Describe your MC

Status
Not open for further replies.

JoNightshade

has finally arrived
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 29, 2007
Messages
7,153
Reaction score
4,140
Website
www.ramseyhootman.com
This is inspired by SuzyB's thread about pictures of your main characters. Apparently a lot of us have mental images of our characters that we carry around in our heads-- not necessarily based on someone we know or an actor. And even in our novels, we might not provide a complete character description.

So here's your chance. What does your MC (or another character of your choice) look like? Give us a complete rundown of the guy/girl in your head.
 

TheIT

Infuriatingly Theoretical
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 10, 2005
Messages
6,432
Reaction score
1,343
Location
Silicon Valley
My primary MC is best described by his attitude:

"His smile held secrets and mysteries which he seemed happy to know and even happier to keep to himself."
 

Zoombie

Dragon of the Multiverse
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Dec 24, 2006
Messages
40,775
Reaction score
5,948
Location
Some personalized demiplane
My first MC is a fairly normal teenager. He's got a friendly face, brown hair, neutral eyes and is laid back.

My second MC is a rather pretty teenage girl with bubblegum pink hair and two T.V antennes sticking out of the back of her head. Like rabbit ear antenna. She also has a slightly upturned nose, and when she smiles, she looks radiantly beautiful. At least to the first MC. And her eyes are just the right shade of pink and the first MC can stare into them for hours.

You know how lovesick teens are, right?

It's like that, but one of them is a cybrog!
 

Esopha

bam pow zap.
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jan 31, 2007
Messages
12,665
Reaction score
2,629
Location
Magic America
Rosemary, my MC from Little Cities, was always medium height, stocky, blue eyes and reddish-brown hair. Stubborn chin, thin nose that looks like there's a round bit attached to the point (button nose?). She has long hair for the first part of the book, then a boy's cut, long hair for about 2k words, and then the boy's cut again. :D

Kevin, my MC from Blue, actually describes himself in the novel. Rosemary doesn't do that, except to angst about her hair. Here's Kevin's description of himself: "Kevin thanked his father for his looks. They were decidedly plain. Not unpleasant, but his nose was a tad too long and his eyes were too deep set. It was perfect for not being noticed." What he doesn't mention is dark hair, dark eyes, and a five o'clock shadow.
 
Joined
Aug 7, 2005
Messages
47,985
Reaction score
13,247
It doesn't matter what any of my characters look like. What's important is what they do.
 

JoNightshade

has finally arrived
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 29, 2007
Messages
7,153
Reaction score
4,140
Website
www.ramseyhootman.com
Let's see... I will describe my MC from C0urt1ng Gret@. He's a small caucasian guy with salt-and-pepper hair about an inch or two long; he combs it back a little but it usually sticks up in little points. He's kinda dismayed about the gray in his hair because he's 35. He has bright eyes and sharp, petite features. Also he has spina bifida, so he uses crutches to get around. He usually dresses neatly in khakis and a button-up shirt tucked into a belt. He's friendly looking, but because of this women always call him "dear" and it drives him nuts.
 
Last edited:

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
16,767
Reaction score
4,662
Location
Scotland
Detailed though they may be, none of these descriptions linger any longer than it takes me to switch threads.
 

Esopha

bam pow zap.
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jan 31, 2007
Messages
12,665
Reaction score
2,629
Location
Magic America
That's because characters are basically like show dogs. They all look nice, but the ones that break free of their owners and crap all over the judge's shoes are the ones that make an impression.

That said, I like showing off my puppets...er...babies. >>;
 
Last edited:

Azraelsbane

Agony is defeat
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 22, 2007
Messages
2,202
Reaction score
1,917
Location
In front of the Almighty, on the wrong side of the
Website
www.granitewindstarr.com
Okay, because I'm too lazy to change the premade character sketches I have for my three MCs, that's what you get. :) Also, you should know that the antag's name is Nikoli.

Morghan Windstarr- Born in 2016 to an upper-middleclass family in North Carolina, her life is drastically altered when her family is gunned down around her while walking the streets of LA. Sent to a foster home at age 12, she is the victim of rape and several other tragic occurrences before escaping her foster father and fleeing to New York. After the outbreak of WWIII, devastated by the loss of the father figure she had found in a black market arms trafficker from the now destroyed Big Apple, she accepts a position as an assassin within one of the newly developed propaganda enforcement agencies created within the now borderless nation-state of the world. After over a decade of holding a leading position within the agency she becomes pregnant from an affair with one of her underlings and decides to give up her profession in an attempt to create life instead of destroying it. The situation turns tragic when, years later, both she and the father of her son are pitted against each other in a battle that ends both of their lives. Over 200 years after her death, she is resurrected in Hell to serve as an assassin for who she assumes to be God.

Oh, and I guess her physical appearance is ultimately what this post is after, so here's a couple lines explaining it.

~A woman of athletic build with thick, flowing black hair. Her hair is parted down the middle and covers a little more than half of her black silk shirt. She usually wears oversized city camouflage cargo pants and Kevlar boots that fit to just above her calves. She also has a thing for sunglasses.

Lucifer (Luke)- First created of Nikoli's host of angels, Lucifer was shunned by his creator for his childlike inquisitiveness and the fact that he was unexpectedly created with wings. He holds complete control over the element of fire, and is most often seen in his human form; tall, pale complexion with contrastingly jet-black hair and deep brown eyes. This appearance is a wingless projection of his original angelic form, which was destroyed when Nikoli used his power to warp and distort his creation. Lucifer's angelic form throughout the storyline is monstrous, covered in a charred black crust of skin, and accompanied by razor sharp teeth and claws. His eyes, blood red, lack the definition of a pupil, and his wings are black and leathery, not unlike those of a bat. He is fanatical about the need to keep the truth of his angelic form from others, fearing the rejection that he is sure would follow. Doomed by his love for Morghan, who nicknames him Luke, he hangs on her every word, becoming first friend and then lover to the emotionally torn assassin in her second life. It is Lucifer who bleeds Morghan as his immortal hybrid, exhausting his only chance at creating a mate.


Azrael- Second created of the angelic host. The physical split in his features caused him to be thrown into the defect category along with his elder "brother." The right side of his body is hypersensitive, the skin a charred black color that looks to have a rugged texture, while his left side is unscathed in its pale, smooth angelic beauty. The two sides join in a jagged tear that runs the entire length of his body. Although still considered an angel, he lacks the definition of wings. His eyes are alert, intelligent, and deep amber in color, and his hair is a very light brown, as it was originally blond. Used for the most part of his life as Heaven's sex slave, he is somewhat reclusive and determined to have his privacy once thrown into the dimension of Hell along with Lucifer. Azrael's power lies predominantly on the metaphysical plane. His telepathic and telekinetic abilities are unmatched, and he is arguably the most powerful character given the realm of the power he possesses, though his strong adherence to morality tends to keep his power in check. Azrael is nothing if not devoted to being himself. Though he, like Lucifer, has the power to shape-shift, he refuses to appear in any form other than his own. He prefers to dress well, often wears a suit, and always wears a black glove on his right hand so that the hypersensitive fingers of that side never come into contact with the outside world.
 

Oberon

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 16, 2007
Messages
453
Reaction score
87
Location
Palm Springs, CA
My MC is 35, a little under six feet tall, light brown hair cut fairly short (he eschewed spiky hair in deference to his boss), brown eyes, tends to have a slightly worried expression. He is a Jewish ad agent from NYC in the mountains of Wyoming. He finds companionship with a 13 year old girl hurting from as yet undisclosed abuse. She is smart, a little sassy, takes no BS, black hair she wears in a Cleopatra style, is knowledgeable about nature and dedicated to preserving it. She teaches him. Disaster will bond them in a non-sexual way, and both will find new directions in their lives.

That's more than you wanted to know, but you can't trust writers to stay on the path.
 

Xx|e|ph|e|me|r|al|xX

Bored Fanatic
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 5, 2007
Messages
378
Reaction score
53
Location
Dreamind, Saraton
Xx|Okay! Uh, which one? o_O

I'll start with the four MCs from Whisper and post later for others. As long as I have them fresh in my mind (I've been drawing them as lolis...I'm surprised they'll still talk to me. Then again, knowing them...XD)...

Michel Beaumont (age 50 to 55-ish in the bulk of the story) is approx. 5'11"--approx. meaning, he's on the short side, closer to 5'10". He's pretty pale, enough to look unhealthy (and so skinny it probably is unhealthy...which he often is...), but takes good enough care of his skin to keep it looking halfway decent. His hair is pixie-short. When straightened, it might lightly brush his shoulders. But it's normally quite curly, and softly so at that. His eyes are nice acorns, hazel colored. Beautiful smile. Gives off a demeanor that makes people want to fall before him and spill their hearts out. Wears his heart, quite visibly, on his sleeve. He wears makeup--ie, foundation, eyeliner and/or mascara and or/shadow, blush, and at least gloss--out of an old habit of a few different sorts. He has a bony build and holds himself rather daintily. He has those kind of pianists hands that just seem deftly efficient.

Ælfric Jónsson (age 723, a vampyre--I'll elaborate later) is a short-side-of 5'4", small built, Olde English/Icelandic/Latin scholar and biblical scholar. He was partially catholic, but is mostly non-denominational, still very Christian. Usually at least has a cross around his neck, tucked into his ancient ruffled shirt and/or fancy coat/jacket. As he's been a vampyre for 723 years, his skin is akin to a corpse's--cold, hard, colorless. His hair is a glossy black, straight, soft, and shiny. His lips are lacking in those little pin-creases and whatnot regular lips have--they look like unfired clay. His eyes are far and deep, severely set and the eyelids rest naturally at half-mast, almost lazily. They're an absolutely deathly clear ice blue. He's very sophisticated and distant, seemingly, in everything he does. A natural leader. Everyone naturally looks to him, even those who don't really know him. He just has that air. His back isn't straight, and thus walks with a (fashionable!) cane, often limping. He has an ability to remain distant and stoic for a long time, through anything, to the point people think it's inhuman, even in-vampyre, but when something strikes home, he can pretty quickly lose it--throw fits, dive into deep depressions, etc.

Charles William Symphony Coleridge himself! Age 235, another vampie. He's about 5'8" or 9", pretty average build and weight for that build, if a tad on the small side. Also a vampyre, his skin pigmentation is slowly dieing as well. He has more color than Alfie, but he's still a fair bit pale. His hair is a pretty bronzey-blonde-auburn shade, quite wavey and curly and long. His eyes are bright, and vampyricially clear. Such a shade of sky blue that Michel (as the first-person POV of the story) once said that to look into them at sunrise is to see straight through him and into the sky behind him. He's grinny and seemingly the complete opposite of Alfie. Instead of stoic, he's rather openly emotional. But when something really strikes a chord, he tends to curl into himself and withdraw. He's often viewed as selfish--which, in many ways, he is. He's also a fashionista. He wears a mix of his own saved clothes from the 17-, 18-, early 19-hundreds, vintage and modern fashion, both men's and women's. Whatever strikes his fancy, he'll do something with. He's a huge shopper. And loves pop culture. It's his way of keeping that boring immortal lifespan interesting.

Last, but most certainly not least, is Angel Ackerman (age 25 to 31ish for the bulk of the story). Angel is around 5'7", and leanly muscular, well-built. His face is strikingly gorgeous, and that's been more a downfall for him. His hair is long and curly and pale blonde, and pretty, round eyes a rich indigo. He's a swordfighter. He found he likes the art of it, the dancerly movements, and the overall effect, and decided to pursue it. Wielding a sword, an all-white outfit, and a black mask, he's the vampyre protector. He keeps the hunters from killing the "rogue" vampyres. He's borderline retarded, and has struggled between regular-but-dumb and actually retarded all his life--never being smart enough to really make it with the normal kids, but not retarded enough to warrant special care. Thus, from the age of about eleven, Symphony took him out of school and home schooled him. Well, Alfie taught. But all the same. ;) Angel's father was abusive, and he, much to everyone's dismay, even his own, inherited some of those traits. It's really more of a fetish for pain. He's got a lot of problems. Really messed up. But Symphony and Alfie love him unconditionally and Michel wants all too badly to understand.

And I think that about summarizes their appearances and most of what you could discern at a glance (you could discern that Angel's got troubles, though, of course, not necessarily what XD)

Sorry so long. Too many characters. Just be glad I'm saving the others for later. ;)

My quick input on the whole "what they look like doesn't matter, it's what they do" thing--it's just a bit of fun, don't spoil it! In writing, what they look like doesn't really matter, but in other mediums, it might. IE, art (er, of the drawing sort...). And even what they sound like is important for, say, music and singing. I just like what they look like. I think they're cute. So sue me. I love everything about my characters. :ROFL:

toodles~!
|xX
 
Last edited:

Xx|e|ph|e|me|r|al|xX

Bored Fanatic
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 5, 2007
Messages
378
Reaction score
53
Location
Dreamind, Saraton
Seconded. Especially what they hate about themselves. :)

Xx|Yeah. It's funny, that is often the case. :tongue Seconded, there, too.

They come out so much better when you love them, yeah? At least for me. There are extremes, I guess, where loving them too much could be a bad thing, but when you want readers to connect, it seems like a good thing to be connected yourself. :D I love that.
|xX
 

Sassee

Momma Wolf
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 25, 2007
Messages
2,267
Reaction score
449
Location
Thataway
Website
sasseebioche.blogspot.com
Kate is my college student turned werewolf. She's the tall side of average height, about 10 pounds overweight, freckled, and has a talent for attracting assholes as boyfriends. Due to her recent breakup and all the shit that keeps happening to her in the short space of a week, she's also pretty cranky. But she cares deeply for her friends and relatives, and despite a self esteem problem she gathers enough courage to face a violent rogue wolf and fend off alphas looking for a mate.

Fark is one of these alphas. Enter Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome. He doesn't talk much, but he feels obligated to help protect Kate since it was one of his wolves that turned her. Not much is known about him other than he's the local alpha, and he's one of the few that's compatible with Kate.
 

reenkam

aka cupcake
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 5, 2007
Messages
19,092
Reaction score
4,059
It doesn't matter what any of my characters look like. What's important is what they do.

Detailed though they may be, none of these descriptions linger any longer than it takes me to switch threads.

I always like to know how an author describes their characters. Even if I don't agree. I like to have some basis for the pictures forming in my head. If I don't like what the author chose, I make something up myself and go with that. But I usually go with the author description. If they don't mention anything I tend to give the person no real facial features or hair color, which is kind of annoying.


Anyway, my MC isn't really very exciting right now (brunette with brown eyes) but her love interest is interesting. Well, I think so at least. He's got black hair that's slightly curly and almost shoulder-length, reddish brown skin, white teeth that are extra sharp, and eyes that have sections of blue, green, and grey. And no, he's not a vampire.
 

Danger Jane

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 11, 2005
Messages
7,921
Reaction score
5,006
Location
Rome
I give some brief details, but nothing near the depth that, say Ephemeral went into. I'm writing in first person--I only give the details the narrator notices. The important ones.
 

JoNightshade

has finally arrived
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 29, 2007
Messages
7,153
Reaction score
4,140
Website
www.ramseyhootman.com
I always like to know how an author describes their characters. Even if I don't agree. I like to have some basis for the pictures forming in my head. If I don't like what the author chose, I make something up myself and go with that. But I usually go with the author description. If they don't mention anything I tend to give the person no real facial features or hair color, which is kind of annoying.

Me too. Also, a character's appearance can sometimes be very important to the story. I think of Jane Eyre... how she is so plain, thin, dark hair drawn back, etc. Miles Vorkosigan's appearance is central to his entire series. Same with Bean in Ender's Game. A lot of fantasy books use hair/eye color to indicate residence in a particular region... for instance, the southern people in Song of Ice and Fire have blonde hair and fair skin, while the northern people are dark-haired and more swarthy, etc.
 

Zoombie

Dragon of the Multiverse
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Dec 24, 2006
Messages
40,775
Reaction score
5,948
Location
Some personalized demiplane
What does Swarthy mean, anyway? I've heard it a zillion times in the Harry Turtledove series "Into the Darkness." But I have NEVER found out what it means in context. And I am too lazy to whatsit...google...thing.
 

reenkam

aka cupcake
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 5, 2007
Messages
19,092
Reaction score
4,059
I give some brief details, but nothing near the depth that, say Ephemeral went into. I'm writing in first person--I only give the details the narrator notices. The important ones.

I agree. I only mention what the narrator notices. And even when it's not first person, I only mention what the mc notices at the moment. Though, it's still all in my mind.

What does Swarthy mean, anyway? I've heard it a zillion times in the Harry Turtledove series "Into the Darkness." But I have NEVER found out what it means in context. And I am too lazy to whatsit...google...thing.

dark complexioned
 

Shady Lane

my name is hannah
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 5, 2007
Messages
44,931
Reaction score
9,546
Location
Heretogether
Zach is short, with dark dark hair and small black eyes. He always looks suspicious, but he has a nice smile.
 

amber_grosjean

AW Addict
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jan 25, 2007
Messages
455
Reaction score
38
Location
Alexandria, Indiana
Website
www.amberrigbygrosjean.blogspot.com
My favorite character, Emily Peterson, is from my mysteries series which is complete (first 2 anyway lol). I'm seeking a publisher for that right now lol.

Emily was modeled after myself with a few added features to make her better. I am 5'2'' so she's a little taller, she has brown hair with blue eyes, not quite pale skin but without freckels lol, she's on the smaller side of a medium build. She is stubborn, she can kick ass, she's a witch (for real lol), she's forgiving, good, can be taken advantage of sometimes but not nearly as much as me, strong hearted, and she loves her haunted castle filled with its mysteries.

I basically took my weak features and turned them around a little. I know more about her than all my other characters because of the years it took me to build and dream her up lol.
 

Wintermule

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 5, 2007
Messages
103
Reaction score
23
Location
South Carolina
Well, one of them, the most 'normal-looking':

One deepset blue-grey eye, other eye is sewn shut. About 6'2, muscular. Squarish jaw. Somewhat handsome. Wild hair, long in the back but not a mullet. Broad shoulders, muscular neck. As for personality, he's rather cynical and can act a bit childish. Despite being a main character, he ends up being killed by the antagonist (whose not necessarily an 'evil' person) as a bit of revenge in an ironic manner. Sort of tried to turn the 'wise mentor' dies cliche on its head, because the 'wise old mentor' (though he's not really a mentor, nor overwhelmingly wise) ends up living and having to deal with a mentally-retarded child during a journey through a bleak tundra, while the 'tank' of the party is killed, to put it in Diablo II-esque terms. I liked the fellow too.

- whistles. -
 
Last edited:

Varthikes

Dragon Writer
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 21, 2006
Messages
1,702
Reaction score
72
Location
Draconia, Orion's Arm, Alpha Quadrant, Milky Way G
Well, one of my main characters, Varthikes, is a Dragon.

He has golden-tan scales, golden eyes with vertically-slit pupils, a pair of horns growing up and back from his forehead. His brow slopes from from his forehead to form a snout that ends in a muzzle shaped kind of like that of a zebra. His eyes are set in the curve of his skull, allowing him to focus both eyes in front or one to either side. He's got a mouthful of large, sharp teeth that point backward, and a tongue that isn't forked.

He's got four limbs to walk on. The front pair can also be used for hands complete with oposable thumbs. A pair of wings sprouting from the shoulders with broad connection to his back. His tail ends in a whip-like tip--like a lizard. And, he's got spines running from the back of his head, down his neck, pausing at the base of the neck, then continuing from between his wing joints and running down to his tail.


My other main character, Audwin, is an ordinary Human with white skin and brown hair, smooth-shaven. He typically wears a royal purple shirt, blue pants, and a black cloak.
 
Last edited:

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
16,767
Reaction score
4,662
Location
Scotland
Varthikes is a dragon. I get it. And what you then described is virtually everybody's immediate image of a dragon. Now, if he wore a black bandana, had a red eye-patch, one arm in a sling, an ill-fitting dental plate, walked with a limp and spoke with a lisping Irish accent.....:hooray:


Audwin obviously has delusions of being Superman.:Hug2:

Well, one of my main characters, Varthikes, is a Dragon.

He has golden-tan scales, golden eyes with vertically-slit pupils, a pair of horns growing up and back from his forehead. His brow slopes from from his forehead to form a snout that ends in a muzzle shaped kind of like that of a zebra. His eyes are set in the curve of his skull, allowing him to focus both eyes in front or one to either side. He's got a mouthful of large, sharp teeth that point backward, and a tongue that isn't forked.

He's got four limbs to walk on. The front pair can also be used for hands complete with oposable thumbs. A pair of wings sprouting from the shoulders with broad connection to his back. His tail ends in a whip-like tip--like a lizard. And, he's got spines running from the back of his head, down his neck, pausing at the base of the neck, then continuing from between his wing joints and running down to his tail.


My other main character, Audwin, is an ordinary Human with white skin and brown hair, smooth-shaven. He typically wears a royal purple shirt, blue pants, and a black cloak.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.