© 2018 DiAnn Mills

By mastering the art of description, the writer uses various techniques to show fresh and unusual details through the point-of-view character. The result immerses the writer and the reader into the story. The adventure begins!

We’ve been taught since basic writing instruction to research powerful nouns and vivid verbs and to cut back on adjectives and adverbs to show our stories. Parts of speech are essential for proper grammar and create a vivid story world for our readers. But there’s more to our craft than word substitution, more than finding ten ways to note how a character walks.

By exploring the traits and voice of the point-of-view character, writers create memorable passages no other character can or will duplicate.

Characterization
Many characterization sketches and guidelines help the writer find the real character. Take a leap and investigate the quirky parts of character that make him/her stand out. This is discovered in backstory—the life experiences of the character before chapter one, line one that apply to the story’s content. What is your character’s vocabulary, the words only he/she uses?

Plot
How does your character feel about the goal or problem facing him/her? Passion and drive are a given, but what about the character who looks at the world through a distinct outlook? How does your character illustrate the situation? What metaphors and similes are his/hers alone?

Dialogue
The words our character say come from characterization, backstory, and what has been presented in the story problem. The character’s goal or problem is set in his/her mind, constantly plaguing the character, and the dialogue demonstrates it.

Setting
The writer researches the best places to set a scene. The objective is for the setting to be antagonistic and to force the character to grow and change into a stronger person. How does the character face and describe each problematic situation, and how does he/she adapt as the scene progresses?

Emotions and Body Language
Emotions and body language reflect the inner character. Some characters attempt to hide feelings, while others are unable to fight them. The character specifically voices how reactions and responses affect him/her. Is your character successful in covering up emotions? How does he/she internalize feelings?

In mastering the art of description, writers are challenged to create unique situations that allow the reader to experience every sentence through the point of view character.

How do you determine your character’s description?
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DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. She is co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference andMountainside Marketing Conference.