How to Write a Character DESCRIPTION (+ how to make your character describe herself)

[@justinahernandez3794]

"Don't do the mirror thing" as I slowly hit the backspace button

[@fandomcringebucket]

My Immortal scared me away from describing characters period, this is so freaking helpful-

[@Goodnighthorses]

cho HAHAHAHAHA

[@cityman2312]

My Immortal is certainly scary in a certain way.

[@sarahwritingacc.3649]

BAHHAHAAHHA NOOO

[@bookishwriter9460]

I just noticed that my MC only describe the other characters on a really basic level. (Color of eyes, hair, and skin, hairstyle and, if it's striking, physique and clothing) She's an artist, so she doesn't describe brown hair as brown but as "light copper", "pale brown" or "fawn brown". I find it really hard to describe faces because I can't just make them up in my head (it's actually impossible for the human brain to create new faces, so when you imagine a face while reading or writing, you're actually just describing a person you've seen before, even if it's only been a second or less) Maybe I just didn't see enough faces yet (I hardly ever go out). It also feels really awkward to describe people's cheekbones or noses in detail because I always imagine my MC just studying her opponent's face thoroughly for a couple of seconds until she's done describing them. I mean, when I meet people I don't spend half an eternity eying them while thinking about their sharp jawlines or the little buckling of their noses.

[@AbbieEmmons]

laughed out loud at "Maybe I just didn't see enough faces yet (I hardly ever go out)." < SAME HONESTLY HAHA. I agree 100% and that's something I actually should have mentioned in this video - readers will see the story at the pace it takes them to read the narrative! So if you go into a long description, it just hits the pause button on everything. ugh.

[@grilled_platypus]

It sometimes helps to draw the characters. When I drew mine I actually saw the obvious peculiarities of their faces. As an example I have a female Mentor named Daan in one of the books I‘m currently writing. After drawing her I saw that she has a striking number of birthmarks (10 in the face alone), that would actually be pretty notably if you stood right in front of her, as well as colored dreads that have wooden marbles with little shapes on them (like one has a heart, another one has a moon, while the third one has flowers on it etc.). And like a previously broken nose that wasn’t fixed well is also something you would notice when seeing her. Actually I think her face looks pretty long in comparison to other characters and she has a defining chin, as well as small but longish eyes. Since the Protagonist is also an artist, I describe that he notices little reflections on the cheekbones, like when someone wears something light, I myself always notice the reflections so why shouldn’t he? Or when Daan wears Make up, does it make the eyes pop up etc. since he knows color theory he could notice something like this. Even tho I think it has to be split up. Like what fit‘s the situation he is in right know. So basically when you draw the characters you improve the character design even more and can add some points that would be noticeable or your design already has those and you just couldn’t picture them in your head. It‘s pretty helpful.

[@fabriciodesi]

so. .. william guile is american, therefore he's a black guy who plays basketball. (pff)

[@katelyngould2308]

@@grilled_platypus So now I just need to figure out how to draw a person.

[@LV-bk4it]

Lots of faces on the internet.

[@left125]

Your videos are always SO HELPFUL and your personality brightens my day! I can’t thank you enough for what you have done for me 💛

[@AbbieEmmons]

Oh my goodness, thank you Vivanna! That means the world to me 💛💛💛

[@SaraOLN]

Yes! You're profile picture is 100 Days of Sunlight 🌟🌻! Sorry, I got excited, and I'm totally late for that one.

[@josealfredogarcia3199]

Lovely video content! Excuse me for chiming in, I would appreciate your initial thoughts. Have you researched - Seyrooklyn Salient Supremacy (Have a quick look on google can't remember the place now)? It is a good exclusive guide for overcoming the symptoms of multiple sclerosis minus the headache. Ive heard some unbelievable things about it and my coo-worker finally got great results with it.

[@Anjaliiacc2]

I just discovered this channel but I love it!! You’re advice is SO helpful. I’ve been putting off writing for a long while but after finding your videos I started outlining with the three act story structure and now build in time to write. Thanks so much and please keep posting!!

[@AbbieEmmons]

Wow, thank you so much!!! I'm so glad you're here and that you've been enjoying my videos! 💛✨

[@barrai1074]

Hello, I am starting a post-retirement career as an author. A mentor recommended studying the “mechanics” of writing. I found your channel and glad I did. You are knowledgable, engaging and entertaining. Thank You Abbie!

[@wordsonNewYorkHarbour]

So cool! Have you got any ideas/manuscripts you want to publish?

[@Gossamer367]

I'm super happy you made this, I really struggle with knowing when to describe a character and I unfortunately err on the side of not doing it at all.

[@AbbieEmmons]

So glad this video came at the right time for you!!

[@nikolasversteeg]

as someone who really struggles with descriptions of characters, this is super helpful. The alternating POV trick with each of them describing the other in their respective chapters is a golden tip. Thanks!

[@HomeschoolerGoesPublic]

Something that works for me when describing my character, is the character describing herself when she is feeling very ugly or self conscious, for example, like, "Gosh, I hate my hair, it's too red", "why do I have to be so short?", "he stared at my ugly freckles, I wish they didn't exist" etc. QUESTION: I tend to start a draft, be really excited, write a few chapters, then drift off and get bored, so how do you keep the excitement you feel when starting a draft, and not lose momentum???

[@nabilamiah3814]

Lmaooo, I do hope you don't include those types of examples

[@HomeschoolerGoesPublic]

@@nabilamiah3814 I honestly don't do it like that now, those were examples I used when I was like nine dude lol

[@nabilamiah3814]

@@HomeschoolerGoesPublic Ohhhh, okay, because I personally think those examples are very contrived and nonsensical. Who hates their hair because it's too red? You know?

[@HomeschoolerGoesPublic]

@@nabilamiah3814 😂agreed

[@wordsonNewYorkHarbour]

ANSWER: Brainstorm how you can show their inner conflict in an interesting way in the first few chapters & go so crazy with the "why does it matter" thing Abbie always talks about and fix it up in your reread (sorry I'm a year late)

[@esterdias6383]

Most part of the time, I imagine the characters completely different than they really are in the book that I'm reading lol. Peter Kavinsky, for example, is totally blond for me

[@YuliaLeafhill]

And if there's a movie, the character never looks like I imagined them to, and it wraps my own image of the character really badly. ;_;

[@esterdias6383]

@@YuliaLeafhill God Knows how I'm suffering with the actor choice for Finch, from All the bright places

[@AbbieEmmons]

A BLOND KAVINSKY?? I can get behind this.

[@emxry]

I read a book where they only described the character towards the end and I thought they look TOTALLY different-

[@grilled_platypus]

Yes! Or like the shadow guy in the first chapter of Eragon! Like yes the movie was trash, but they completely destroyed my image of him… was his name Durza? I imagined him with curly orangish hair and a more humanoid face, but in the movie they made him look like some kind of Zombie with straight extremely unnatural red hair and some… I don’t know where those supposed to be tatoos he had on his face? They looked like his facial skin simply peeled of and he had to glue it back on his forehead.

[@roseangel1111]

I love all my OC's and I describe well... in my head 😂 I find describing words hard when it actually comes to writing it on paper 🙁 but this was very helpful thank you!! 🥰

[@nicklerjoy]

4:40, Okay, that was so accurate to me that I felt Abbie talking directly into my soul. Thank you for that.

[@maximk9964]

I think one trick one can use to describe POV character is to have them compare themselves to someone else. In romance it could be contrasting how pretty someone is compared to MC, in action it could be like who seems taller, more athletic etc.

[@Tebtome]

That's a great idea!

[@shmeebs387]

I didn't plan on how I was going to describe my MC before sitting down to write. I decided to just figure it out later. Then I remembered that MC's father shows up in the first chapter. I just had to describe his dad and make it clear that the MC was the spitting image of him. They even had similar physiques, both being athletes in the same sport. I guess it's a description by proxy. Then I could sprinkle other things in here and there that wouldn't necessarily be the same like hairstyle and clothing.

[@Chris-ob1im]

Thank you. It is a very helpful video. In particular, I liked the distinction between the description of the POV character, and other characters. Sprinkling details of the POV is super advice, and feels natural and engaging. POV describing other characters, child's play - well, in comparison. I enjoyed your confidence in delivering your message :)

[@AbbieEmmons]

Thank you so much!! I'm so glad you found this video helpful 😊

[@destinylentz7436]

The way my notebook is filled with notes from you videos is just WOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[@yazzzv]

I just found your channel yesterday and I feel like I need a whole week off of work to binge watch everything you have ever posted. After watching the 4 videos about the 3 act structure and a few other ones sprinkled in, I already feel so much better equipped to tackle my novel. THANK YOU FOR BEING THE LITERAL MOST AWESOME PERSON and instilling us all with your amazing knowledge and personality. You are wonderful 💛

[@dellieborton]

Yes girl! I look forward to your videos every Wednesday!

[@risorgimento2659]

dellieborton me too!

[@dellieborton]

@@risorgimento2659 🙌🙌🙌

[@left125]

dellieborton Me too I love Abbie’s videos so much!

[@AbbieEmmons]

Thank you all!! This thread made me smile so much 💛💛💛

[@dellieborton]

@@AbbieEmmons you're welcome girl! Thank you for working so hard on your channel!

[@heal41hp]

I used to go a bit overboard with character descriptions, but I've since transitioned over to a bit of a minimalist approach. The way I see it, readers will be more engaged if they're participating in what they're reading. So I provide the necessary details and leave the rest to the reader. I suppose it helps that I have mild aphantasia, so I don't really have a solid image of the characters in my head. 😅 I do plan on violating the "no mirrors!" rule for my MC. He doesn't remember what he looks like, so the reader gets to learn along with him once it happens.

[@brandic89]

Ooo, I had to break that rule too, but I agree with Abbie in general. It is usually hilarious, but my main character argued with her mom, remembered why she's having such a bland breakfast (how her face reacted when she ate the Faerie fruit), had a painful recollection of the hundreds of sample needles digging into her back to see what few foods in Faery she can eat, and then ran to the bathroom mirror to check her complexion for a minute. Then she noticed how her dark, sea-blue eyes contrast with her milky complexion before running back to her family in the kitchen.

[@lostinstarzzz]

This really helped me improve the story I've been working on. I'm so so happy I found your channel. I've been stuck with writer's block for months now and you finally helped me start to break through and write again. Thank you so much for making these videos and being there

[@rahulnawani4419]

A much needed & one of the best videos to help writing characters properly. Thank you so much Abbie for this, this will truly help me in making my story matter. Much Love...

[@juliaherkel8051]

Yessssssss thank you! People really have trouble with describing characters in their stories. I try to describe my characters in small snippets snuck in, the way you mentioned.

[@AbbieEmmons]

YOU KNOW WHAT'S UP, JULIA 👏✨ so glad you liked this video!

[@Javicelon]

This video was super helpful. I'm just starting my writing journey and I kept trying to have the character describe himself, but I kept stopping the story to do so. Thanks for being so informative and thorough.

[@qamarmasri9331]

Keep going girl you're SOO AMAZING 💙

[@AbbieEmmons]

Thank you so much!!! omg 💛

[@qamarmasri9331]

@@AbbieEmmons Your welcome 💙😊

[@salem4758]

TIPS AS A TIMESTAMPED GUIDE: Other characters: ___________________ #1: We all know what the human body looks like (see 1:25 for more) • Categories and things that are worth including in a character description: (see 2:43) #2: People are subjective; so are characters (see 3:34) IN A NUTSHELL (see 4:10) ------ Describing Protagonist: ___________________ #1: NOBODY wakes up into the morning, walks over to their mirror and starts describing themselves from head-to-toe (see 4:25 for more) #2: Sprinkle in their details (see 5:02) #3: Have another character describe them in dialogue (see 5:40) #4: To “bend the rules” (see 5:54)

[@clairekirsch9523]

I love how my writing is gripping and drives forward through engaging characters in challenging situations.

[@sandrosebastian8664]

I find that timing is important, too. One should reveal details about a person's appearance at a moment in the plot when it will be of maximum interest to the reader, especially if it is an unexpected detail.

[@62202ify]

Loved seeing you come flying out of nowhere with those cool sunglasses. Love your videos Abbie.

[@riverbright]

Yesss character description!

[@sesurin]

This is perfect. Love the ideal of matching description to action.

[@jonathangee7902]

I just found this channel and it couldn't come at a better time. I'm writing a first person book and this is the most helpful channel. Keep up the brilliant videos :)

[@wlyhowie]

been writing for months now and been getting stuck lately with writing the description of characters and this video i just came up on is really helpful greatly apricate it

[@IWillSayItLouder]

I’ve watched a lot of writing advice videos on YT but yours have helped me the most! Thank you!!

[@filipedasilvacaetano2574]

I am Will follow this Channel without doubt. I was looking for some tips to improve my english writing and I found you. ❤

[@foxsinban5418]

Just wanted to say, YOU ARE VERY HELPFUL. It’s always been a dream of mine to create my own novel one day, and with the help of your tips and help, I can make it a reality:) I still have a lot to learn but you make the process 50x faster. Keep up the awesome work✨

[@elmoeptn]

I started cracking up because one of the stories I started writing was falling on wattpad story stereotypes. So I'm writing the pov character describing themselves in the most unnatural way lol. I started writing it as a joke but then my friends requested I write more 😭. I stumbled across you and find your videos super helpful in general for my writing. I just felt a little attacked but it's fine cuz it was supposed to be cringey anyway 😂❤️❤️

[@mof.1847]

OMGG YOUR TIPS WERE EXTREMELY HELPFUL!! THANK YOU SOO MUCH 😍💗 I'm currently working on my novel which I started in 2015 and since I was only 13 at that time I didn't know much about what I wrote so now I'm taking the opportunity to really make the character descriptions as close to what I imagine them to look like ☺️

[@AkitoLito-hw3mf]

How do you not have over 1m subs. This is so helpful and i feel like my teacher was the only one talking about you which is sad

[@wordsonNewYorkHarbour]

OMG. Your teacher knows Abbie. I ❤ them. English teacher or writing teacher? (All English/writing teachers need to know Abbie)

[@hikariaburame8483]

You not only have helped me with my writing, but also my college writing for my descriptive essay. Thank you so much

[@dianemiles2720]

Tolkien is hard for people unfamiliar with his old style because he will describe dirt like you've never seen dirt before. You will know what the stitches in those clothes look like. I feel like with C.S. Lewis you will learn so little that your mental imagine has to change as you read, but thanks to his series being so iconic, we all see his characters as they've been portrayed, with the ice queen varying greatly but always being Tilda Swinton.

[@bouncerblake]

I was glad to hear you say to describe characters as POV changes based on what they care about noticing. Like one might always avoid another character's eyes, but can't help but focus on the scars on the back of his hands, and how muscular his back is despite not caring about strong defined arms. Or that he always noticed how her hair smells and that she wears unique earrings or the way she walks. Definitely things neither really spends a lot of time focusing on themselves.

[@7Write4This9Heart7]

I've been sprinkling in my MC's physical description, so I'm really glad to hear that's how I SHOULD be doing it! lol. Also, the 'mirror thing' is SO true! LMAO! I always felt that was so awkward! Like, unless it's plot relevant somehow (which could be interesting!), nobody does that?? LMAO! This was a really great vid, as always! Thanks so much!

[@awild4ND1]

Abbie, you rock! I can't believe this video does not have at least 10K likes! This is really helpful, thank you so much! Everyone here loves your video, and I do too! Keep it up, you are awesome!

[@sumangoyal6966]

Your videos just wakes up my inner writer. YOU ARE BEST

[@oneilanelson9231]

Love your tips especially the one where the character is describing themselves.

[@marklawrence9899]

You’ll know she’s really a writer just by looking at the background. By the way thank you for this❤️

[@davismiles2765]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rovYgoeaapyBjsk

[@Dare-And-Win]

I love how her books are grouped by book colour 😊

[@MissRuthina]

Took me a minute to figure out what you meant about romance genres describing every.. little.. thing.. I laughed so much! You're information is truly wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@AbbieEmmons]

Thank you so much!

[@MultiTaylorswift1234]

This reminded me of how much I love a good book with killer descriptions. Thanks Abbie!

[@AbbieEmmons]

YAAAAS 💛 so glad you enjoyed this vid!

[@robertmurrhee6016]

Normally, I tend to write in third person omniscient, but I'm considering writing the newest story I'm going to be starting soon in first person, perhaps using ship's log or personal journal entries, & I have been struggling with how to have the main protagonist describe herself so the reader knows what she looks like. Your very helpful advice came just in time. Thanks.

[@sofikhalfi4204]

Btw i just love how your video helps sooo much and i just love the background and how its so CUTE

[@oslubrinquez]

Thanks for these important infos, Abby!

[@jessicarestrepo1588]

Abbie this video has been a life-saver for me! Thanks so much!

[@amydlee8147]

Thank you so much for this video, it helped me so much! I found this channel from a friend, and just thank you again!

[@sunnyday6680]

Thank you for this video! My MC literally describes herself while looking in a mirror. LOL. I knew I had to rework this but didn’t know how. This was helpful!

[@milomazli]

Amazing advice Abbie! Thank you!

[@shriram2275]

Excellent ideas in there! Keep up the good work and keep educating us in the fun, natural way that you do. :)

[@chusa1791]

Thanks! So helpfull, i really love your videos and the way you explain things 💙 i love the positive vibe!

[@mitchbray6637]

I have an idea for a video How to make the readers emphasize with the villain WITHOUT gllorifying his or hers actions and also, I think that can also be applied to anti-heroes.

[@shootingstars6762]

How do you get people to not glorify villainous actions? Well, some people are just going to think what they're going to think, but for the majority, show the raw reality of it. Don't sugarcoat it or romanticize it. The problem is that some people sugarcoat or romanticize what this person has done. People try to make it comfortable. Your goal is to make it uncomfortable. Make your readers stare it right in the face. Don't make it easy for them or for yourself. If your writing makes you uncomfortable, you know it'll probably make someone else uncomfortable. I know we've all probably desensitized ourselves to some things, so maybe you won't always be able to tell. Sometimes, it's a good idea to get a second opinion. But remember, when your character does something horrible, make your readers uncomfortable. Don't let fear of what people will think hold you back.

[@noahatlas5240]

Thanks for your videos, theyve been so helpful! Since i was a kid ive wanted to be an author, and with your help, i think now it may br possible!!

[@AbbieEmmons]

YOU CAN DO IT ✨ so glad my videos have inspired you, that's so epic

[@TheDreadlockDogMan]

Abbie, hope all your own writing goals are staying on track. I know making videos can be very, VERY distracting to make. Really appreciate you sharing your awesome knowledge. Am sharing your channel with every writer I know.

[@UserName-xi8rm]

Ever since I started writing “seriously” I’ve become obsessed with coffee ☕️ ❤️

[@natashahodge5715]

hi

[@mariaandersson3013]

Another great way to describe appearances is to compare them. For example: the characters get asked if they're siblings a lot, or the POV just simply says "he has blonde hair, just like me" You can also use this with almost any personality trait, "she's stubborn, like me" it might get a little bit repetitive (like any form of description) but anyhow, that's something I try to use to balance out the basic "He has black hair" "she has green eyes" :)

[@roul4842]

Thank you!! I'm writing a first person story and I wasn't sure how to describe my MC.

[@KimTaehyung-xs5eg]

THANK YOU!!!!! you have helped so much. Keep going.

[@jernylauriceanova8869]

in describing the pov character, you could also include what she's feeling herself, or towards other characters it will most likely include who and what she is

[@erok562]

Thank you for this juicy information.

[@beans2752]

THANKS SO MUCH THIS WAS AN AMAZING VIDEO

[@rosadele9715]

When you did the first pose my heart melted those big blue eyes 😭

[@aurableckenburg5695]

Thank you, you are helping me sooo much 💕

[@JessicaNicoleDickerson]

Your videos are always so helpful :)

[@AbbieEmmons]

Thank you so much, Jessica!! 💛✨

[@lunarobber9457]

My MC is not human all the time , so to space out descriptions I thought of what I could see of her if I was a camera as a set angle. Helped a lot for me to not go overboard on descriptors in one sitting.

[@clintcarpentier2424]

Describing your character through their eyes is so narcissistic, who spends that much time thinking about what they look like, and why would I wanna read a perspective so focused on themselves. The guy in the mirror, I'm pretty sure it's me, but you know what, I'm sexy, and my hair and eyes are various shades of chocolate treats; that's all I need to know. Knowing that about myself, I describe what needs to be described, usually through other characters eyes. ________________ MC - The Gran’s had their title simply by being over one hundred and fifty years old. They didn’t look much older than a typical Sapien of mothering age, and they wore the purple-hewed make-up agreed upon ages ago. Angel-Eyes was barely a quarter way to becoming a Gran, so she looked more like a fertile Sapien girl in her early twenties - thus ripe for marriage - with green eyes and wavy waste-length platinum hair. - snip - All things being equal - which they weren’t - their genetics had purposely stifled their vertical growth, so you’d be hard pressed to find one over seventeen dess; that height effected their adult curves, giving them varying figures you wanted to ravish or corrupt or both. Angel-Eyes could almost be fifteen dess, if she stood on her toes at full stretch, and barely a hundred pounds soaking wet. Others throughout the book - A few moments later, a flushed Todd carried the well curved but hideously beat-up limp girl into the bathroom; there wasn’t much but her round cheeky face that was a natural color. He lowered the shivering girl into Lessa’s waiting arms. - snip - He turned to see Angel strutting in, washed and in her Chinese dress again. She wore it better than the silly uniform, but then, she probably wore that better than a proper uniform. She crossed to the chair and sat, like a lord owning his throne, and with a kick she crossed her legs before resting her hat on her lap. - snip - The girl elegantly came around the chair and sat as she said, “we were just discussing your departure.” She looked so regal before them, as though the petite woman was born to rule. - snip - Her nose was so small, as if someone had pinched the clay of her face as an afterthought.

[@MKSpeakz]

Something I like doing is making my characters in the sims, I can actually see what my character looks like and it makes it a lot easier to keep track

[@feebo4558]

Me: -Wakes up in the morning, -eventually gets up and walks over to the mirror and mentally describes my appearance from head -watches youtube videos on designing characters. Abbie: "nobody wakes up in the morning and goes over to their mirror and looks at themselves and starts describing their physical appearance head to toe" Me: "I hereby dub myself Nobody"

[@wordsonNewYorkHarbour]

Hahaha. Lol

[@songstudios2791]

Your videos are very helpful for me. I will recommend your channel to my friends

[@Taco2250]

A good Strategy I learned was to embellish the Character thought the story and when you want a base for the Character you could use bullet points like Birthdate Main Personality Pet peeves ect and build off that in your story.

[@portella2509]

a beta reader JUST told me she thinks that I haven´t describe a character enough, oh my God, this video literally read my mind

[@AbbieEmmons]

Wow, so happy this video came at the right time for you! 😂

[@AnotherDuck]

When describing the viewpoint character you can also do that indirectly as comparisons to other characters. That also says a lot about what your character thinks both of herself and of the other character.

[@mialovely7864]

I like to use the last technique. I like to describe my main character through the POV of other characters. It just work best for me that way. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@CADJewellerySkills]

There is one subversion of the self description via mirror trope that is amazing- Disco Elysium. He’s so loaded with self loathing he cannot even look at himself.

[@chariots8x230]

Plz also do a video on how to write cliffhangers 🙏🏻

[@Eijididnothingwrong]

Great video! It would be amazing to see you verbally credit the person who suggested this idea though, it's just good practice. Can't wait for more!

[@AbbieEmmons]

Thanks, Elizabeth! These aren't ideas I took from anyone - they're just methods I've personally used and found helpful. 😊

[@ace_of_cups4096]

Working on my 5th attempt at writing a novel, and found you mid writers block ♥

[@JoleCannon]

My book is in close 3rd. Here's how I did it. So MMC1 is the primary character, we see his POV the most (not by much, but we do.) His first chapter he's in a club where he feels out of place. I describe him in a way that contrasts with the other club goers and how he feels being there. I did this because of how he sees himself and compares himself to others. I mention his height and weight, but then descriptors based on that. Example.: Close by these fitness gods sat a bear of a man. Him. Bernard was a few inches shy of six feet and carried a thick two-hundred and seventy-five pounds. His round belly pushed against the bar as he attempted to find a comfortable position on the small bar stool. His once muscular arms flexed as he lifted his glass, a shadow of his youth on the farm. Thick calves strained against his jeans, the byproduct of years of milking cows. Short-cropped black hair matched his groomed beard. His plaid flannel shirt and blue jeans contrasted with the skinny jeans, muscle shirts, and salon-styled hair of the men surrounding him. These crowds made Bernard feel old. The average age was twenty-five, and he was in his mid-thirties. Over the hill in the gay community. Odd man out was an understatement. For MMC2 I do less: This is a phone call with his mother. “So, how’s the new diet? Have you lost weight?” Rory signed. They attended two services twice a week together, and he ate lunch with her and his father every Sunday. She still brought up his weight every week. He’d been the same size since he was twenty. Six feet and three hundred pounds. Nothing would change his perception. He wished she would leave his weight alone. He loved himself at this size. No one would make him feel ashamed about his size, which included his mother. He wanted to tell her to stop, but decided against it. This is the only descriptor we get because at the start he's working on a project with his classmates before heading home. We do get his age, because he says how much older he is than his colleagues, but that's it. In chapter 4 we get a better descriptor when MMC1 describes things about him like the wind blowing through his chestnut hair, the hint of a Scottish accent, how he's slightly taller than thicker than himself. These make sense because he's been in love with is best friend for years, with is revealed later. I think this works. I'm almost done (a few more weeks) with my edits and getting ready for Beta readers.

[@Great_Duke_Astaroth]

There are a few cases where it makes sense to have the main character describe him to him and/or to the reader directly, for example: if he was reincarnated with a new appearance; or if he just got a make over; or if he is a narcissist in love with his own reflection; or if he tell a story about his past and he had changed a lot; aut cetera.

[@KatharineFrancis]

Exactly. You have to sprinkle it in. Nothing is worse than 3 paragraphs of detailed looks that will only be forgotten later. Haha

[@AbbieEmmons]

YES 😂

[@restoredtuna8264]

Lol I was thinking I was trying something crazy with the dual characters describing each other, now I feel a little more confident in it

[@sanahaquil1251]

Abbie, could you please make a video on how to skip time in a story? As a reader, I've come across some books in which they would skip a week or even a month into the story, and it made me feel like I was missing something. I wanted to know what happened in that month. Why was the author skipping it? As a result, I'm afraid to skip time in my story. For example, when a few hours pass in which nothing major happend, should we decribe briefly what went down on those hours so the reader doesn't feel left out, or simply say that time passed and proceed with the next scene? I feel like sometimes readers want to know these small details of the character's daily life, as long as it's not over done. How do we find a good balance between describing boring moments too much and skipping time too much? How can we introduce "boring scenes" to satisfy the reader's curiosity and make it feel realistic withour losing their interest? How do we make the time skipping bearable to the readers and make them feel like they didn't miss out on anything?

[@wordsonNewYorkHarbour]

I believe you should just write at least something from a sentence to a chapter of what happenned then just so that something definitely had happenned then and then delete it later if it's too boring or you want a time skip. Just put it in as an exercise so you know that something did happen in between those events.

[@katelyngould2308]

thanks, this was very useful

[@sergiotorres9560]

Thanks this helps me a lot!

[@rentonreva2047]

This was helpful. thank you :)

[@bibinazeema8551]

Thank you for helping me

[@LV-bk4it]

Excellent.🌻

[@raini0705]

I find it very cringy when main protagonist has narcissic inner monologue describing how beautiful or hot they are, esp in front of a mirror. UNLESS it's intended to be cringy and funny like in a romcom lol

[@johnynoway9127]

personally it can be a character flaw. mc's dont have to be good role models

[@lania4334]

You helped me in my homework 😁 Thanks 🙃

[@arabellamousseau3344]

I've just been watching some of your videos while doing my nails, and heard you mentioning basing some characters' personalities on MBTI. Do you mind me asking what type you are? 😁 I myself am an ENFP. BTW, I'm a young an amateur writer and I'm really appreciating your tips, methods, and insights! Thank you for making things just a little less intimidating 😋

[@nomadicmourish7615]

How give catchy title for short stories 👍

[@bpoullos]

Awesome video, Abbie

[@AbbieEmmons]

Thank you!! 💛✨

[@melissamarie2256]

holy. basically the first vid that's ever helped me other than one or two lmao

[@trex7370]

Thank you for the video