MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Do readers want to know what characters look like?

Steven Lyle Jordan · 11-09-2009, 01:23 PM

I agree that it can vary according to character, story and situation whether or not you need much of a physical description. I've actually had readers take me to task once or twice because the character description I applied came too late in the story, and the reader already had a fixed (and different) appearance in mind by then!

BTW: Arthur C. Clarke also used the "surprise race card," in a way, in Imperial Earth: His main character was African (or European, but so dark-skinned from time in space as to resemble an African), something which was not revealed (or depicted as anything other than an ironic fact) until about 1/2 of the way through the novel.

I've come to believe that a general description of a character early-on seems to help readers fix them in their minds, and better identify with them as the story progresses. When I don't provide a character description, it's usually because that character really is forgettable beyond the moment!

11-09-2009, 01:23 PM	#12
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	I agree that it can vary according to character, story and situation whether or not you need much of a physical description. I've actually had readers take me to task once or twice because the character description I applied came too late in the story, and the reader already had a fixed (and different) appearance in mind by then! BTW: Arthur C. Clarke also used the "surprise race card," in a way, in Imperial Earth: His main character was African (or European, but so dark-skinned from time in space as to resemble an African), something which was not revealed (or depicted as anything other than an ironic fact) until about 1/2 of the way through the novel. I've come to believe that a general description of a character early-on seems to help readers fix them in their minds, and better identify with them as the story progresses. When I don't provide a character description, it's usually because that character really is forgettable beyond the moment!