How do you know what your characters look like?

[alfreda89]

Addressed to the Floating Critiques folk, and now to you:

Since we have all been either too busy to write, or too busy writing to think about a writing group, I thought I'd ask a question -- do you like to have a picture -- literally -- of what a character you're creating looks like? Is it helpful, is it a hindrance? I have buried about here a file with all kinds of interesting faces in it -- being kept for just that purpose. They will probably end up as characters in my stories. Nowadays, I paste photos in a file -- sometimes a general file, sometimes for a specific book.

I don't tell people who was a physical model for a character. I found out that fans are too influenced by what the individual may be in real life. Professional entertainers are risky, because some people associate them with a role that can't be shaken free of -- or fans don't like their politics, their private life, whatever.

Watching that silly, wonderful Ninja Warrior marathon, I found a face for a future book. It will help me begin to put together the story she's part of, knowing what she looks like.

It also is writing progress, which is always appreciated. Health has been bizarre here, so I'll take the good things as they come along!

Comments

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I like to have an image, yes, and they're usually actors or models. The current MacBook wallpaper is, in fact, the image of an actor I envision as one of the main characters in the wip.

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

I currently have the northern lights as a screen saver, from digitalblasphemy.com . The northern lights appeared when Allie was born, and they also can play in the new contemporary world I'm creating.

I used to be secretive about this. Glad to know other folks do it!

[moon-happy.livejournal.com]

I don't have a photo or picture, though occasionally I do have a famous person in mind. But I may try your idea of a photo file; it will be fun to stash potential hero pics....and heroines, too, of course, if I must.

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

Oh, heroines too! Both sides need a role model, at the least. And I like best having that male-female interaction.