How To Describe A Face In Writing

How do you describe a face?

What are your methods for describing characters features?

level 1

Scars, visage, countenance, expression, colors, facial hair, moles, freckles,

level 2

That... surprisingly helped a lot. Thank you.

level 1

· 4y Don't ask me about my writing group, it's taboo

not in too much detail, give one or two features and let the reader fill in the rest.

level 2

Really? I read some of Anne Rice's stuff and she can describe faces to where you can almost see them. I need to re-read her stuff. I just keep finding myself using words like gaunt and dishevelled and sunken eyes bla bla bla idk. I feel a little stuck on describing people. Maybe using as little detail as possible is a good idea. What are some key details you generally make sure the reader is aware of?

level 1

· 4y Writing all the things

I only mention the parts that are particularly distinct, and focus more on emotion or bearing than actual physical appearance. I also tend to just drop a bit of description here and there rather than doing a paragraph describing how someone's face looks. On that note, I also tend to use simple words: "her fierce green eyes" as opposed to "her fierce emerald eyes". I do tend to pair any actual physical attribute with a descriptor of some kind, because otherwise why are you mentioning it at all?

level 2

Indeed. I wish I knew more writers IRL. I'm writing the first draught of a fantasy novel. I made the whole backstory of the world and the different countries and continents and wrote bios of a lot of characters before I started writing the book. It reads like a boring history book but at least helped me get the world developed. Now I'm on chapter 5 of the book and it seems to flow really well except for the character description. Luckily in the 2nd draught is where I'll polish things up use a thesaurus. My friends think I have a large vocabulary but I really don't in comparison with most other writers but that's a whole other thing I need to work on. I'm such a noob.

level 1

Comment deleted by user · 4y

level 2

I love that. I immediately see the face clear as day in that simple sentance. Damn good.

level 1

You don't unless it's important.

level 1

I avoid describing noses, it can really throw a perspective off