, and most readers might picture a character's face first, so that could be the first thing to present to them.

*Idea* Mannerisms. Maybe a character fidgets or has a tic or smirks in a specific way. Mannerisms can be used to add subtle tone and depth to a character, maybe even foreshadowing.

*Idea* Behaviors. How a character interacts with others can tell a lot about who they are. This is why exercises can be helpful if you're creating a character. Imagine how they'd react to a waiter, for instance, or how they would deal with someone being rude to them. How would they respond in an emergency situation? Or if they found a lost kitten? These are all ways to get your character's identity and description across - how they interact with the world.

When it comes to contests, it can be tough to convey a lot within word limits, but I think description of character remains a pretty important part of story telling. Whether you give a lot of detail or just a little, it can impact a reader and their experience of your story.





Take care, and as always, keep on writing! *Quill*



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Editor's Picks






Official Writing.Com Contests & Activities:

 
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Contests/Activities:

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Can you write the most engaging opening sentence for a story?
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This is a Horror Flash Fiction Contest. See you in October 2025!
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A contest involving writing a horror story. Simple, really.
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The Witch's Garden  Open in new Window. [13+]
HALLOWEEN HANDLES! Closed! See you in 2025!
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13 Poetic Days of Halloween Contest 2025 Open in new Window. [E]
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Some How/To Items that might help you:

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Some contest resources:
How to Create a Contest Open in new Window. [ASR]
Things you need to know before you open a contest. Includes a contest template.
by Angels in my Ear Author Icon

"Create/Edit a Message ForumOpen in new Window.
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Learn the ins and outs of creating a link using the bitem format.
by NickiD89 Author Icon





Know of some gems that deserve exposure? Submit them in the feedback form or submission form at the end of this Newsletter, and I'll put them in my next one!



 
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Ask & Answer


Feedback from my last newsletter "Contests & Activities Newsletter (September 18, 2024)Open in new Window., which discussed character names:

I, too, decide on character names based on the feel of the story I want to write. It bothers me, sometimes, that I typically write stories using basic, unexciting names.

~ QPdoll is Grateful Author Icon


I suppose if a name fits, then it fits! *Laugh*


How do I choose the names of characters? Most often, they come with appropriate names already attached. In those cases where this doesn't happen, I look for names that are less common or even made up. The American habit of using surnames as first names is very useful in this regard - had some of my best names through this. A while back, I started a file to record interesting names when they came to me out of the blue. Naturally, I didn't keep it up for long and I've used them all now. But it was a good idea and maybe I'll fire it up again.

I do think that names are important. They can save one a lot of character description since they come with so much wrapped up in them already.


~ Beholden Author Icon

That's a good idea! *Bigsmile*




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