Comments on: A Picture’s Worth A Thousand Words . . . Or Is It? http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/05/02/a-picture%e2%80%99s-worth-a-thousand-words-or-is-it/ What's hip, what's now, what's tomorrow in the romance genre world. Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:26:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: AndreaS http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/05/02/a-picture%e2%80%99s-worth-a-thousand-words-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-25376 AndreaS Wed, 14 May 2008 17:40:42 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/05/02/a-picture%e2%80%99s-worth-a-thousand-words-or-is-it/#comment-25376 Personally, I only like slight sketches of people. And sometimes, that's not even the person I build in my head. But I am not a very visual reader, I never do faces. Barely sketches places. I use the feel/personality of a place or person more than the actual details. In some books where I've read it many times I think I have a pretty solid look/feel, but many times I don't. Sometimes it's fun to see who the author had picked out for a character, it usually doesn't bother me. But I wouldn't want it to be continually referenced (or maybe ever referenced) in the book. Personally, I only like slight sketches of people. And sometimes, that’s not even the person I build in my head.

But I am not a very visual reader, I never do faces. Barely sketches places. I use the feel/personality of a place or person more than the actual details. In some books where I’ve read it many times I think I have a pretty solid look/feel, but many times I don’t.

Sometimes it’s fun to see who the author had picked out for a character, it usually doesn’t bother me. But I wouldn’t want it to be continually referenced (or maybe ever referenced) in the book.

]]> By: Francesca Hawley http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/05/02/a-picture%e2%80%99s-worth-a-thousand-words-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-25146 Francesca Hawley Wed, 07 May 2008 17:29:25 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/05/02/a-picture%e2%80%99s-worth-a-thousand-words-or-is-it/#comment-25146 I guess I commit some cardinal sins. I've recently posted pics on my blog of actors on whom I based a couple of my recent heroes. I don't use those references in the book for either hero or heroine, though I do describe them. I'm pretty visual. The interesting thing is that I know who my hero looks like, but I rarely find an actress or celebrity who resembles the heroine. I guess I see her as me in some ways. :wink: I guess I commit some cardinal sins. I’ve recently posted pics on my blog of actors on whom I based a couple of my recent heroes. I don’t use those references in the book for either hero or heroine, though I do describe them. I’m pretty visual. The interesting thing is that I know who my hero looks like, but I rarely find an actress or celebrity who resembles the heroine. I guess I see her as me in some ways. :wink:

]]> By: Anna http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/05/02/a-picture%e2%80%99s-worth-a-thousand-words-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-25127 Anna Wed, 07 May 2008 02:38:39 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/05/02/a-picture%e2%80%99s-worth-a-thousand-words-or-is-it/#comment-25127 I agree with you Sylvia, you need some input from the author early in the book otherwise you have a blank in your mind. Is he tall, dark haired ect It's not so much the physical description that I am after, that can be summed up in a couple of sentences early on. It's the character development throughout the book. How does he carry himself around others, is he quiet, sarcastic, aggressive ect... A pet hate of mine is when the hero and heroine don't meet until half way through the book! One of my favorite historical books of all time is Lisa Kleypas, "Dreaming of you" with Derek Craven and Sara Fielding. I love how the book starts out. Straight away you have such a clear picture in your mind of the two different character's. I agree with you Sylvia,

you need some input from the author early in the book otherwise you have a blank in your mind. Is he tall, dark haired ect

It’s not so much the physical description that I am after, that can be summed up in a couple of sentences early on. It’s the character development throughout the book. How does he carry himself around others, is he quiet, sarcastic, aggressive ect…

A pet hate of mine is when the hero and heroine don’t meet until half way through the book!

One of my favorite historical books of all time is Lisa Kleypas, “Dreaming of you” with Derek Craven and Sara Fielding. I love how the book starts out. Straight away you have such a clear picture in your mind of the two different character’s.

]]> By: Sylvia Day http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/05/02/a-picture%e2%80%99s-worth-a-thousand-words-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-25126 Sylvia Day Wed, 07 May 2008 01:16:48 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/05/02/a-picture%e2%80%99s-worth-a-thousand-words-or-is-it/#comment-25126 A recent DNF for me was one where I reached chapter three and had yet to learn even basic physical descriptions of the characters or setting. I had no idea what clothes they were wearing, what their hair and eye colors were, or what their surroundings looked like. In my head, all I could see was the generic robot from <em>I, Robot</em> standing in a pitch black room talking to other robots. I want the author to create the world for me. If I have to make it up all by myself, I might as well be writing my own book. :grin: A recent DNF for me was one where I reached chapter three and had yet to learn even basic physical descriptions of the characters or setting. I had no idea what clothes they were wearing, what their hair and eye colors were, or what their surroundings looked like. In my head, all I could see was the generic robot from I, Robot standing in a pitch black room talking to other robots.

I want the author to create the world for me. If I have to make it up all by myself, I might as well be writing my own book. :grin:

]]> By: Shelley Munro http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/05/02/a-picture%e2%80%99s-worth-a-thousand-words-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-25074 Shelley Munro Sun, 04 May 2008 03:16:38 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/05/02/a-picture%e2%80%99s-worth-a-thousand-words-or-is-it/#comment-25074 When I read I don't like too much physical description of a character because I AM the heroine. I like to step into her shoes, since reading for me is about escapism. I can't escape when I can't fit into a well-defined/described body. I much prefer a one-size-fits-all character. When it comes to personality and character motivation though, I need detail. When I put my writing hat on, I don't normally have pictures, although having said that, my latest heroine is based on a well-known public figure. I was just about to google her. :grin: When I read I don’t like too much physical description of a character because I AM the heroine. I like to step into her shoes, since reading for me is about escapism. I can’t escape when I can’t fit into a well-defined/described body. I much prefer a one-size-fits-all character. When it comes to personality and character motivation though, I need detail.

When I put my writing hat on, I don’t normally have pictures, although having said that, my latest heroine is based on a well-known public figure. I was just about to google her. :grin:

]]> By: Susan Kelley http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/05/02/a-picture%e2%80%99s-worth-a-thousand-words-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-25070 Susan Kelley Sat, 03 May 2008 20:41:14 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/05/02/a-picture%e2%80%99s-worth-a-thousand-words-or-is-it/#comment-25070 As a writer, I always have that image of the hero and heroine in my head and sometimes I clip a picture from a magazine and put in with my character profiles, but I would never tell my readers who it is. Of course I know what hunky movie star should play the lead when they make my novels into blockbuster movies. As a reader, I prefer to leave it to my own imagination. And as a movie watcher, I often wonder if casting people ever read the book the movie derives from. As a writer, I always have that image of the hero and heroine in my head and sometimes I clip a picture from a magazine and put in with my character profiles, but I would never tell my readers who it is. Of course I know what hunky movie star should play the lead when they make my novels into blockbuster movies. As a reader, I prefer to leave it to my own imagination. And as a movie watcher, I often wonder if casting people ever read the book the movie derives from.

]]> By: Anna http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/05/02/a-picture%e2%80%99s-worth-a-thousand-words-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-25068 Anna Sat, 03 May 2008 18:23:12 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/05/02/a-picture%e2%80%99s-worth-a-thousand-words-or-is-it/#comment-25068 As a reader I don't want to know an actor you had in mind in case it's not someone I like. I like the basics, hair, eye build...although I always give the male lead black hair in my mind no matter what you tell me :) There are exceptions and this depends on the authors skill. Here's how Elizabeth Hoyt described the Earl of Swartingham in, "The Raven Prince". "The man heaved himself out of the mud puddle to loom over her in that irritating way gentlemen had of trying to look important when they'd just been foolish. The dirty water beading on his pale, pockmarked face made him an awful sight. Black eyelashes clumped together lushly around obsidian eyes, but that hardly offset the large nose and chin and the thin, bloodless lips." Does not sounds like the usual hero! but it gave the character a uniqueness. JR Ward writes great characters also, so good I don't mind the odd blond one :) As a reader I don’t want to know an actor you had in mind in case it’s not someone I like. I like the basics, hair, eye build…although I always give the male lead black hair in my mind no matter what you tell me :)

There are exceptions and this depends on the authors skill. Here’s how Elizabeth Hoyt described the Earl of Swartingham in, “The Raven Prince”.

“The man heaved himself out of the mud puddle to loom over her in that irritating way gentlemen had of trying to look important when they’d just been foolish. The dirty water beading on his pale, pockmarked face made him an awful sight. Black eyelashes clumped together lushly around obsidian eyes, but that hardly offset the large nose and chin and the thin, bloodless lips.”

Does not sounds like the usual hero! but it gave the character a uniqueness. JR Ward writes great characters also, so good I don’t mind the odd blond one :)

]]> By: Barbara Ferrer http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/05/02/a-picture%e2%80%99s-worth-a-thousand-words-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-25066 Barbara Ferrer Sat, 03 May 2008 15:58:11 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/05/02/a-picture%e2%80%99s-worth-a-thousand-words-or-is-it/#comment-25066 Writing-wise, since I'm so visual, I always choose an image or two to have as a reference. Then I'll focus in on a particular standout feature or two to describe while keeping the rest very general. So if the character has a scar or dimples or remarkable eyes, I'll detail those, but otherwise, I'll only sketch out the descriptions. I also like to allow the other senses to come into play with physical description—how someone feels or smells can be as vivid in providing a description as how someone looks. But I'll never say that a character looks like "so and so" within the text of the book even if I might imagine my current hero as looking like Rodrigo Santoro... ;) Writing-wise, since I’m so visual, I always choose an image or two to have as a reference. Then I’ll focus in on a particular standout feature or two to describe while keeping the rest very general. So if the character has a scar or dimples or remarkable eyes, I’ll detail those, but otherwise, I’ll only sketch out the descriptions.

I also like to allow the other senses to come into play with physical description—how someone feels or smells can be as vivid in providing a description as how someone looks. But I’ll never say that a character looks like “so and so” within the text of the book even if I might imagine my current hero as looking like Rodrigo Santoro… ;)

]]> By: Becca http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/05/02/a-picture%e2%80%99s-worth-a-thousand-words-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-25064 Becca Sat, 03 May 2008 15:41:11 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/05/02/a-picture%e2%80%99s-worth-a-thousand-words-or-is-it/#comment-25064 oops oops

]]> By: Becca http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/05/02/a-picture%e2%80%99s-worth-a-thousand-words-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-25063 Becca Sat, 03 May 2008 15:39:34 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/05/02/a-picture%e2%80%99s-worth-a-thousand-words-or-is-it/#comment-25063 I love the idea of the graphic artist doing your characters! I bought a couple how to draw books but have No Time to explore those. I think I would enjoy an illustrated novel, not all pictures and spare text, like a manga novel, but just a picture here and there. Maybe forty pictures in the novel with regular text. But then, I'm middle aged and still like comics. I love the idea of the graphic artist doing your characters! I bought a couple how to draw books but have No Time to explore those.

I think I would enjoy an illustrated novel, not all pictures and spare text, like a manga novel, but just a picture here and there. Maybe forty pictures in the novel with regular text.

But then, I’m middle aged and still like comics.

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