I recently read an article about using eight ways to describe a character to make them come to life. According to Jordan at Nownovel.com, those eight ways include:

“1. Start with character profiles and pin boards

2. Focus on details that reveal personality

3. Practice describing people in brief

4. Prioritize unique character features

5. Describe character actions and gestures

6. Find descriptive adjectives and fitting comparisons

7. Describe personality via dialogue and voice

8. Read writers renowned for good characterization” (www.nownovel.com/blog/how-to-describe-a-person-examples)

So I played.

Claire is 18 years old with curly brown hair about shoulder length which she keeps in a ponytail most of the time, not only because the way it swings makes her smile inside but having it out of her face allows her to be much more aware of what’s around her. She has blue eyes, bright like a summer sky and her voice is quiet, but also quite pleasant when she sings. Her mother died when she was six and her father checked out on her, getting lost in his own loss. She dealt with a mean stepmother, found an older neighbor couple who took over that parent role in her life, and took off for Ireland when she was 18.

Although she did look back as she stood in line to board the plane for Ireland, she also had her head up and shoulders back when she scanned her ticket to walk on and find her seat. She wasn’t running away as much as running toward, but the insipid memory of Angelica had had its effect on her pace. Angelica was not the typical volcano stepmother, but more the slimy slithering snake carrying deadly venom with only the slight rustle of the long row of rattles at the end of her tail. And Claire was looking for room to breathe without pain.

The woods became Claire’s friend, and she often takes long walks and hums various songs that pop into her head without realizing she is making sound.

Playing here, but also working.