Remember that you don't necessarily have to have the description immediately, upon first introduction of the character. It can be a little later.
If you're talking about physical description I'd have to disagree.
I personally don't think that in-depth physical description is often necessary, but if you're going to have it, then have it on first meeting a character.
Readers will visualise a character as they want to see them, which is fine, preferable even, but if down the line you start telling them that the tall blonde protag of their imagination bangs his bald head on the corner of table, then you've got problems.
This is what I do (or try to do). It works especially well if they're just meeting someone. When I did first person, I tried to sneak in descriptions of the MC in subtle ways, through things other people said to her, mainly. I would do a general overview of characters' appearences early on so the reader isn't making their own, incorrect visualization, but I don't think you need to describe them down to the last scar all in one place.If my POV Is describing other people, I'll just have her say what she sees and how she feels about it. "The cute boy with curly blond hair she'd kill for." If it's my POV being described, I try to blend it in with what's she doing or thinking. "The cute boy with curly blond hair that put her own boring brown mess to shame." (but hopefully better than those quick examples)
I think putting it in your POV's perspective makes it feel less like a list of details and more like someone noticing something and remarking on it.
If you're talking about physical description I'd have to disagree.
I personally don't think that in-depth physical description is often necessary, but if you're going to have it, then have it on first meeting a character.
Readers will visualise a character as they want to see them, which is fine, preferable even, but if down the line you start telling them that the tall blonde protag of their imagination bangs his bald head on the corner of table, then you've got problems.
I have seen books where it does come a little later--if the author tried to put it in up front, it would have distracted or interrupted the scene. In one published book, it occurs in chapter 3, though the character does appear in chapter 1 (not chapter 2). And I agree with it because it would have interrupted what was happening in Chapter 1, not to mention being inappropriate in the middle of an action scene.
I've also critted pieces where the author tries to shoehorn it in right away, and the description clearly doesn't fit right there.
In Robert Heinlein's The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, the main character Mannie Davis (Manuel Garcia O'Kelly Davis) is a dark-skinned, bi-racial man. However, it is not revealed until much later. His race becomes an important plot element later in the story.I'm not saying it's the law.
But if you want to dictate to your reader what a character looks like, it's damn risky to do it after you've already given a reader the thinking space to formulate their own image. If you contradict that image it's likely to really disappoint the reader.
Where i'd say it is non-negotiable is where a character has a physical distinction that later becomes crucial to the plot.
eg. if your hero's 7ft tall, you better mention that up front, and not at the point where it's really really important that he can he reach that honey jar on the top shelf.
On another point, I wouldn't use the fact whether an idea or device has made it into print, as the barometer of whether it's 'good'.
Plenty of total crap makes it on to the printed page. We shouldn't take that as justification for lowering the bar.
Find things that are great, and aspire to them.
I appreciate this doesn't all relate to your point, but I'm talking generally.
DO NOT HAVE THEM LOOK IN A MIRROR!!!!!!!!!
DO NOT HAVE THEM LOOK IN A MIRROR!!!!!!!!!