When I write a describtion of a chracter in a novel, should I say everything about the clothing?For example...

For example, She wore a black Capris pants with a white belt. Above that, she wore a white top with black diagonal tropical flower prints. Is it too much??? And if you think so, do you think the top should be black or white???

When I write a describtion of a chracter in a novel, should I say everything about the clothing?For example...
Sometime less is enough and sometime its more than enough.
Reply:I think if it has something directly realating to the story somehow, yes. If not, keep it a little more vague, like she was dressed nicely, or ragged clothes
Reply:I'd add the dimension of impression.


"she looked as if it were drawn on her"


"she appeared disheveled and thrown together"


"she felt as crisp and fresh as spring itself"
Reply:Well, it depends. How's that for an answer. Depends on how important it is to the story, how much you want to reveal. You could say, for example, "She was dressed in all black and white and her personality was the same in bipolar contrast." You could go on for paragraphs about what she was wearing. Or for a minor character or something you'll develop later you could say, "he looked like a bum." without even mentioning his clothes. In a novel it's all up to you %26amp; the effect you want to convey.
Reply:Too much, in my opinion, but don't let me stop you. At least you don't go all into name-brands and things like that. I really don't care what characters are wearing. The clothes don't make the character. But detail is good when you're writing. If you introduce new characters with really different clothes, like rainbow belts and purple leg warmers, the description would be needed. But regular clothes ... description isn't too necessary.





Oh, and if you do describe her clothes, I think the top should be black too, but that's just me. =) Good luck.
Reply:i think it's great detail, i like to picture the characters as precise as possible so i like that i even like there hair described i think you can personalize them they feel more real, i dont know about the black pant's with a white belt, i would'nt do that it's kind of 80's, but you cant really wear a white belt with a white shirt, white's like blacks can be so off, but if i had to pick id say black so you could see the belt
Reply:NO and NO





Describing your character to much makes your reader feel that you are taking away their imagination. Trust me you don't want that.





Make a one line (not more than 15 words) description without too many details. For example, if your character is fun and happy then you can just say, "her outfit had floral pattern/flowers and of course that seemed to be a pattern of her heart drawn out" , if she is grim then it can be the "blacks and whites did not help to hide her mood". I think you'll get the point.
Reply:Unless it serves a specific purpose, i.e. to describe the extend of the character's fashion consciousness, I'd say the old maxim of "Less is more" should apply. In other words: Don't overdo it!
Reply:The fashion choices I leave to you. How much to describe depends in part on the kind of book you're writing. In general, everything you tell us about the character should reveal something about that character's personality. Is she stylish? Is he wealthy? Is she a slob? Pick outfits to fit your character, and describe them in a way that illuminates them. For example:





"She looked liked a Miami retiree grafted onto a matador, with black capris under a floral print top, all set off by teased red hair and a cigarette holder right out of movies from the forties."





Have fun!
Reply:Robert Parker, in the wildly successful "Spenser" novels, tells us what the characters have on once in a while.





Elmore Leonard has a scene in one of his novels where a policeman goes to play golf with a businessman. The businessman is wearing a $100 Izod shirt and equally expensive golf slacks. The policeman has on jeans and a T-shirt that reads "Detroit Homicide Squad #5" It makes a point. If you are just dressing your characters out of envy, the way some writers have their characters eat in high-class restaurants and drink Ch. Lafitte-Rothschild, don't do it. If it adds to the scene, do it.
Reply:Yes, is too much, a light description is OK. Black top is better.
Reply:Try saying it like this: Her black capris and black and white tropical flowered shirt complimented her olive complexion...or something like that. Don't get too bogged down in descriptions though. They are not very interesting for people to read.
Reply:Be as complete as you can.
Reply:Descriptive writing





Descriptive writing vividly describes a person, place, or thing in such a way that the reader can visualize the topic and feel like they are part of the experience. Descriptive writing is characterized by the following:





• elaborate use of sensory details





• details which go beyond the general





• details which enable the reader to picture or relive what the writer is telling





http://thewritingsite.org/resources/genr...





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