˒⠀S O T T . . . 𝙲𝙰𝚁𝙳𝙸𝙸𝙰𝙲

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❛ 𝑾𝑬𝑳𝑪𝑶𝑴𝑬 TO THE 𝑭𝑰𝑵𝑨𝑳
𝑺𝑯𝑶𝑾, 𝑯𝑶𝑷𝑬 YOU'RE WEARING
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writing facial features! ━━ no. 017
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     IN SOME OF MY BOOKS, I HAVE BEEN COMPLIMENTED ON THE WAY I DESCRIBE EYES, FACIAL FEATURES, AND BEHAVIOR IN MY CHAPTERS. A lot of people like the way I describe the physical (and primarily facial) features of my characters and often question how they can get better at describing them. So, I have decided to dedicate an entire chapter to explaining how to describe facial features, my tips, and advice I have gathered through my own personal research over the years! As well as a master list of physical descriptions that have been proven to be helpful for hundreds of authors!

     ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐇𝐘𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 ⸝⸝ ⇗
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀→ ⺌ This list comes from Bryn Donovan. Credit for this portion goes to them. Disclaimer: I have added my own words, advice, and paraphrased sections of the article.

          When well-executed, character description can be helpful in the illustrations of a character in a reader's mind. However, sometimes when you're in the midst of writing, it can be hard to think of physical adjectives and distinguishing features for characters. So, this is a compiled list of physical descriptors that'll help when you're trying to think of how to describe a character's appearance.

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟭. Eyes. Large, small, narrow, sharp, squinty, round, wide-set, close-set, deep-set, sunken, bulging, protruding, wide, hooded, heavy-lidded, bright, sparkling, glittering, glistening, flecked, dull, bleary, watery, cloudy, red-rimmed, beady, birdlike, cat-like, jewel-like, steely, hard, fringed with long lashes, with sweeping eyelashes, and with thick eyelashes.

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟮. Eye Color. Chestnut, chocolate-brown, cocoa brown, coffee brown, mocha, sepia, sienna brown, mink brown, copper, amber, golden, honey brown, whiskey, honey, tawny, topaz, hazel, obsidian, onyx, coal, raven, midnight, sky blue, sunny blue, cornflower blue, steel blue, ice blue, Arctic blue, glacial blue, crystal blue, cerulean, electric blue, azure, lake/ocean blue, aquamarine, turquoise, denim blue, slate blue/slate gray, storm blue/storm gray, silver/silver-gray, chrome, platinum, smoky, gray/grey, ash gray, concrete gray, dove gray, shark gray, fog gray, gunmetal gray, olive, clover green, emerald, leaf green, and moss green.

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟯. Eyebrows. Arched, straight, plucked, sparse, trim, dark, faint, thin, thick, unruly, bushy, heavy, and threaded.

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟰. Skin Color. Amber, bronze, cinnamon, copper, dark brown, deep brown, ebony, honey-golden, pale, pallid, pasty, fair, light, cream/creamy, alabaster, ivory, bisque, porcelain, olive, and rose/rosy.

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟱. Skin (In-General). Lined, wrinkled, seamed, leathery, sagging, drooping, loose, clear, smooth, silken, satiny, dry, flaky, scaly, delicate, thin, translucent, luminescent, baby-soft, flawless, poreless, with large pores, glowing, dewy, dull, velvety, fuzzy, rough, uneven, mottled, dimpled, doughy, firm, freckled, pimply, pockmarked, blemished, pitted, scarred, bruised, veined, scratched, sunburned, weather-beaten, raw, and tattooed.

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟲. Face Structure. Square, round, oblong, oval, elongated, narrow, heart-shaped, catlike, wolfish, high forehead, broad forehead, prominent brow ridge, protruding brow bone, sharp cheekbones, high cheekbones, angular cheekbones, hollow cheeks, square jaw, chiseled, sculpted, jowly, jutting chin, pointed chin, weak chin, receding chin, double chin, cleft chin, dimple in the chin, and visible Adam's apple.

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟳. Nose. Snub, dainty, button, turned, uplong, broad, thin, straight, pointed, crooked, aquiline, Roman, bulbous, and flared.

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟴. Mouth/Lips. Thin, narrow, full, lush, Cupid's bow, dry, cracked, chapped, moist, glossy, straight teeth, gap between teeth, gleaming white, overbite, and underbite.

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟵. Facial Hair. Clean-shaven, smooth-shaven, beard, neckbeard, goatee, mustache, sideburns, mutton-chop sideburns, stubble, a few days' growth of beard, and five o'clock shadow.

          ╰─── 𝟭𝟬. Hair (In-General). Long, short, shoulder-length, loose, limp, dull, shiny, glossy, sleek, smooth, luminous, lustrous, spiky, stringy, tangled, messy, tousled, windblown, unkempt, redhead, straggly, neatly combed, parted, slicked down/slicked back, cropped, buzzed/buzz cut, crewcut, bob, mullet, curly, bushy, frizzy, wavy, straight, lanky, dry, oily, greasy, layers, corkscrew spirals, ringlets, braids, widow's peak, bald, shaved, comb-over, afro, thick, voluminous, full, untamed, bouncy, wispy, fine, and thinning.

          ╰─── 𝟭𝟭. Hair Color. Black, blue-black, jet black, raven, ebony, inky, midnight, salt and pepper, silver/silver-gray, charcoal gray, steel gray, white, snow-white, brown, brunette, chocolate brown, coffee brown, ash brown, brown sugar, nut brown, caramel, tawny, brown toffee, brown, red, ginger, auburn, copper, strawberry, blonde, butterscotch, honey, wheat, golden, sandy, fair-haired, bleached, and platinum.

          ╰─── 𝟭𝟮. Body Type. Tall, average height, short, petite, tiny, large, beefy, bulky, brawny, barrel-chested, heavy/heavy-set, overweight, flabby, pot-bellied, thick, stout, lush, plush, full-figured, rounded, curvy, hourglass, leggy/long-legged, lanky, lean, slim, slender, thin, skinny, bony, solid, stocky, sturdy, fit, athletic, toned, built, muscular, chiseled, ripped, broad-shouldered, sloping shoulders, and bowlegged.

          ╰─── 𝟭𝟯. Hands. Delicate, small, large, square, sturdy, strong, smooth, rough, calloused, manicured, stubby, fingers, long fingers, ragged nails, grimy, and ink-stained.

     ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐘𝐎𝐔 ⸝⸝ ⇗
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀→ ⺌ This list comes from someone on Pinterest. I cannot find the original post, but I found it on there. Credit for this portion goes to the original creator. Disclaimer: I have added my own words, advice, and paraphrased sections of the article.

          Someone's eyes can tell you a lot. They convey hidden truths and are the keeper of keys to locked doors. So, when describing eyes in writing and aligning them with a character's behavior, that is important to remember. Down below are several explanations and examples of what certain facial expressions and actions involving one's eyes mean:

     ｡ﾟ☆ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝜊𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑦𝑒𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝜊𝑛𝜐𝑒𝑦 𝑓𝑒𝑎𝑟, 𝑔𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑡, 𝜊𝑟 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑖𝜊𝑛.

     ｡ﾟ☆ 𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑒𝑦𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑡 𝑎𝑡 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑎𝑖𝑑 𝜊𝑟 𝑔𝜊𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝜊𝑛.

     ｡ﾟ☆ 𝒂 𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝜊𝑓 𝑐𝜊𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝜊𝑟 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑒ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝜐𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑑 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦𝜊𝑢 𝑑𝜊𝑛'𝑡 𝑙𝜊𝜊𝑘 𝑎𝑛𝜊𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝜊𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑦𝑒𝑠.

     ｡ﾟ☆ 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝑡𝜊 𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝑚𝜊𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑓 𝑛𝑒𝑟𝜐𝜊𝑢𝑠 𝜊𝑟 𝑡𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝜊 𝑒𝜐𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝜊𝑚𝑒𝜊𝑛𝑒 𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑒.

     ｡ﾟ☆ 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝑙𝜊𝜊𝑘 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑙𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝜊 𝑎𝑛𝜊𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝜊𝑛'𝑠 𝑒𝑦𝑒𝑠, 𝑦𝜊𝑢 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓-𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒.

     ｡ﾟ☆ 𝒘𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝑠ℎ𝜊𝑤 𝑚𝜊𝑟𝑒 𝜊𝑓 𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑎 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝜊𝑟 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝜊𝑛.

     ｡ﾟ☆ 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎 𝑐𝜊𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑏𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝜊𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎 𝑐𝜊𝑛𝜐𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑖𝜊𝑛, 𝑎 𝑐𝜊𝑚𝑚𝜊𝑛 𝑚𝜊𝜐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝜊 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑎 𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑐𝑘 𝑔𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠.

     ｡ﾟ☆ 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝑠𝜊𝑚𝑒𝜊𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝜐𝑒 𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝜊𝑟 𝑠𝑢𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝜊𝑛𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑑𝜊𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑡.

     ｡ﾟ☆ 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝑚𝑒𝑚𝜊𝑟𝑦 𝑖𝑠 𝑢𝑠𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑑𝜊𝑛𝑒 𝑏𝑦 𝑙𝜊𝜊𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑢𝑝 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝜊 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡.

     ｡ﾟ☆ 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒑 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝜊𝑛𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔.

     ｡ﾟ☆ 𝒆𝒚𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝜊𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑏𝑟𝜊𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑖𝑓 𝑠𝜊𝑚𝑒𝜊𝑛𝑒 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑠𝜊𝑚𝑒𝜊𝑛𝑒 𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑒.

     ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝟓 𝐓𝐈𝐏𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 ⸝⸝ ⇗
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀→ ⺌ These tips come from MasterClass. Credit for this portion goes to them. Disclaimer: I have added my own words, advice, and paraphrased sections of the article.

          The human face reveals a lot about a person. "In creative writing, describing a character's face can uncover information about who they are and how they feel. Writers can zoom in on individual features, like the eyes or mouth, or describe a face in its entirety to paint a picture of a character."

          These painted pictures of a character's physical features are important to include in your stories. "They help bring characters to life, especially when you're introducing them for the first time. They can also reveal emotions and reactions and help set the mood of a scene without relying on dialogue. Along with personality traits, body type, body language, and physical appearance, your character's unique facial features can tell us more about who they are. Using descriptive writing, a writer can enhance character description by detailing facial features and expressions."

          So, here are five tips for how to describe faces in your writing:

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟭. Use figurative language when describing a character's face. "When you're introducing a character for the first time and want the reader to create an image in their mind, use figurative language to describe the character's face instead of just stating the obvious qualities."

           ➳❥ Example: (You can use similes and metaphors.) It's okay to simply say, "She has blonde hair," but you could also use a simile: "Her hair was golden like the sun."

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟮. Create facial expressions that reveal emotions. "How a character's eyes, eyebrows, nose, forehead, mouth, and chin move in unison can let a reader in on their emotions. A character can have a facial tic when they get nervous. Whether it's raised eyebrows and a mouth curved into a smile or a furrowed brow and an upper lip curled into a scowl, you can use a character's expressions instead of dialogue to reveal their feelings about a situation."

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟯. Frame your character's face with a hairstyle that reflects their story. "A crewcut might signify a military soldier or someone who likes to be in control. A ponytail or pigtails might indicate a young character. Describe a character's hair color—black hair, dark hair, brunette, redhead, blonde, gray, or white—in interesting ways instead of just stating the shade. It makes a difference whether your character dyes their hair or keeps it its natural shade. Describe the length of their hair. A confident businesswoman might have short or shoulder-length hair. A musician might have longer hair. Match your character's hairstyle with their personality."

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟰. Realize that eyes are windows to the soul. "There are endless ways to depict eyes. Describe obvious characteristics like eye color—green eyes, blue eyes, brown eyes, gray eyes, or black eyes. Highlight their shape—round, almond, narrow. Think about the entire orbital structure, from eyelids to eyelashes. Illustrate how the eyes are placed in relation to the character's face—deep-set, wide-set, or close-set. Give eyes their own movements to tap into a character's feelings. Let a character's eyes twinkle, squint, gaze, or glare."

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟱. Give your character unique facial features. "Set a character apart with distinguishing facial features. Give them dimples, freckles, or unique markings on their face. Give them poor vision so they need to wear eyeglasses. Maybe they wear heavy makeup or have piercings. Think of different ways you can create unique facial features that help define a character."

          I hope these were all helpful and if you have any questions or want more tips on this topic, let me know!

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❛ YOU 𝑪𝑨𝑵'𝑻 𝑩𝑹𝑰𝑩𝑬 THE DOOR
ON 𝒀𝑶𝑼𝑹 𝑾𝑨𝒀 TO THE 𝚂𝙺𝚈. ❜
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