Words Worth a Thousand Pictures
Welcome to Character Circus ~ where they like to let you think you are the one pulling strings.
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Every once in a while, whether in that one tale we’ve adored since childhood, or in that thin novel we picked up as someone left it on the beach, we encounter a character whose appearance is presented to us so vividly, that we can not only imagine him (or her) standing next to us, but we can hear him whisper his words into our ears as we read them on the paper.
There are many secrets to how to describe a character – I am sure each writer has their own, as well as advices they could give to others. I have found observing people around me to be quite helpful. Among other things, it has taught me that no one is perfect, and that “flaws” are what makes them so interesting. That something which stands out. Their story will get people to remember them, their personality will get the people to love or hate them, but their appearance is what will make the readers imagine them right there, at the edge of their beds or tables, telling the story as they remember it.
Only by observing people around me, I have thought of stories – of plotlines, of scenes, of ideas which I’ve incorporated in my novels or which helped me get to the new discoveries, hence assisting with my plot in a whole other way.
Today, I bring you a little exercise – prompt, if you wish. Attached to this post are two pictures – both from talented artists of DeviantArt, respectively made by NunoCahna and Beinspyred .
So what is the prompt, you ask? Here it is.
Write a scene, poem, script or a story, about one or both of the people on the pictures. Describe them, make their faces appear on the paper, and give them a story. Does he hide a scar under his shirt? How did he get it? Is there a birthmark behind her ear, which she shares with her twin sister? Where is she, is she alive? In another world, perhaps, communicating via reflections in spoons and giving instructions on how or build a spaceship, way before the time of space traveling?
It doesn’t have to be anything big, and you can forget about them right after – if they let you. But for a while, look at them, take your pen or keyboard, or quill or typewriter, and just write. Let the pictures guide you, let them tell you their story, or even a small piece of it, in whichever way you imagine.
If you wish, post the link to the piece on YWS as reply to this post, or write the whole piece as the reply (unless you write a whole novel).. Imaginary bonus points if you connect the two characters in some way.
