Stephanie over at Chronicle's of a Novice Writer had a wonderful topic last week about books vs. movies. How as readers we are often disappointed in the character choices.
It got me thinking. (my friend Nick would follow with - Oh geez)
What if what I imagine my character to look like is someone different then what you as readers would choose?
Isn't this a perfect time to play a game? Well I thought so! Below I've included a small snippet, nothing fancy, not much to go one but I want to see what your first reaction would be to the character, based soley on her attitude and way about things! I'll post what she looks like soon so you can see how close you were!!!
SNIPPET
Beaded necklaces are a girl’s best friend. At least that’s what I tell myself until my sixteenth birthday rolls around where I’ll get my very own diamond necklace. It’s been a family tradition for years.
“Royalty gets the best my dear Stella” my grandmother always said. Don’t go thinking I’m a princess, because I’m nowhere close, it’s something my grandmother desperately wishes for, she's just yet to realize that's impossible.
“Your first set of diamonds won’t be your last either dear, especially after you marry Prince Kensington” there’s the kicker, the plan. Regardless it would not be the end of diamonds because throughout the years you are given them at certain times; however my grandmother would prefer I just marry the highest of royalty, the prince himself. Problem you ask? I don't want too, but in life sometimes you don't get that choice.
END
So what does Stella look like??
49 comments:
Hmm, I say a tall, statuesque blonde who wears a t-shirt and jeans (only because she has no other choice)with all of the jewelery she owns.
Blonde, pink, and elegant! Gosh, I've fallen right into the stereotype haven't I!!
I'm going for the rebel girl with short dark hair, jeans, sneakers and a t-shirt.
Cute game!
I see a girl with wavy hair that's blonde and she has a hippish, unconventional style of dress that she'd like to mix in diamonds with because she is fancy like that.
I'm thiking blonde as well, although petite instead of statuesque, with a great smile and green eyes. I think she's more preppie in her dress but with that rebel attitude.
I'm going for dark hair, royal blue streaks and trendy, designer clothes. She doesn't have much choice in what she gets to wear.
Blonde and petite with a heart shaped face. :) This was fun.
Hmmm, I'm thinking she looks like that girl who was on Enchanted. I don't know why, I really think that girl has the perfect princess face.
And that was just a cute movie :)
Fun game Jen!
Her voice is rife with confidence, so I imagine her as very pretty. Blonde came to mind first -- followed by Alicia Silverstone and Reese Witherspoon.
Okay I going to go with red long wavy hair and designer clothes! This was great!
I don't know why but I pictured tall with brown hair, brown eyes. Maybe it has something to do with Princess Diaries.
Hey and I LOVE this idea. May have to steal er, um, borrow it and then of course, give you credit for it.
Can't wait to see how she looks!
I got the historical fiction vibe from this, so I pictured a girl in a Jane Austen style dress with dark brown hair, tall, pretty in an unconventional way. Fun game!
K, I haven't ready anyone else's cause I don't want to be swayed. Whenever I see the name 'Stella' or 'Stina' or 'Stacy'- any name beginning in 'st' really- I think of a dark haired girl with a light complexion and hazel eyes. The name and personality also make me think she's willowy and graceful on the outside but sharp and sarcastic on the inside. Fun game- can't wait to find out what she looks like!
Okay, I have a picture in my head. Can't wait to see if it matches!
I see a tall, thin brunette, a little on the plain side. The beauty's there, but not revealed yet. With life experiences, she'll grow into the "princess" her grandmother sees.
Hmm, if a writer doesn't actually specify then it takes me a lot longer than a few paragraphs to come up with my own mental image of a character. With only this much to go off of I'm picturing Ella Enchanted and The Princess Diaries. Lazy, I know.
ok, here's my guess... but even when there is a bunch of physical description, i often imagine the characters different than hollywood would cast them... here's what i imagined tall, graceful, exotic, often quiet, but nice... pic link:
http://www.imdb.com/features/comic_con/2010/galleries/comiccon2010_july23-rm1457029120
This is an interesting concept. Thanks for a stimulating post.
All the best, Boonsong
Hmm...I think she is tall with a long wavy red hair:) I love love this:) Kisses,sweetie:)
Curly dirty blonde hair (almost light brown), artsy but yet doesn't try harder than she needs to, a thin face with just a few freckles (to add character) and her fingernails and toes definitely are painted.
I say a blonde beauty who is starting to realize that what she wants in life is not what she has laid out for her. She is pretty, but she doesn't care about outer beauty... not too much anyway. She is adventerous, but still girly.
Dark hair. Shortish. Tries to hide her beauty with tatty jeans and T-shirts?
Awesome game, and I refuse to read others comments so I don't think what they think...
Short brown hair. Tall but slouches when her family isn't looking. Maybe a pair of glasses. And I can't figure the time, Jane Austen since we're talking princes and diamonds, or modern day. So I can't say what kind of clothes.
Shoulder-length brunette! She likes beaded necklaces, so I'd say she has a unique style: mis-matched chic with lots of color.
This was fun, Jen!
I picture her as fairly short, pale skin and deep auburn hair, with blue eyes. Of course, I've been thinking about her longer than this snippit. :D
What a great idea, Jen!
I picture her as an English rose kind of girl, pale and blonde, but with big blue eyes and a strong core!
Interesting how people's perceptions change.
Hmmm, sounds like a redhead to me for some reason. Probably looks at her family and anyone involved with them with controlled annoyance. I also see green eyes, pale with a few freckles, and on the shorter side.
I can't wait to find out what she really looks like! :D
I'm kind of thinking blonde, not too short but not too tall, brown eyes, cute but not drop-dead gorgeous. I'm probably way off but, you know, that's part of the fun. :o)
Oh my gosh, I love all these different ideas! My first image was of a girl with dark hair. Wide eyes (blue maybe) that are usually squinted in calculation. Definitely a generous mouth that's often quirked in one corner.
Ooh great idea.
I'm thinking petite, blonde but not the stereotypical Sloane girl. Perhaps she's a bit more modern, casual than prim. I see her with green eyes too.
Yeah, I've got to say that I'm thinking blonde with lots of curls. She's a snappy dresser - no jeans for this girl. And maybe a bit busty. :)
That's a great idea. It's always interesting to see how other people might see your character. I see her as strong, tall, dark hair that's straight.
This is a fun game! I'm going to try to answer without reading anyone else's comments, so here goes:
She's got dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, and a tan. She's medium height and thin.
Can't wait to see what she looks like!
I picture her a brunette and on the petite side.
But then I did miss all sorts of character descriptions in books that I've read and had completely wrong notions in my head.
Ash blonde hair, pretty face, and medium height. Well, well. Looks like a lot of people are in the same ball park!
Okay, I scrolled past the other comments first so I wouldn't be influenced. She's a short, petite girl, with piercing blue eyes and long wavy red hair that she keeps pulled back into a simple ponytail. When she smiles, she reveals one dimple in her right cheek. She's a casual, low maintainace girl, wears tee's & jeans, but loves her jewelery.
Medium height and willowy, with long brown hair that looks mousy unless she's outside where the sun picks up the most subtle of reddish highlights. She's not pretty in a Barbie doll way, but she's very attractive. She wishes she had less freckles.
LOL -- can't wait to read what she really looks like!
Hmm... I would picture her as a medium length, wavy blond with green eyes. She likes all things "pretty," which include anything pink or purple. LOL. Really, I haven't a clue. Am I even close??
Oooo fun! I saw curly blond hair piled up in a mess on top of her head... not too tall, but not too short.
Wild, long, dark hair and flashing brown eyes. Bohemian, in her outlook, and maybe in her style.
Fun post!
How fun! Since you introduced the whole princess idea, I immediately thought of Belle from Disney's Beauty & the Beast... LOL! :D
(Or Princess Diaries...)
Well, if it's expected that she'll marry a prince, then she's had some education and training. I'm thinking Anne Hathaway, first choice. Katherine Heigle second choice...
Have you ever watched GLEE? That snippett reminded me of the pregnant cheerleader on the team (but of course, not pregnant).
I imagine the character to be an emo girl. She is the total opposite of what her family wants her to be, dark asymmetrically cut hair, black nail polish, and a brow piercing. She knows the prince would never glance her way, so she focuses on being a good student.
Pink hair, tight mini skirt, awesome tattoo. Perfect!
I see Stella as classic looking, like a young Gwyneth Paltrow... golden blonde hair, high cheek bones, but fresh and still young looking. Fair skinned and slight in frame.
This is the coolest exercise!
I picture Stella short and petite, with small pixie like facial features. Ivory skin and blonde hair. A simple beauty.
I can't wait to find out what she really looks like.
Tall, long thick blonde hair, blue eyes, thin but athletic...
Interesting concept. I imagined a short, chubby brunette with sleek hair, stylish makeup, small mouth and stubborn chin.
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