Resources For Describing Characters

wordsnstuff:

Physical Appearance

Character Traits

Talents & Skills

Miscellaneous


Support Wordsnstuff!

justsomecynic:

From the makers of the no-effort character checklist, I bring to you… The no-effort complete character sheet for lazy writers like you and me™! 

Because the extra effort I put in staying up until 3 am to do put this together can save us all a lot of effort filling out longer character sheets ^^

You’re supposed to print it out and fold it in half to make a little booklet but you can save ink and do it on your computer 😛

Link to PDF on google drive (fixed typo)

Resources For Describing Characters

wordsnstuff:

Physical Appearance

Character Traits

Talents & Skills

Miscellaneous


Support Wordsnstuff!

Other ways to say said 😍👏🏼

qabriellawrites:

Anger:

Shouted, bellowed, yelled, snapped, cautioned, rebuked, accused, cursed, exploded, raged, seethed, snarled, taunted, bickered, fumed, asserted, chastised, quipped Hollered, Howled, Ranted, Reprimanded, scoffed, scolded, Taunted, Swore, Thundered. 

Affection:

Consoled, comforted, reassured, admired, soothed, Affirmed, cooed. 

Fear:

Whispered, stuttered, stammered, gasped, urged, hissed, babbled, blurted, implored, Croaked.

Disgust: 

grimaced, winced, cringed.

Determination:

Declared, insisted, maintained, commanded.

Excitement/Happiness:

Sighed, murmured, gushed, laughed, Shouted, yelled, babbled, gushed, exclaimed, chattered, effused, simpered, chirped, trilled, cooed, Beamed, Cheered, Grinned, Rejoiced.

Sadness:

Cried, mumbled, sobbed, sighed, lamented, wept, glumly, sniffled, wailed, bleated, whimpered, Cried out, Croaked

Conflict/confrontation:

Addressed.

Jabbed, sneered, rebuked, hissed, scolded, demanded, threatened, insinuated, spat, glowered. 

Making up:

Apologised, relented, agreed, reassured, placated, agreed, assented.

Amusement

Teased, joked, laughed, chuckled, chortled, sniggered, tittered, guffawed, giggled, roared Laughed,.

Storytelling:

Related, recounted, continued, emphasized, remembered, recalled, resumed, concluded.

Surprise: 

Marveled, perplexed, bleated. 

Uncertain

cautioned, conceded, doubtfully, guessed, hesitated, vacillated, Asked 

Other words In alphabetic order

  • Acknowledged, Admitted, Agonized, Announced, Answered, Appealed. 
  • Beamed, Beckoned, Began, Begged, Bellowed, Beseeched, Blubbered, Bossed, Bragged, Breathed, Broadcasted, Burst
  • Cajoled, Called, Carped, Cautioned, Censured,  Chimed in, Choked,  Chuckled, Claimed, Commented, Conceded, Concurred, Condemned, Confided, Confirmed,  Criticizd.,
  • Decided, Defended, Denoted, Dictated, Disclosed, Disposed, Disseminated.
  • Echoed, Emitted, Entreated, Exclaimed, Explained, Exposed
  • Faltered.
  • Gawped, Giggled, Glowered, Groaned, Growled, Grumbled, Grunted, Guessed
  • Held, Hinted,  
  • Inclined, Indicated, Informed, Inquired, Insisted, Interjected, Invited  Leered, Lied, Lilted
  • Maintained, Made known, Made public, Marked, Moaned, Mocked, Mourned,  Mused
  • Observed, Offered, Ordered
  • Panted, Passed on, Pleaded, Pointed out, Pondered, Postulated, Praised, Preached, Premised, Presented, Presupposed, Probed, Proclaimed, Prodded, Professed, Proffered, Promised, Promulgated, Proposed, Protested, Provoked, Publicized, Published, Puled, Put forth, Put out
  •  Queried, Questioned, 
  • Reckoned that, Rejoined, Released, Remarked, Remonstrated, Repeated, Replied, Reported, Requested, Required, Requisitioned, Retorted, Revealed, Roared
  •  Sent on, Settled, Shared,  Shuddered, Solicited, Sought, Specified, Speculated, Stated, Stuttered, Stressed, Suggested, Supposed.
  • Teased, Testified, Thundered, Told, Told off, Touted, Trailed off, Transferred, Transmitted, Trembled,  Trumpeted.
  • Understood, Undertook, Upbraided, Urged, Uttered
  • Verified, Vociferated, Voiced, Volunteered, Vouched for
  • Wailed, Wanted, Warned, Wept, Went on, Wheedled, Whimpered, Whined, Whispered, Wondered
  • Yawped, Yelled, Yelped, Yowled

Eyes, Skin, Face, Hair, Build: Character physical descriptions.

qabriellawrites:

Eyes – General

large, small, narrow

sharp, squinty, round

wide-set, close-set, deep-set

sunken, bulging, protruding

wide, hooded, heavy-lidded

bright, sparkling, glittering

flecked, dull, bleary

rheumy, cloudy, red-rimmed

beady, birdlike cat-like

jewel-like, steely, hard

fringed with long lashes, with sweeping eyelashes, with thick eyelashes

Eyes – Color

chestnut, chocolate brown, cocoa brown

coffee brown, mocha, mahogany

sepia, sienna brown, mink brown

copper, amber, cognac

whiskey, brandy, honey

tawny, topaz, hazel, obsidian

onyx, coal, raven, midnight, sky blue, sunny blue

cornflower blue, steel blue, ice blue

Arctic blue, glacial blue, crystal blue

cerulean, electric blue, azure

lake blue, aquamarine, turquoise

denim blue, slate blue / slate gray, storm blue / storm gray

silver / silver gray, chrome, platinum, pewter

smoky gray, ash gray, concrete gray, dove gray

shark gray, fog gray, gunmetal gray, olive

emerald, leaf green, moss green

Eyebrows

arched, straight, plucked, sparse

trim, dark, faint, thin, thick, unruly

bushy, heavy

Skin – Color

amber, bronze, cinnamon

copper, dark brown, deep brown

ebony, honey, golden

pale, pallid, pasty

fair, light, cream / creamy

alabaster, ivory, bisque

milk, porcelain, chalky

sallow, olive, peach

rose / rosy, ruddy, florid

russet, tawny, fawn

Skin – General

lined, wrinkled, seamed

leathery, sagging, drooping

loose, clear, smooth

silken, satiny, dry

flaky, scaly, delicate

thin, translucent, luminescent

baby-soft, flawless, poreless

with large pores, glowing, dewy

dull, velvety, fuzzy

rough, uneven, mottled

dimpled, doughy, firm

freckled, pimply, pockmarked

blemished, pitted, scarred

bruised, veined, scratched

sunburned, weather-beaten, raw

tattooed

Face – Structure

square, round, oblong

oval, elongated, narrow

heart-shaped, catlike, wolfish

high forehead, broad forehea, prominent brow ridge

protruding brow bone, sharp cheekbones, high cheekbones

angular cheekbones, hollow cheeks, square jaw

chiseled, sculpted, craggy

soft, jowly, jutting chin

pointed chin, weak chin, receding chin

double chin, cleft chin, dimple in chin

visible Adam’s apple

Nose

snub, dainty, button

turned-up, long, broad

thin, straight, pointed

crooked, aquiline, Roman

bulbous, flared, hawk, strong

Mouth/Lips

thin, narrow, full

lush, Cupid’s bow, rosebud

dry, cracked, chapped

moist, glossy, straight teeth

gap between teeth, gleaming white teeth, overbite

underbite

Facial Hair 

clean-shaven

smooth-shaven

beard

neckbeard

goatee

moustache

sideburns

mutton-chop sideburns

stubble

a few days’ growth of beard

five o’ clock shadow

Hair – General

I threw a few hairstyles in here, though not many.

long, short, shoulder-length

loose, limp, dull

shiny, glossy, sleek

smooth, luminous, lustrous, spiky

stringy, shaggy, tangled

messy, tousled, windblown

unkempt, bedhead, straggly

neatly combed, parted, slicked down / slicked back

cropped, clipped, buzzed / buzz cut

crewcut, bob, mullet

curly, bushy, frizzy

wavy, straight, lanky

dry, oily, greasy

layers, corkscrews, spirals

ringlets, braids, widow’s peak

bald, shaved, comb-over, afro

thick, luxuriant, voluminous

full, wild, untamed

bouncy, wispy, fine, thinning

Hair – Color

black, blue-black, jet black

raven, ebony, inky black

midnight, sable, salt and pepper

silver / silver gray, charcoal gray, steel gray

white, snow-white, brown

brunette, chocolate brown, coffee brown

ash brown, brown sugar, nut brown

caramel, tawny brown, toffee brown

red, ginger, auburn, Titian-haired

copper, strawberry blonde, butterscotch

honey, wheat, blonde

golden, sandy blond, flaxen

fair-haired, bleached, platinum

Body Type – General

tall, average height, short

petite, tiny, compact

big, large, burly

beefy, bulky, brawny

barrel-chested, heavy / heavy-set, fat

overweight, obese, flabby

chunky, chubby, pudgy

pot-bellied, portly thick

stout, lush, plush

full-figured, ample, rounded

generous, voluptuous, curvy

hourglass, plump, leggy / long-legged

gangling, lanky, coltish

lissome, willowy, lithe

lean, slim, slender

trim, thin, skinny

emaciated, gaunt, bony

spare, solid, stocky

wiry, rangy, sinewy

stringy, ropy

Writing Tip June 4th

candy-m-s:

badassunicorn2016:

A list of body language phrases.

I’ve included a very comprehensive list, organized by the type of body movement, hand and arm movements, facial expressions etc. In some cases, a phrase fits more than one heading, so it may appear twice. Possible emotions are given after each BL phrase unless the emotion is indicated within the phrase. (They are underlined for emphasis, not due to a hyperlink.)

Note: I’ve included a few body postures and body conditions as they are non-verbal testimony to the character’s physical condition.

Have fun and generate your own ideas.:-)

Eyes, Brows and Forehead

  • arched a sly brow:  sly, haughty
  • blinked owlishly:  just waking, focusing, needs glasses
  • brows bumped together in a scowl:  worried, disapproving, irritated
  • brows knitted in a frown: worried, disapproval, thoughtful
  • bug-eyed:  surprised, fear, horror
  • cocky wink and confident smile:  over confidence, arrogant, good humor, sexy humor
  • eyes burned with hatred: besides hatred this might suggest maniacal feelings
  • eyes flashed: fury, defiance, lust, promise, seduction
  • eyes rolled skyward: disbelief, distrust, humor
  • forehead puckered:  thoughtful, worried, irritation
  • frustration crinkled her eyes
  • gaze dipped to her décolletage: sexual interest, attraction, lust
  • gimlet-eyed/narrowed eyes: irritation, thoughtful, mean, angry
  • gleam of deviltry:  humor, conniving, cunning
  • kept eye contact but her gaze became glazed: pretending interest where there is none/bordom
  • narrowed to crinkled slits:  angry, distrust
  • nystagmic eyes missed nothing (constantly shifting eyes):  Shifty
  • pupils dilated:  interested, attraction to opposite sex, fear
  • raked her with freezing contempt
  • slammed his eyes shut:  stunned, furious, pain
  • squinted in a furtive manner:  fearful, sneaky
  • stared with cow eyes:  surprised, disbelief, hopeful, lovestruck
  • subtle wink:  sexy, humor/sharing a joke, sarcasm
  • unrelenting stare: distrust, demanding, high interest, unyielding

Place To Place, Stationary Or Posture

  • ambled away:  relaxed, lazy
  • barged ahead:  rude, hurried
  • battled his way through the melee:  desperate, anger, alarm
  • cruised into the diner:  easy-going, feeling dapper, confident
  • dawdled alongside the road:  lazy, deliberate delay for motives, unhurried, relaxed
  • dragged his blanket in the dirt:   sadness/depressed, weary
  • edged closer to him:  sneaky, seeking comfort, seeking protection, seeking an audience
  • he stood straighter and straightened his tie:  sudden interest, sexual attraction
  • held his crotch and danced a frantic jig: demonstrates physical condition – he has to pee
  • hips rolled and undulated:  sexy walk, exaggerating for sex appeal
  • hovered over them with malice/like a threatening storm: here it’s malice, but one may hover for many reasons.
  • hunched over to look shorter:  appear inconspicuous, ashamed of actions, ashamed of height
  • leaped into action feet hammering the marbled floor:  eager, fear, joyous
  • long-legged strides:  hurried, impatient
  • lumbered across:  heavy steps of a big man in a hurry
  • minced her way up to him: timid, sneaky, insecure, dainty or pretense at dainty
  • paced/prowled the halls:  worried, worried impatience, impatient, diligently seeking pivoted on his heel and took off:  mistaken and changes direction, following orders, hurried, abrupt change of mind, angry retreat
  • plodded down the road:  unhurried, burdened, reluctant
  • practiced sensual stroll:  sexy, showing off
  • rammed her bare foot into her jeans: angry, rushed
  • rocked back and forth on his heels: thoughtful, impatiently waiting
  • sagged against the wall:  exhausted, disappointment
  • sallied forth:  confident, determined
  • sashayed her cute little fanny:  confident, determined, angered and determined
  • shrank into the angry crowd:  fear, insecure, seeking to elude
  • sketched a brief bow and assumed a regal pose: confident, mocking, snooty, arrogant skidded to an abrupt halt: change of heart, fear, surprise, shock
  • skulked on the edges of the crowd: sneaky, ashamed, timid
  • slithered through the door:  sneaky, evil, bad intentions
  • stormed toward her, pulling up short when: anger with a sudden surprise
  • swaggered into the class room:  over confident, proud, arrogant, conceited
  • tall erect posture:  confidence, military bearing
  • toe tapped a staccato rhythm:  impatience, irritation
  • tottered/staggered unsteadily then keeled over:  drunk, drugged, aged, ill
  • waltzed across the floor:  happy, blissful, exuberant, conceited, arrogant

Head Movement

  • cocked his head:  curiosity, smart-alecky, wondering, thoughtful
  • cocked his head left and rolled his eyes to right corner of the ceiling:  introspection
  • droop of his head: depressed, downcast, hiding true feelings
  • nodded vigorously: eager
  • tilted her head to one side while listening:  extreme interest, possibly sexual interest

Mouth And Jaw

  • a lackluster smile:  feigning cheerfulness
  • cigarette hung immobile in mouth: shock, lazy, uncaring, relaxed casualness
  • clinched his jaw at the sight:  angered, worried, surprised
  • curled her lips with icy contempt
  • expelled her breath in a whose:  relief, disappointment
  • gagged at the smell: disgust, distaste
  • gapped mouth stare:  surprised, shock, disbelief
  • gritted his teeth:  anger, irritation, holding back opinion
  • inhaled a sharp breath:  surprise, shock, fear, horror
  • licked her lips:  nervous, sexual attraction
  • lips primed: affronted, upset, insulted
  • lips pursed for a juicy kiss
  • lips pursed like she’d been chewing a lemon rind: dislike, angry, irritated, sarcasm
  • lips screwed into: irritation, anger, grimace, scorn
  • lips set in a grim line: sorrow, worried, fear of the worst
  • pursed her lips:  perturbed, waiting for a kiss
  • scarfed down the last biscuit:  physical hunger, greed
  • slack-mouthed:  total shock, disbelief
  • slow and sexy smile:  attraction, seductive, coy
  • smacked his lips: anticipation
  • smile congealed then melted into horror
  • smile dangled on the corner of his lips: cocky, sexy
  • smirked and tossed her hair over her shoulder:  conceit, sarcasm, over confident
  • sneered and flicked lint off his suit: sarcasm, conceit
  • spewed water and spit: shock
  • stuck out her tongue: humor, sarcasm, teasing, childish
  • toothy smile:  eagerness, hopeful
  • wary smile surfaced on her lips

Nose

  • nose wrinkled in distaste/at the aroma
  • nostrils flared:  anger, sexual attraction
  • nose in the air:  snooty, haughty

Face in General

  • crimson with fury
  • handed it over shame-faced
  • jutted his chin: confident, anger, forceful
  • managed a deadpan expression:  expressionless
  • muscles in her face tightened:  unsmiling, concealing emotions, anger, worried
  • rested his chin in his palm and looked thoughtful
  • rubbed a hand over his dark stubble:  thoughtful, ashamed of his appearance
  • screwed up her face:  anger, smiling, ready to cry, could almost be any emotion
  • sneered and flicked lint off his suit: conceit, derision, scorn

Arm and Hand

  • a vicious yank
  • arm curled around her waist, tugging her next to him:  possessive, pride, protective
  • bit her lip and glanced away:  shy, ashamed, insecure
  • brandished his fist:  anger, threatening, ready to fight, confident, show of pride
  • clamped his fingers into tender flesh:  anger, protective, wants to inflict pain
  • clenched his dirty little fists: stubborn, angry
  • clapped her hands on her hips, arms crooked like sugar bowel handles:  anger, demanding, disbelief
  • constantly twirled her hair and tucked it behind her ear:  attracted to the opposite sex, shy crossed his arms over his chest: waiting, impatient, putting a barrier
  • crushed the paper in his fist:  anger, surrender, discard
  • dived into the food: hunger, eager, greedy
  • doffed his hat:  polite gesture, mocking, teasing
  • doodled on the phone pad and tapped the air with her foot:  bored, inattention, introspection
  • drummed her fingers on the desk:  impatient, frustrated, bored
  • fanned her heated face with her hands: physically hot, embarrassed, indicating attraction
  • fiddled with his keys: nervous, bored
  • firm, palm to palm hand shake:  confident, honest
  • flipped him the bird: sarcastic discard
  • forked his fingers through his hair for the third time:  disquiet/consternation, worry, thoughtful
  • handed it over shame-faced:  guilt, shame
  • held his crotch and danced a frantic jig:  physical need to relieve himself
  • limp hand shake:  lack of confidence, lack of enthusiasm
  • propped his elbow on his knee: relaxed, thoughtful
  • punched her pillow:  restless, can’t sleep, angry
  • rested his chin in his palm:  thoughful, worried
  • scratched his hairy belly and yawned:  indolent, bored, lazy, relaxed, just waking
  • shoulders lifted in a shrug:  doubtful, careless discard
  • slapped his face in front of God and country:  enraged, affronted/insulted
  • snapped a sharp salute:  respect, sarcastic gesture meaning the opposite of respect
  • snapped his fingers, expecting service:  arrogant, lack of respect, self-centered
  • sneered and flicked lint off his suit
  • spread her arms wide: welcoming,  joy, love
  • stabbed at the food: anger, hunger, determined
  • stood straighter and smoothed his tie:  sudden interest, possible sexual interest
  • stuffed his hands in his pockets: self-conscious, throwing up a barrier
  • sweaty handshake:  nervous, fearful
  • touched his arm several times while explaining:  sign of attraction, flattery, possessive
  • wide sweep of his arms:  welcoming, all inclusive gesture, horror

Sitting or Rising

  • collapsed in a stupor:  exhausted, drunk, drugged, disbelief
  • enthroned himself at the desk:  conceit, pronouncing or taking ownership
  • exploded out of the chair:  shock, eager, anger, supreme joy
  • roosted on the porch rail like a cock on a hen house roof:  claiming ownership, conceit, content
  • sat, squaring an ankle over one knee:  relaxed and open
  • slouched/wilted in a chair and paid languid attention to:  drowsy, lazy, depressed, disinterest, sad, totally relaxed, disrespectful
  • squirmed in his chair: ill at ease, nervous, needs the bathroom

Recline

  • flung himself into the bed: sad, depressed, exhausted, happy
  • prostrated himself: surrender, desperate, miserable, powerless, obsequious, fawning, flattering
  • punched her pillow:  can’t sleep, anger, frustrated
  • threw himself on the floor kicking and screaming: tantrum

Entire body and General

  • body stiffened at the remark:  offended, anger, alerted
  • body swayed to music:  dreamy, fond memories, enjoys the music
  • bounced in the car seat, pointing:  excitement, fear, eager
  • cowered behind his brother:  fear, shyness, coward, desperate
  • curled into a ball:  sorrow, fear, sleepy, defensive
  • heart galloping:  anxiety, joy, eager
  • held his crotch and danced a frantic jig
  • humped over his cane, each step shaking and careful: pain, aged
  • inhaled a deep breath and blew out slowly: buying time to find words/thoughtful, reconciled
  • quick and jerky like rusty cogs on a wheel:  unsure of actions, self-conscious, tense, edgy
  • rocked back and forth on his heels:  impatient, cocky, gleeful
  • manhandled the woman into a corner:  bully, anger
  • slumped shoulders: defeat, depressed, sad, surrender
  • stiff-backed:  priggish, haughty, affronted
  • stood straighter and straightened his tie:  sexual interest, wants to make an impression
  • stooped and bent: aged, arthritic, in pain
  • stretched extravagantly and yawned:  tired, bored, unconcerned
  • sweating uncontrollably: nervous, fear, guilt
  • tall erect posture:  confidence, military bearing
  • was panting now at:  afraid, exhausted, out of breath, sexual excitement

-Sharla Rae

Reblogging for future everyday use

queenshipper63:

readwriteswim:

tinysidestrashcaptain:

studysection:

Hey guys! As a writer myself, it’s hard to have a lot of resources for writing in one place. That’s why I decided to create this masterpost, and maybe make more if I find future resources. I hope you like it, and expect to see more masterposts like this in the future!

Generators

Character

Names

Plot

Setting/World-Building

Prompts

Misc

Some Tips

Just a few I found from the writing tips tag!

Vocabulary

Some Advice

Playlists

Websites and Apps

For Writing

  • ZenPen: A minimalist writing website to keep you free of distractions and in the flow.
  • The Most Dangerous Writing App: A website where you have to keep typing or all of your writing will be lost. It helps you keep writing…kind of. You can choose between a time or word count limit!
  • Evernote: An online website where you can take notes and save the product to your laptop and/or smartphone!
  • Writer, the Internet Typewriter: It’s just you and your writing, and you can save your product on the website if you create an account.
  • Wordcounter: A website to help check your word and character count, and shows words you’re using frequently.
  • Monospace: An Android app for writing on the go when you feel the inspiration, but you don’t have your laptop on you!

For Productivity

  • Tide: An app that combines a pomodoro-esque timer with nature sounds and other noises! (Google Play / Apple Store)
  • ClearFocus: An Android app with a pomodoro-type time counter to let you concentrate easier and stay productive.
  • Forest: An app with a time counter to keep you focused and off your phone, and when you complete the time limit, a tree grows in your garden! (Google Play / Apple Store)
  • SelfControl: A Mac downloadable app that blocks you from distracting mail servers, websites, and other things!

Prompt Blogs

Writing Tips Blogs

Reblogging to save a writer

Hey fellow writers! Enjoy!

Thank you