Characters description, how important are they?

[Hypoxia]

...ten pages to write about two girls on a beach. With a man, a spider, and clothes being taken off, again. And again, and again. Funny, he didn't complain at the time .

The spindly old hidalgo dentist's assistant with the face and body of an Aztec goddess slowly slipped out of her barely-there red bikini, as did her cow-orker and cousin (by marriage), a viking princess lustily peeled from a Penthouse centerfold. Waves stopped crashing on the beach just south of Tehuantepec, stunned by their hourglass-form naked beauty. The dentist's wrinkled mouth gasped -- because a huge hairy black wolf spider nibbled at a ruddy mole on his wrinkly butt. The splendid women giggled, replaced their brief swimwear, and then stripped again, just to watch the waves stop. Their afternoon passed slowly.​

Only five sentences were abused to write this fragment.

 

[NotWise]

The spindly old hidalgo dentist's assistant with the face and body of an Aztec goddess slowly slipped out of her barely-there red bikini, as did her cow-orker and cousin (by marriage), a viking princess lustily peeled from a Penthouse centerfold. Waves stopped crashing on the beach just south of Tehuantepec, stunned by their hourglass-form naked beauty. The dentist's wrinkled mouth gasped -- because a huge hairy black wolf spider nibbled at a ruddy mole on his wrinkly butt. The splendid women giggled, replaced their brief swimwear, and then stripped again, just to watch the waves stop. Their afternoon passed slowly.​

Only five sentences were abused to write this fragment.

is cow-orking even legal where you come from?

 

[Hypoxia]

is cow-orking even legal where you come from?

Yes, but not sheep-dipping. And don't give the lama a llama.

 

[Voboy]

I’ve evolved on this.

My earlier pieces were more descriptive, though never really all THAT detailed. Lately, though, I only mention specific features that the narrator is hung up on, or that may help the reader identify the characters later.

I do describe genitals and the occasional breast, but I never use numbers. And I describe them en passant, during fuck scenes; there’s no specific “vagina paragraph” listing pubic hair length or belaboring the specific shade of magenta gracing the inner labia.

 

[Paul_Chance]

As reader I prefer minimal detail unless it's pertinent to the story.

As a writer I tend to write what I like to read.

However, there seems to be an audience that wants excruciating descriptive detail.

When I am writing for that audience then it's all in the details.

 

[KeithD]

I never use numbers.

"Never" is such an "un-fiction" term to be using in writing guidance. There are both readers and character stereotypes who view the world through numbers and measurements. When you're writing for such an audience or using such a character, using numbers (but spell them out in most--but not all [never never] cases) and measurements is quite all right and true to the writing you are doing.

I know I harp on this, but that's because posters keep trying to limit fiction writing in ways that it cannot and should not be limited.

 

[Handley_Page]

How much time do you spend describing your character, building him or her up physically?

.
I like to leave a little (okay, a lot) to the readers' imagination so they themselves can join in in the worldbuilding.
My idea of an ideal woman may differ from anonymous#234's ideal, so I prefer to leave that out in the open for anon#234 to fill in the blanks to her or his liking.

Or am I wrong?

This question gets an airing from time to time. Personally, I do not like the vivid descriptions ("she had a 42DD rack", etc.), but I was told [by a regular and prolific author] that some readers really do like such a detailed description.

For my own part, I prefer a 'nice handful' in her description.

 

[NotWise]

"Never" is such an "un-fiction" term to be using in writing guidance. There are both readers and character stereotypes who view the world through numbers and measurements. When you're writing for such an audience or using such a character, using numbers (but spell them out in most--but not all [never never] cases) and measurements is quite all right and true to the writing you are doing.

I know I harp on this, but that's because posters keep trying to limit fiction writing in ways that it cannot and should not be limited.

I don't use numbers, either. That isn't meant as guidance for other writers. I'm not in much of a position to give guidance. It simply is not something I do, and I think that's probably where Voboy was coming from, too.

I've seen enough comments and enough highly rated stories with graphic descriptions to agree with you. There are readers who prefer the specifics.

Going back to the OP, character descriptions are important to some readers. They don't seem to be important to many writers.

 

[KeithD]

I don't use numbers, either. That isn't meant as guidance for other writers. I'm not in much of a position to give guidance. It simply is not something I do, and I think that's probably where Voboy was coming from, too.

I've seen enough comments and enough highly rated stories with graphic descriptions to agree with you. There are readers who prefer the specifics.

Going back to the OP, character descriptions are important to some readers. They don't seem to be important to many writers.

I rarely use numbers and measurements myself (except in a certain line of GM stories with cock sizes. The fact is that much of the GM world does talk measurements in terms of cocks. It just does.)

I do keep meaning, though, to write a story with a character obsessed with visualizing and talking in terms of numbers--because such people do exist. A guy who talks about a 42DD usually has no idea of what that really means--it just registers a "humongous" image in his mind. And, again, such people do exist. (And they look for stories that deliver in their mind-set.)

 

[Voboy]

"Never" is such an "un-fiction" term to be using in writing guidance. There are both readers and character stereotypes who view the world through numbers and measurements. When you're writing for such an audience or using such a character, using numbers (but spell them out in most--but not all [never never] cases) and measurements is quite all right and true to the writing you are doing.

I know I harp on this, but that's because posters keep trying to limit fiction writing in ways that it cannot and should not be limited.

Yeah, I’m not sure I understand how me saying “I never use numbers” even comes close to “no writer should ever use numbers,” still less how it advocates limiting fiction writing in general. But feel free to put words in my mouth.

 

[KeithD]

Yeah, I’m not sure I understand how me saying “I never use numbers” even comes close to “no writer should ever use numbers,” still less how it advocates limiting fiction writing in general. But feel free to put words in my mouth.

Great, thanks for the permission to do that. What I have you saying now is "Hi. Hope you're having a great holiday season. I've read your six Winter Holidays contest stories and they're the cat's pajamas. I'm particularly happy that I don't see many numbers in them. "

Guess there's some reason you felt it important to tell us you don't use numbers in your stories other than to suggest they shouldn't be used, but that reason escapes me at the moment. I very rarely note in my stories what kind of iron I use to iron shirts (which I don't really do anyway). Isn't that significant for me to post about? Doesn't every else need to know that just because?

 

[NotWise]

Guess there's some reason you felt it important to tell us you don't use numbers in your stories other than to suggest they shouldn't be used, but that reason escapes me at the moment.

Most of the responses on this thread have been about how or how not writers describe their characters.

I find it important to say, "I don't use numbers to describe my characters." That is not the same things as saying "You shouldn't use numbers to describe your characters."

I had to check. The opening of my most popular story contains the most detailed description I've ever given to any character. No bra sizes or twat colors were mentioned, but comments on the story tell me that the description worked for the readers.

 

[KeithD]

Sure we can be coy, but I do and will take "I do it this way" posts to a writing site's discussion board as guidance suggestion. Otherwise you could just not post. Such "I do it this way" declaration is particularly sensitive on an amateur writing site, as the danger of the blind leading the blind into long-term writing trouble is high. If others give their "I do it this way" opinions, I feel free to indicate why that may be limiting the writing of fiction too much--and hurting their own efforts. There have been several blind alleys offered on this thread. I know there are a lot here who don't like to hear from professionals and those with extensive experience in trying to avoid the blind alleys. Tough. You can always go and zap one or more of my stories like others are doing if that makes you feel better.

 

[Voboy]

Sure we can be coy, but I do and will take "I do it this way" posts to a writing site's discussion board as guidance suggestion. Otherwise you could just not post. Such "I do it this way" declaration is particularly sensitive on an amateur writing site, as the danger of the blind leading the blind into long-term writing trouble is high. If others give their "I do it this way" opinions, I feel free to indicate why that may be limiting the writing of fiction too much--and hurting their own efforts. There have been several blind alleys offered on this thread. I know there are a lot here who don't like to hear from professionals and those with extensive experience in trying to avoid the blind alleys. Tough. You can always go and zap one or more of my stories like others are doing if that makes you feel better.

...or, of course, you could always start your own thread, where you can ask any question you want. I was just addressing what the OP asked.

You’re the one picking the fight, not me. I have no idea what you’re talking about in this response; you don’t post in a category I read, I’ve never checked your stuff out, and I don’t plan to. But, by all means, continue to take offense where absolutely none was intended. I can’t control how you choose to take others’ posts, nor would I want to. That’s your business, not mine

You might enjoy living that way, but I don’t. Have a good one.

 

[Hypoxia]

One may read mainstream literature -- serious, frivolous, non/fiction, whatever -- and note the depth of descriptions. Learn from those who make their livings spewing words.

 

[SimonDoom]

is cow-orking even legal where you come from?

I've always felt that an author who feels the need to write about orking cows is pandering. Any time that crops up in a story, I just move on. Not my kink.

 

[CoffeeWithMonkeys]

I've always felt that an author who feels the need to write about orking cows is pandering. Any time that crops up in a story, I just move on. Not my kink.

SAME

 

[ElectricBlue]

I've always felt that an author who feels the need to write about orking cows is pandering. Any time that crops up in a story, I just move on. Not my kink.

What about orking penguins? Should check with Ogg and his puffin, too, I guess .

 

[Paul_Chance]

Is there much of a market for orking?

 

[KeithD]

I never ever write orking. It just isn't ever written, and if someone either writes it here or wants to read it here, they should be denigrated and hounded off the Web site as not belonging here with the rest of us real writers.

 

[Hypoxia]

Is there much of a market for orking?

There is now, apparently.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Is there much of a market for orking?

Judging by the amount of WoW fic on this site, yes.

 

[FEELINGLUCKYPUNK]

In our time words mean anything writers intend, its the appeasement of the nigger, an insane philanthropy for the unfit.

Until our time STOUT meant robust and fit and strong. It now means obese.

I use STOUT to describe a female cop in my latest effort. Readers will assume I mean fat.

 

[SimonDoom]

What about orking penguins? Should check with Ogg and his puffin, too, I guess .

EB, you know how I feel about penguins. Especially mom penguins. Whole 'nother matter.

 

[ElectricBlue]

EB, you know how I feel about penguins. Especially mom penguins. Whole 'nother matter.

Good man, just making sure you're paying attention. How's your sis, btw; seen any good movies recently?