tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post2230882725881346757..comments2024-03-29T05:45:39.184-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Creative Character DescriptionsDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-59188092686048177442020-09-04T15:23:06.904-06:002020-09-04T15:23:06.904-06:00Thanks, Maryann. This is my third time to reply, s...Thanks, Maryann. This is my third time to reply, so let's hope this goes through. I shall copy it before publishing.<br /><br />Your example tells me that not only is your character an artist but he's determined and focused. Writers don't always have to describe eye or hair color. Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-37767336114513851002020-09-04T14:34:00.036-06:002020-09-04T14:34:00.036-06:00One of the best character descriptions that comes ...One of the best character descriptions that comes to mind is one my co-writer on screenplays did a long time ago. "From the time he colored on the walls when he was five, Marco knew he wanted to be an artist." <br /><br />It doesn't tell us about his physical attributes, but I've always thought it was some good characterization. <br /><br />Love the post and all the great examples, Polly. Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-86497310876823524112020-09-03T14:54:57.083-06:002020-09-03T14:54:57.083-06:00That made me laugh, Maggie. Full disclosure: Maggi...That made me laugh, Maggie. Full disclosure: Maggie is my critique partner, and she just sent me back a critique of my mini-synopsis for my new book. Glad she catches all those repetitions on my work.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-89695900331818646312020-09-03T14:48:16.400-06:002020-09-03T14:48:16.400-06:00I find it easier to describe series character succ...I find it easier to describe series character succintly after the first book. Here's a description of two minor characters, a pair of deputies, in my Dreamwalker series, from All Done With It: "Virgil Burkhead and Ronnie Oliver dropped the crime scene tape they’d been installing and swaggered over, good old boys, the pair of them. Virg was the taller of the two well-fed, brown-eyed men, and he often spoke for both of them." Although now I see that I ended both sentences with "in them". It's always something!Maggie Toussainthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12011893139722870283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-56348308627655081022020-09-03T13:34:35.828-06:002020-09-03T13:34:35.828-06:00Interesting, though in a film one doesn't have...Interesting, though in a film one doesn't have to describe the character. S/he is right there. Except for Jack Reacher. I have a few characters where their eye color is their defining feature. I even tinkered with the eyes on the cover of my short story, The Last Heist, to prove my point.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-49009180825748001782020-09-03T13:31:00.947-06:002020-09-03T13:31:00.947-06:00One of the problems of writing in first person is ...One of the problems of writing in first person is not being able for the character to describe herself, so it's left for someone else. That can be a challenge that I know you're up for, Linda. Though I can't be positive, I might have a character look into a mirror in one of my books. Now I'll have to think about that one.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-26522092495825435382020-09-03T13:27:19.851-06:002020-09-03T13:27:19.851-06:00Thanks, Donnell. I like saying as much as I can wi...Thanks, Donnell. I like saying as much as I can without saying quite enough, leaving the reader putting her own picture of the character in her mind. I know exactly what Diana looks like, but then I wrote her.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-24104725119792189962020-09-03T13:21:16.403-06:002020-09-03T13:21:16.403-06:00Word of mouth (or blogs) is clearly the best marke...Word of mouth (or blogs) is clearly the best marketing device, because after reading two comments from authors I respect, I went and read the opening to Purple Cane Road. Now I have to own the book, because clearly you are correct about James Lee Burke's descriptions :) xoxoDonnell Ann Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07943037206984648849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-26999076123832344012020-09-03T11:25:50.729-06:002020-09-03T11:25:50.729-06:00I read the advice once to not describe your charac...I read the advice once to not describe your characters in such a way that any actor or actress couldn't play them. I do hair and eye color way too much, but do like to find that one characteristic, that one descriptive word or phrase that lets the readers draw their own pictures. Thanks for such a great post! Kaye Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05596677617002735674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-85539862635302304882020-09-03T10:42:22.495-06:002020-09-03T10:42:22.495-06:00Good post, Polly. I'm done with a first draft ...Good post, Polly. I'm done with a first draft of my new book and into the editing phase. I think I've done too little to describe my heroine. Since it's written in her voice, everyone else is covered. No mirrors for me.Linda Lovelyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06689184015264104687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-20916325426016290782020-09-03T10:35:46.961-06:002020-09-03T10:35:46.961-06:00I love a thirty-three year old, five-foot two bund...I love a thirty-three year old, five-foot two bundle of fraud. In that one phrase we learn so much about the character -- she's young, small (dynamite comes in small packages) and she's a liar. We don't know her good points, but what a great start through one character's POV. Great blog, Polly!Donnell Ann Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07943037206984648849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-67122320750657640272020-09-02T12:48:50.238-06:002020-09-02T12:48:50.238-06:00Food for thought is a good thing. Thanks, Linda.Food for thought is a good thing. Thanks, Linda.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-59133285427665307022020-09-02T12:46:48.147-06:002020-09-02T12:46:48.147-06:00No one does it better than Burke.
No one does it better than Burke.<br />Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-74276543186893300172020-09-02T10:40:49.149-06:002020-09-02T10:40:49.149-06:00No examples at the moment, but you've given me...No examples at the moment, but you've given me a lot of food for thought. Great post, Polly! Definitely a keeper. :-)Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-15117396688806793082020-09-02T08:41:00.056-06:002020-09-02T08:41:00.056-06:00James Lee Burke's descriptions are always inte...James Lee Burke's descriptions are always interesting. You can read the opening of Purple Cane Road and see a good one. Ellishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12312345658108248300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-19137305953019791062020-09-02T07:52:36.666-06:002020-09-02T07:52:36.666-06:00I think you have me confused with someone else. I ...I think you have me confused with someone else. I never wrote a short story with an advice columnist, but it's a good idea. Yes, Connelly can pull it off, but he's Connelly. It was his first book, so there's that. Maybe it became a no-no long after.<br />Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-65631209238381494302020-09-01T13:51:50.591-06:002020-09-01T13:51:50.591-06:00I love the fact that you wrote a short story about...I love the fact that you wrote a short story about an advice columnist. I put one as a minor character in my latest book. Now I'm thinking about her being the protag in a short story. As for descriptions, I was surprised to see that a "very famous writer" used that old mirror trick. Since I began writing *** years ago, all the advice about writing descriptions has included the theory to never, ever use that "device." But, I agree with you. It worked well for Mr. Connelly. Great post!Jan Christensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02027877440748580764noreply@blogger.com