how to describe muscles creative writing

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Word lists, cheat sheets, and sometimes irreverent reviews of writing rules. kathy steinemann is the author of the writer's lexicon series..

500+ Ways to Describe Body Build and Physique

(Discover even more words in The Writer’s Body Lexicon .)

Brevity or Verbal Diarrhea?

Some authors fill multiple paragraphs when describing each character.

Stephen King’s advice: “Thin description leaves the reader feeling bewildered and nearsighted. Overdescription buries him or her in details and images.”

Romance, science fiction, or fantasy usually requires more description than a whodunit. The writer’s duty when describing characters is to compromise between the desire to depict every wrinkle, and the need to keep readers engaged.

This post provides ways to describe bodies and physiques. Well-chosen words create vivid imagery without slowing action or boring readers.

You may notice a few unfamiliar descriptors in the mini lists that follow. It is definitesolutely permitted to create new words, even (oh, the blasphemy!) adverbs.

Weight: Above-Average

Proceed with caution. Many of these terms are pejorative and may alienate readers if not used wisely.

For example, a school bully might describe his latest victim as porky, but a husband should keep such opinions to himself, unless those opinions appear via internal monologue — an excellent way for a writer to reveal a character’s true sentiments.

A to F ample, baggy, baggy-figured, beer-bellied, big-bellied, big-boned, bloated, blubbery, broad, bulging, bulky, chubby, chunky, corpulent, cumbersome, curvaceous, dimpled, doughy, dumpy, elephantine, fat, fatso, flabby, fleshy, full-figured

G to R generously padded, generously proportioned, gross, heavily built, heavy, heavy-set, hefty, Humpty Dumptyish, large, large-boned, matronly, obese, overheavy, overweight, paunchy, plump, podgy, ponderous, porky, portly, potbellied, pudgy, puffy, roly-poly

S to W sloppy, squat, stocky, stout, sumoesque, swollen, thick, thickset, tubby, ungainly, unwieldly, weighty, well-fed, well-padded, well-rounded, wide

Weight: At or Below-Average

Several of the adjectives in this section could also appear in the Height: Tall area. For example: beanstalk and lanky .

A to R aerodynamic, angular, beanstalk, bony, delicate, fine-boned, gangly, lank, lanky, lean, lissome, lithe, meager of body, narrow, rawboned

S to W scraggy, scrawny, sinuous, skeletal, skin-and-bone, skinny, sleek, slender, slight, slightly-built, slim, small-boned, spare, spindly, spiny, streamlined, stringy, svelte, sylphlike, thin, trim, underdeveloped, underweight, waif-like, willowy, wiry, wispy

Physical Condition: Good

Pay attention to nuances. Muscle-bound , for example, might indicate that your character has overworked his or her muscles into a state of inflexibility.

A to L active, athletic, beefy, brawny, built, bullish, bullnecked, burly, defined, dense, developed, durable, firm, fit, hale, hard, hardy, healthy, Herculean, hulking, hunky, husky, in shape, limber, lusty

M to R meaty, mesomorphic, mighty, muscle-bound, muscular, nimble, pliant, powerful, powerfully built, resilient, ripped, robust, rugged

S to W shipshape, shredded, sinewy, solid, sound, stalwart [dated], strapping, strong, sturdy, substantial, supple, taut, toned, tough, vigorous, well-built

Physical Condition: Poor

Note: in Great Britain, ropy indicates poor quality or health, whereas in North America, it’s more likely to mean strong or fibrous.

A to F ailing, anorexic, atrophied, battered, beat-up, brittle, broken, bruised, burnt, cadaverous, careworn, crippled, crooked, crumbling, decomposed, decrepit, deformed, degenerating, deteriorating, dilapidated, emaciated, etiolated, feeble, feverish, flimsy, fragile, frail, frangible

G to R gaunt, haggard, half-starved, infirm, insubstantial, lethargic, maimed, malnourished, mangled, neglected, out-of-shape, puny, ramshackle, rickety, ropy, rotting, runty

S to W scalded, sickly, starved, underfed, undernourished, vulnerable, wasted, weak, weedy, withered, worn-out

Look around you. Pick an object. Could you include it as a body shape? A woman might have a chest flatter than your thesaurus, or perhaps your male protagonist resembles your upside-down wastebasket.

B to R barrel-chested, barrelesque, blocky, boobylicious, bootylicious, broad-shouldered, bulbous, cylindrical, ectomorphic, endomorphic, flat, hourglass-shaped, inverted-triangular, limp, mesomorphic, pear-shaped, pumpkinesque, pyramidal, rectangular, rotund, round

S to W serpentine, shapeless, shapely, small-waisted, spherical, spidery, square, thick-waisted, top-heavy, triangular, wasp-waisted

Height: Short

Let’s include that wastebasket again: knee-high to a wastebasket . Scrutinize your surroundings to create fresh phrases.

B to R belly-button-high, bijou, compact, dainty, diminutive, dwarfish, eensy, elfin, gnomish, itsy-bitsy, itty-bitty, knee-high, knee-high to a wastebasket, knee-high to a pygmy, Lilliputian, little, low-slung, midget, mini, miniature, packed-down, peewee, petite, pint-sized, pocket-sized, puny, pygmy, runty

S to W sawed-off, shoulder-high, shrimpy, shriveled, shrunken, small, small in stature, small-scale, stubby, stunted, teeny, teeny-weeny, tiny, undersized, vertically challenged, waist-high, wee

Height: Tall

Most people know that redwoods are tall, ergo, redwood-high . With a bit of acerbic word play, a tall Polish stripper might be referred to as stripper-pole-ific .

B to L big, biggish, colossal, gangling, gargantuan, giant, gigantic, ginormous, Goliath, huge, humongous, immense, jumbo, king-sized, large, leggy, lofty, longish, long-shanked

M to W mammoth, massive, mountain-high, of great stature, rangy, redwood-high, sizable, sky-high, skyscraperesque, statuesque, stripper-pole-ific, towering, whopping

More Adjectives: Flattering

Many words that describe skin also function well as body descriptors.

A to P alluring, awe-inspiring, busty, buxom, carved, chaste, chesty, chiseled, comely [dated], cooperative, curvy, delectable, endless, eye-catching, formidable, graceful, handsome, holy, imposing, majestic, neat, nubile, perfect

S to Y sculpted, seductive, sensuous, sexy , shapely, slinky, stacked, stately, statuesque, stunning, symmetrical, voluptuous, well-endowed, well-proportioned, youthful

More Adjectives: Unflattering

You’ll find additional pejorative terms here. Choose with care.

A to R awkward, corpse-like, foul-smelling, furry, girlie-girl, gnarled, grotesque, hairy, hideous, humpbacked, hunchbacked, hunched, lumpy, malformed, milquetoast, misshapen, monstrous, neckless, pantywaist, pigeon-chested, powerless, revolting, round-shouldered

S to W scarred, shaggy, shoulderless, slack, slouched, soulless, stooped, twisted, unresponsive, unwashed, unwilling, unyielding, wimpy, wizened, wooden, wrinkled

More Adjectives: Other

Is that lifeless figure a woman pretending to be asleep, or is she dead? Is your male protagonist’s body really afire, or is he burning with desire?

Maybe you could write a short story that leads readers astray via adjectives with multiple connotations.

A to H afire, aflame, bare, boyish, bullnecked, coltish, effeminate, expectant, familiar, feminine, girlish, gravid, hairless, headless

I to W inert, inexperienced, inflexible, knocked-up, leathery, lifeless, limp, loose-jointed, masculine, nude, pregnant, primitive, rigid, stiff, unclad, unclothed, undeveloped, weather-beaten

A to Y anemic, ashen, black-and-blue, bronzed, chocolate, coffee, copper, dappled, freckled, golden, grey, jaundiced, pale, pallid, pasty, pink, purple, red, ruddy, sunburnt, swarthy, tanned, tawny, wan, yellow

See the Color/Tone section of 300+ Words to Describe Skin for more color possibilities.

Some of the following are cliché, but they provide seeds for new ideas. A character might be built like:

a bag of doughnuts a Barbie Doll a battleship a boar a bulldog a Cadillac a cannon a centerfold a cheerleader a coiled cobra a fairy a feather pillow a grizzly a gymnast a Ken Doll a linebacker a military action figure a moose an ox a panther a pixie a Porsche the Rock of Gibraltar a refrigerator a shark a stick a straw a tank a thoroughbred

Here are a few more seeds to stimulate your imagination. Compare your character’s physique to:

a blimp a book of countless pages a bottle of fine wine concrete a crime scene an enigma a fairyland a ferret forbidden fruit a fortress a fragrant meadow an ice palace a machine a mannequin a marionette a masterpiece a maze a mystery a nightmare a nunnery a prison a rag doll a riddle a rose, complete with thorns a secret fantasy a sewer a snare a trap unattainable dreams uncharted waters an unreachable star a watermelon a weapon a weasel a wet dream a wonderland a work in progress

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6 thoughts on “ 500+ Ways to Describe Body Build and Physique ”

This is so helpful. I write stories about little guys (small, non-muscular, anamorphic) overpowering the biggest, strongest muscle man. I noticed I use a lot of repeat words and trying to improve. This information is so helpful. Thank you.

I’m glad you find it helpful, Chris.

Good luck with your stories!

Congratulations on your top50 blogger award. Well deserved. Thank you for this list of words, too.

Thanks, Vivienne!

As per usual, I’m appropriating this and sharing it with my FB and Twitter friends. You’re an amazing asset to the writing community. 🙂

Thanks, Jenn!

30+ Words to Describe Different Body Shapes and Sizes

By: Author Hiuyan Lam

Posted on Last updated: October 20, 2023

Categories Vocabulary Boosters

When describing characters, it isn’t enough to call them “tall” or “short”, or even “fat” or “slim”. It requires specific words to describe body shape to paint an image of the character in your readers’ heads.

Surely the character’s body shape is more than just a generalized term. You may even have two “fat” characters, but using the same words to describe them wouldn’t do much justice when one is stumpy, and the other is tall and paunchy.

Once you have conjured up the character in your head, you need to pay close attention to these words to describe their body shape and pick the most suitable ones:

7 words to describe a muscular/athletic body shape

  Not all muscular/athletic body types are the same. Sure, they all fall into the same category, but using more specific words to describe body shape paints an even clearer image of what you envision a character to be.   Here are 7 words to describe body shape for muscular/athletic characters:  

You May Also Like:

30 of the Best Words to Describe a Good Athlete

7 words to describe a sexy body

  There are different understandings of what it means to be sexy, so you have to be more specific when writing about this body type.   For some, sexy means a person with large breasts and buttocks, while others find smaller features more attractive.   Take a look at these words to describe body shape for sexy characters, then take your pick:  

7 words to describe a fat body shape

  Now, let’s move on to characters one can generalize as “fat”.   Here are 8 words to describe body shape for the different versions of fat:  

20+ of the Nicest and Most Positive Words to Describe Elderly

8 slim body shapes

  Just as there are different versions of a fat body, there are different versions of slim body shapes. Use any of these words to describe body shapes of slim characters to paint a more accurate picture:  

25+ of the Best Words to Describe Fireworks in Writing

5 words to describe body shape when talking about body sizes

  You may also use words to describe body shape based on a character’s size. This will help to put things into perspective for your readers and makes your choice of words more effective.   Here are 5 words to describe body shape when talking about the character’s size:  

  And there you have it! 30+ of the best words to describe body shape for virtually any character you can think of.   Now, you can work on developing other elements of your story to complete a spectacular piece. Good luck!  

How to Describe Exercise in Writing: The Art of Expression

My name is Debbie, and I am passionate about developing a love for the written word and planting a seed that will grow into a powerful voice that can inspire many.

Have‍ you ever been captivated by the ⁢description of⁤ a vigorous dance⁣ or the intense workout routine of a fictional character? The ‌art of describing exercise in writing holds the ability to transport readers into the realm of physical exertion and awaken their senses. Whether you’re a budding writer looking⁤ to add depth to your⁣ action scenes or​ simply a fitness enthusiast seeking new ways to express the exhilaration of a workout, understanding the various facets of this⁢ art form is crucial. In this article, we will explore the intricacies of describing exercise in writing, unlocking the potential ​to inspire, motivate, and engage readers on a whole new ‍level. So, ⁤dust off your keyboard and join us on ‍this journey into the captivating ‍world of the written word and physical⁣ movement.

Differentiating‌ Exercise Styles: From Cardio to Strength Training

Conveying‌ the physical sensations of exercise, techniques for describing exercise movements with clarity, the importance of capturing⁤ the ⁣emotional⁣ experience⁣ of exercise, enhancing descriptions through metaphors and vivid⁣ language, translating‍ exercise intensity levels ⁤into words, using descriptive phrases ‍to depict exercise routines, 1. ⁣energetic cardio blast, 2. zenful yoga flow, overcoming challenges in describing exercise: tips and strategies, frequently asked questions, future outlook.

When it comes to fitness, there are a multitude of exercise styles to choose from, each offering unique benefits and targeting different aspects of our physical well-being. Understanding the differences between cardio⁣ and strength training is essential for ⁣creating a​ comprehensive workout routine that suits your goals and preferences.

Cardiovascular exercises:

• Cardio exercises primarily‌ focus on getting your ​heart rate up and‌ improving your cardiovascular endurance.
• These exercises include activities such as running, jogging, cycling, swimming, and high-intensity‍ interval training (HIIT).
• Cardio workouts help⁣ burn calories, improve lung⁢ capacity, lower the risk of heart disease, and increase overall stamina.
• They are great for weight⁣ loss and enhancing your overall cardiovascular ⁤fitness.

Strength training exercises:

• Strength training exercises aim to⁢ build ⁣and⁤ strengthen your muscles.
• These exercises‌ typically involve lifting weights, using resistance bands, or using your body weight for resistance.
• Strength training helps increase⁤ muscle mass, enhance bone density, ‍improve‍ joint mobility, and boost metabolism.
• They are beneficial for improving⁢ overall strength, posture, and preventing ​injury.

By⁣ incorporating both cardio⁣ and strength training into your fitness routine, you can achieve a well-rounded workout experience. Remember, the key is⁢ finding the right balance that suits your body and goals. So lace up those running shoes or grab those dumbbells – the world of exercise is yours to explore!

When it comes to exercise, the body⁢ experiences a wide range of physical sensations that can leave you feeling both invigorated and fatigued. These sensations⁤ are proof that your ⁤body is working hard and adapting⁣ to ‌the demands you place upon it. Let’s explore some of these sensations that you may experience during your workout​ sessions:

• Increased heart ​rate: ‌ As​ you engage ⁤in physical activity, your⁤ heart beats ⁢faster to supply oxygen-rich blood ⁣to⁢ your muscles. This increased heart ​rate is a sign that your cardiovascular system is working efficiently.
• Rise in body temperature: While ⁣exercising, your body generates heat, causing your core temperature to rise. This is a normal response as your ​body ⁢burns calories and begins to sweat, helping you cool down.
• Endorphin release: You may feel a surge of endorphins during and after exercising. These natural chemicals produced‌ by your brain can create a feeling of euphoria ‍and contribute to the “runner’s⁤ high” sensation.

Additionally, exercise may also bring about​ physical ⁢sensations related to fatigue and muscular exertion:

• Muscle soreness: Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)‌ is⁢ a common sensation after engaging in intense⁣ or unfamiliar ‍exercise.⁣ It is characterized by ‌a dull‍ ache in the muscles, which typically subsides within a few days.
• Shortness ‌of breath: As your body demands‌ more oxygen during an intense ‍workout, you ⁢may⁣ experience shortness of breath. This is your body’s way of ensuring it gets sufficient oxygen to fuel your efforts.
• Increased perspiration: Sweating is your body’s mechanism to regulate temperature. During exercise, you may notice an‍ increase in perspiration as your body tries to cool itself down.

When⁢ it comes to describing exercise movements, clarity is key to ensuring that individuals perform the ‍exercises correctly and⁢ maximize their workout ⁢potential. Here are some techniques ⁤to help you clearly explain exercise movements:

1. Break it down: Start by breaking down the movement into ⁣its ⁢key components. Identify the starting position, the movement itself, and​ the ending position. Breaking ⁢it down ⁢into smaller steps makes it⁣ easier for individuals to understand.

2. Use descriptive⁢ language: Paint a vivid picture with your words. Use descriptive​ language to clearly communicate not only the⁤ action ‍but also the engagement⁤ of specific muscles and body parts.‍ For example, instead ⁣of⁢ saying “lift the weight up,” you can say “grasp the weight firmly in your palm and lift it towards your chest, engaging your biceps.”

Enhancing your workout by capturing⁣ the emotional ⁤experience

Exercise is not just about physical fitness; ⁤it is a holistic ‌experience that encompasses‍ the mind, body, ‌and soul.⁤ Often overlooked, capturing the emotional aspect of exercise is crucial for maximizing the benefits and ⁣achieving a sense of overall⁤ well-being. Here’s why understanding and embracing the ‍emotional side of your workouts‌ is key to reaching your‍ fitness goals:

• Motivation and inspiration: By acknowledging and tapping into your emotional experience, ⁢you ⁢can harness powerful motivation and‌ inspiration to push⁢ through challenging workouts. Remembering the joy you felt achieving a ⁤personal best or the satisfaction of conquering a fitness milestone can serve as a constant reminder of ⁢what you are capable of.
• Stress reduction: Exercise has long been ⁤touted for its stress-relieving benefits, and capturing the emotional experience amplifies those effects. Whether⁢ it’s the ‍release of endorphins or the sense‍ of satisfaction​ and accomplishment, being ⁣in touch with your emotions during exercise ⁣can significantly alleviate daily stress, allowing you to leave each workout ‌feeling rejuvenated.
• Increased self-awareness: ⁤ Paying⁣ attention to your emotions while exercising can lead to a deeper understanding of your mind-body connection. This heightened self-awareness allows you to recognize the impact your thoughts and emotions have on ⁣your physical performance, helping​ you make necessary adjustments and improvements.

Don’t let the emotional side of exercise go unnoticed. Rather than solely focusing on calories burned or muscle gains, take the time to acknowledge and embrace your emotional journey throughout each workout. ‍By doing so, you will unlock a new level of fulfillment and satisfaction in your fitness routine, ultimately ‍leading to ⁣a more well-rounded and rewarding⁢ exercise experience.

When it comes to describing something, using metaphors and⁢ vivid language can add a whole new dimension to your writing. Metaphors allow you to make comparisons and draw connections between two seemingly unrelated things , ⁢giving your description depth and injecting it with creativity.​ By likening one thing to another,⁢ you can convey complex emotions, sensations,⁢ or concepts in a way that is relatable ‌and visually ‍compelling.

To enhance your descriptions, consider incorporating vivid‌ language that‌ appeals to the senses. Instead of simply stating that⁣ a room is clean, you could say that it ‌sparkles like a⁣ polished diamond, instantly painting a clear picture in the ⁢reader’s mind.​ Using⁣ colorful adjectives, such as radiant, vibrant, or velvety, ‌can infuse your descriptions with life and make them more engaging. Additionally, incorporating sensory details like the ​scent of freshly cut grass or the sound of crashing waves ⁣can transport readers into your world and make your descriptions more immersive.

When it comes to describing exercise intensity levels, it can ‌sometimes be challenging to put them into ⁣words. However, understanding these levels is crucial for setting fitness goals and tracking progress. To help you navigate this, we’ve created a guide‌ to help ​translate ​exercise intensity levels into words, making it easier for you​ to‌ communicate and⁣ understand your workout⁢ routine.

Intensity levels can be described using ‍different words, such as:

• Low: This level​ signifies a light and⁤ comfortable workout, where you can easily maintain a conversation.
• Moderate: Moderate intensity means you’re working​ hard enough to break ⁤a sweat ​and slightly increase your breathing rate. You can still carry​ on a conversation, but it might be a bit more challenging.
• High: This level indicates a vigorous workout that leaves you breathing heavily, unable to hold a conversation easily. You’ll likely⁣ break a sweat quickly and feel challenged throughout.
• Maximum: ⁤Maximum intensity represents an all-out effort where you’re pushing your limits. Breathing becomes rapid and labored, and ⁣it’s nearly ⁣impossible to talk.

It’s important to ‌note⁤ that everyone’s fitness level is different, so what may⁢ feel moderate for ​one​ person could be challenging for ‌another. Monitoring your heart rate can also be ​helpful in determining⁣ your exercise intensity level. Regardless, understanding and using these words can help you communicate and track your progress with more‍ accuracy, ensuring an effective and enjoyable workout routine.

When it⁣ comes ‌to describing exercise routines,⁢ using ⁣descriptive phrases can ⁤bring them to life and make them more‌ engaging. These phrases can vividly portray the intensity, variety, and overall experience of different workouts. By utilizing descriptive language, you can paint a picture in the reader’s mind and motivate them to try out these routines themselves.

Pump up your heart rate with this high-energy⁢ cardio routine ⁤that will leave you feeling invigorated. Picture yourself drenched in sweat as‍ you jump, kick, and ‍move your body to​ the beat of the music. This heart-pounding workout will get your blood ‌flowing, boost your endurance, and torch ​those‌ calories, all while having a blast. So get ‍ready to unleash your inner dancer‌ and feel the burn!

Escape the ⁣hustle and bustle ‍of everyday life with this serene⁢ yoga flow⁢ that will leave you feeling centered and balanced. Picture yourself in a peaceful setting, surrounded by nature, as you move through a sequence of gentle poses. With ‍each ‍inhale and exhale,​ you’ll ⁤feel‌ a deep sense of relaxation and tranquility‌ washing over you. ​This yoga routine is perfect for melting away stress, improving flexibility,​ and finding inner peace.

Describing exercise can​ sometimes be a daunting task, especially when trying ⁢to ⁣convey ​the intricacies and nuances of physical movements. However, with the right tips and​ strategies, you can overcome these challenges and effectively communicate the essence of various exercise routines to your audience.

1. Use vivid and descriptive ​language: Paint⁤ a picture with your words by using vibrant adjectives and adverbs to convey ⁢the intensity, speed, ‌or grace of different exercises. For example, instead of simply saying “do lunges,” you can describe them as “performing wide, graceful strides forward, one leg at a time,⁢ while​ maintaining ⁢an upright posture.”

2. Break it down step by step: Complex exercises can often feel overwhelming to describe, so breaking​ them down ‌into smaller, more manageable steps is ​a fantastic strategy. This allows your audience to grasp each movement individually and then put them together for a complete picture. ⁣Make use of bullet points or ⁤numbered ‍lists to detail each⁤ step, providing clear instructions that are easy to follow.

Q: Why is it ⁢important⁤ to describe ⁤exercise ⁢in writing? A: Describing exercise in writing is important because it allows the reader to visualize and​ understand the physical activity. It can inspire ‌and motivate others to engage in exercise or provide insights into the⁤ benefits and techniques involved.

Q: How can I effectively ⁣describe exercise in‌ writing? A: To⁤ effectively describe exercise in writing, it’s crucial to focus on the sensory details. Include vivid descriptions ⁤of how the body moves, the physical ⁣sensations experienced during the exercise, and the overall impact on the individual’s well-being.

Q: Are there specific words​ or phrases‍ that⁣ can⁣ enhance the description of exercise? A: Absolutely! Including specific action verbs ⁣such as “sprint,” “jump,” or ‌”stretch” can add dynamism to your writing. Furthermore, adjectives like “energetic,” “exhilarating,” or “invigorating” ‍can convey the intensity ‍and excitement of the exercise.

Q: Should I include technical terms when describing exercise in writing? A: While it’s essential to strike a ‍balance, it’s generally advised to minimize technical jargon, especially if your‍ intended audience ⁣is not familiar⁢ with ⁤specific exercise terminology. However, including essential terms and providing simple ​explanations can ⁢add credibility and educate ⁤the reader.

Q: How ⁣can I convey‍ the positive effects of exercise through writing? A: To convey the positive effects of exercise, focus on the before-and-after scenario. Describe how⁤ exercise boosts energy levels, relieves stress, improves mood, enhances strength, and promotes overall well-being. Personal anecdotes or⁢ testimonials can also be powerful in illustrating the transformative impact of exercise.

Q: ⁤Can ​you provide​ an example of effectively describing⁢ exercise⁢ in writing? A: Certainly! Here’s an example: “As I laced up‍ my running shoes, I felt a surge of excitement fill my body. With each stride, I could​ feel my muscles awakening, propelling ⁣me forward like a well-oiled machine. The wind played with ⁣my hair, and the rhythmic pounding of my ‌footsteps‍ was music to my ears. Running through ​the lush green park , ⁤I could​ sense my⁢ worries drifting away, replaced by a sense of clarity and renewed energy.”

Q: How long should the description of ⁤exercise be? A: ⁣The length of the description is subjective and depends on ​the overall context and purpose of your writing. A few well-crafted sentences‌ might be ⁤sufficient in some cases, while others⁣ may benefit from a lengthier and more ⁤detailed description. ⁣It’s important to strike a ‍balance to maintain the reader’s interest and keep the writing engaging.

Q: Is it more effective to describe exercise from a personal perspective? A: Describing exercise from a personal⁤ perspective can be highly effective in engaging the reader. Sharing your own ‍experiences, emotions, and the impact exercise has had on your life can make‍ the description relatable and​ authentic. However, depending on the context, it ⁢may also be necessary to generalize the description to make it applicable to a broader audience.

Q:⁤ Any tips‍ for incorporating exercise description into a larger piece of writing? A: ⁤When incorporating exercise descriptions into a larger piece of writing, ensure that the description seamlessly integrates into the overall flow of the piece. Use transitional phrases to link the exercise description to the ⁣surrounding content. Additionally, maintain consistency⁤ in style and tone throughout the ‍entire writing to​ ensure a ⁣cohesive and engaging read.‌

In conclusion, mastering the art of describing exercise in writing is essential for effectively‌ communicating movement and engaging readers.

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Writers After Dark

—Life Through the Eyes of Storytellers—

Using Body Language in Your Novel, Part Three—Arms, Shoulders, & Posture

For this third installment of using body language in your novel, we’re going to focus on the upper body and ways to infuse an ordinary story with deep layers of . . . well , upper body language description O_O — I knew this experiment to write a post while tipsy would make things difficult, but let’s just say it’s “interesting” and go with it. After all, I do write “after dark” so . . . yeah .

As we know, a person’s physical actions, whether performed consciously or unconsciously, reflect their mental state. And using these cues in our stories can help the reader dissect a character’s nonverbal communication , such as being nervous, angry, or even if they’re lying, among other things. I’ve covered facial expressions along with eyes and eyebrows, but now let’s move on . . . and remember, don’t over do it!

Here are some body language “tells” to further enhance your characters’ emotions :

Part Three: The Arms, Shoulders, and Posture

Arms are used a lot in self-expression. So it can be an easy way to indicate to your reader your character’s true comfort level. Make sure you use other cues as well as the context to build the right sense of emotion.

* Raised Arms . This can be used to indicate excitement. When people are happy, their arm motions defy gravity, and so should your character’s. So have her raise her arms high above her head to show she’s super duper excited.

* Swinging Arms . Use this to indicate your character is feeling good or confident. On the other hand, think of an insecure person and how they slouch with restrained arms. So use swinging arms—or lack of—to showcase your character’s confidence or insecurity.

* Crossed Arms . Use this to indicate anger, arrogance, frustration, insecurity, or that your character is feeling defensive, closed off, or even cold.

* Crossed Arms with Clenched Fists . This can indicate your character feels defensive or even hostile.

* Crossed Arms with Thumbs Up . This can be used to indicate your character feels superior to the other characters. (This is crossed arms, but with visually demanding thumbs pointing upward.)

* Crossed Arms with Crossed Legs . This can be used to indicate your character is feeling emotionally and physically closed off. In other words, he’s resistant to another character and is opposed to what that character might be suggesting.

* Concealed Crossed Arms gestures . This can be described as your character holding onto something in front of him with slightly crossed arms. Use this to indicate your character is feeling nervous or insecure but is trying to hide it. Public and famous people are good at this.

* Hand Texture . The physical description of hands can be used to indicate your character’s age (wrinkled or smooth), physical labor (calloused from hard work, burns from being a baker, scar from being in the army, etc.), or even privilege (having silky hands with an amazing manicure).

* Open Palms . This can be used to indicate honesty. When your character is telling the truth, his palms can be described as open.

* Closed Palm with Pointed Finger . This can be used to indicate dominance. And if it’s the middle finger, it’s a sign of aggression (as you very well know).

* Fidgeting and Twitching Fingers . This can be used to indicate your character is anxious, feeling inner conflict, or is bored. It can also be used to enhance your character’s personality, for example using specific quirks like biting nails when nervous, etc.

* Drumming Fingers . This can be used to indicate your character is feeling annoyed, impatient, or agitated.

* Clenched Fingers Behind Back . This can be used to indicate power, authority, and as a warning against misbehavior. Perfect for a character who is an authority figure.

* Cracking Knuckles . This can be used to indicate your character is ready for a fight, feeling violent, and angry.

* Upright Posture . Described as sitting or standing up straight with shoulders back. This can be used to indicate power, confidence, and control. Your character can command respect, show leadership, and promote engagement with an erect posture.

* Leaning Forward . This can be used to indicate your character is feeling hostile or aggressive.

* Leaning Back . This can be used to indicate your character is lazy, arrogant, tired, or lacking the courage to do something important.

* Sagging Posture . This can be used to indicate your character is feeling sick, insecure, in need of help, or sad.

* Shoulder Shrug . This can be used to indicate your character is confused, lacking confidence or knowledge, being obedient, or even to indicate an apology.

* Single Shoulder Shrug . This can be used to indicate your character’s lack of commitment, insecurity, and anxiety. Or it can be interpreted as a suspicious move, as in she’s possibly lying or holding back information.

* Raised Shoulders . This can be used to indicate your character is anxious, scared, insecure, tense, or is feeling small and insignificant. And if she’s combining raised shoulders with lowered head, it can mean she’s feeling threatened.

* Spread Out Shoulders . This can be used to indicate your character is relaxed and is feeling confident and assertive.

* Pushed Back Shoulders . This can be used to indicate your character is cocky and exerting dominance.

* Turned Shoulders . This can be used to indicate your character’s lack of interest, trying to escape, or feeling uncomfortable.

* Single Shoulder Raise with a Tilted Head . This can be used to indicate your character is flirting and is attracted to someone. It can also be combined with a slight turn of the head while she’s touching the side of her face.

And there it is! A couple extra details to use for your characters’ upper body gestures. Be sure to come back in the next few weeks for more body language tips for your novel.

See Part One—Facial Expressions here .

See Part Two—The Eyes here .

Coming up next: Legs, Feet, and Bonus Tips.

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Published by S. Katherine Anthony

S.K. Anthony (Shanny) is a writer, a reader, and make-stuff-up-er who lives in New York. She is an award-winning author and a podcaster. When she isn’t busy with her toddler twins, S.K. finds herself being transported into the world of imagination. Well, either that or running away from spiders . . . she is convinced they are out to get her! View all posts by S. Katherine Anthony

11 thoughts on “Using Body Language in Your Novel, Part Three—Arms, Shoulders, & Posture”

I love reading your articles. They are always so informative and helpful. I’m looking forward to your bonus article. Thank you for sharing your talents and skills in these wonderful posts.

Thanks so much for the kind words! 😃 And now I’m sweating bullets hoping the bonus tips actually live up to your expectations LOL

YAAY! Been waiting for this one, and it came at a time when a character is in crisis! I had her standing in a corner until I could figure out what to do with her. You saved me! 😉

Lol I have my character standing in a corner too! Now yours went and left mine all alone! 😂

Thanks for posting this! It was helpful =)

Awesome! To be honest it’s a good reminder for myself when I’m writing too lol

[…] See Part Three—Arms, Shoulders, & Posture here. […]

Loved the series. As you can tell I read it out of order. Great hints and helps.

Lol out of order is okay as long as you don’t blame the “offness” on me! 😛 😛 😛

Glad you liked the series!

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ATHLETIC BUILD

Never struggle with Show-and-Tell again. Activate your free trial or subscribe to view the Physical Feature Thesaurus in its entirety, or visit the Table of Contents to explore unlocked entries.

HELPFUL TIP:

Descriptors and key elements:, simile and metaphor examples:, clichés to avoid:, twisting the stereotype:.

• Athletic bodies are almost always tanned, dark-skinned, or some other enviable shade. How about an athletic body that's a little less appealing, like jaundiced, veined, or acned?
• This body type is usually well-proportioned according to society's standards. What about an extremely short or tall person with an athlete's body?
• Athletic bodies typically take a lot of deliberate work to get into the desired condition. A character with a naturally athletic build who doesn't have to work for it can cause for some interesting conflict among jealous or petty friends.

PEOPLE LIKELY TO HAVE THIS BUILD:

Famous examples:, other thoughts on this body type:.

How to Describe Muscles in Writing

When it comes to writing, creating vivid and engaging descriptions is key to immersing your readers into the world you’ve created. Whether you’re writing a thriller, romance, or fantasy novel, accurately describing muscles can add depth and realism to your characters. In this article, we will explore some tips on how to effectively describe muscles in writing, allowing your readers to visualize and connect with your characters on a deeper level.

1. Observe and Research: Before you can effectively describe muscles, it’s important to develop a good understanding of anatomy. Observe people around you, pay attention to their physique, and note the specific muscles that stand out. Additionally, take the time to research muscle groups and their functions. This knowledge will help you accurately describe your characters’ physical attributes.

2. Use Sensory Details: When describing muscles, engage your readers’ senses by incorporating sensory details. Describe how muscles look, feel, and move. For example, instead of simply stating that a character has strong biceps, consider describing them as “bulging biceps that flexed like coiled steel,” providing readers with a visual and tactile experience.

3. Compare and Contrast: Comparisons can be a useful tool when describing muscles. Use similes and metaphors to highlight the size, shape, or strength of a character’s muscles. For instance, you could describe a weightlifter’s arms as “thick as tree trunks” or a ballerina’s legs as “lithe and graceful like a swan’s.”

4. Show Muscle Function: To bring your descriptions to life, show how your characters’ muscles function in various situations. Describe the ripple of muscles when they perform a physical task, the tension in their arms as they lift heavy objects, or the flexing of their legs as they run. By illustrating muscle movement, you create a dynamic and realistic portrayal of your characters.

5. Consider the Emotional Impact: Muscles can also convey emotions and character traits. Strong, well-defined muscles might indicate confidence and physical prowess, while tense or clenched muscles might suggest fear or stress. Use these subtle cues to enhance your characters’ emotional depth and provide readers with insights into their inner world.

Q: How can I describe muscles without getting too technical? A: While it’s important to have some basic knowledge of muscle anatomy, you don’t need to go into excessive technical detail. Instead, focus on describing the visual appearance, movement, and impact of the muscles. Use relatable comparisons and sensory details to ensure your descriptions resonate with your readers.

Q: Can I describe muscles without mentioning specific muscle names? A: Absolutely! While mentioning specific muscle names can add authenticity to your descriptions, it’s not always necessary. Instead, focus on the overall shape, size, and strength of the muscles. Use vivid language and comparisons to create a rich and engaging picture for your readers.

Q: How can I avoid clichés when describing muscles? A: To avoid clichés, try to come up with fresh and original descriptions. Instead of relying on overused phrases like “rippling muscles” or “chiseled abs,” think outside the box. Consider the specific context of your story and find unique ways to describe your characters’ muscles that reflect their personality, occupation, or environment.

Q: Are there any resources or references I can use to improve my muscle descriptions? A: Yes! In addition to observing people around you, there are numerous resources available both online and in books that provide detailed information on muscle anatomy and function. Consult anatomy textbooks, visit reputable websites specializing in anatomy, or even consider taking a basic anatomy course to enhance your understanding and improve your muscle descriptions.

In conclusion, effectively describing muscles in writing requires observation, research, and attention to detail. By incorporating sensory details, comparisons, and showcasing muscle function, you can create vivid and engaging descriptions that bring your characters to life. Remember to consider the emotional impact of muscles and use them as a tool to deepen your characters’ personalities and experiences. With practice and creativity, you can master the art of describing muscles and captivate your readers with your writing.

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7 Writing Workouts to Build Your Creative Muscles

What are the best writing workouts that help build your creative instincts and better your writing?

Writing is like your body, comprised of multiple muscles that take on different loads and perform individual tasks to keep your body safe, stable, and strong. If you don't get the exercise those muscles need, they eventually fail and limit the movement and safety of your body.

The same thing happens as a writer.

When you conceptualize, develop, and write stories, you're using multiple creative muscles that are in charge of different tasks and responsibilities to create compelling and engaging material. If you don't exercise those creative muscles, they falter and limit your writing because you're not developing them as you should be on a consistent basis.

When your body gets used to the same exercises (your usual writing process) being performed over and over, the fibers aren't being challenged — and they certainly aren't going to grow.

The same can be said for your creative muscles. If you're just going about your regular writing schedule and routine, you're not challenging those creative muscles.

With that in mind, we share seven highly effective writing workouts that you can use to build your creative muscles and strengthen your writing capabilities.

1. Write Long Lists of Writing Prompts for Multiple Genres

This — initially — has nothing to do with your current or future writing projects. Yes, you may discover some gems that you want to explore further. And yes, this is actually a great exercise to find original concepts for that next screenplay.

But we're going to focus on working out those creative muscles here.

Pick a genre, any genre.

Now flex those creative muscles and come up with ten original concepts. These concepts can be characters in a particular situation, an intriguing world, or whatever you imagine.

Write them out as sentence fragments or loglines.

Read ScreenCraft's 101 Best Movie Loglines Screenwriters Can Learn From !

Examples include:

A girl goes missing. Fifteen years later, her parents get a call from her older self. But they listen in fear because they killed their daughter that dark night years ago.

A man reads a novel, soon realizing that the story is his very own — and according to the book, a killer is looming.

A scientist clones his family that died in an airplane crash — but soon learns the repercussions of playing God.

A man wakes up bound to an electric chair.

A man wakes up in a coffin next to a freshly dead body.

A woman wakes up to find her family gone, and her doors and windows boarded up with no way to escape.

A man afraid of snakes is shipwrecked on an island covered with them.

A dark web website connects serial killers worldwide.

The world’s population is overtaken by vampires — all except one little child.

A young brother and sister find an old door in their basement that wasn’t there before.

After you've finished with those first ten, switch genres and create ten more (and so on).

What does this writing workout do for you?

It gets those creative juices flowing — forcing you to conceptualize stories and characters under the constraints of a particular genre. The added benefit is you may create concepts and characters that you can apply to current or future writing projects of your own.

2. Gender-Switch One of Your Lead Protagonists

All screenwriters have screenplays that haven't seen the light of day in the film or television industries. They sit on that metaphorical shelf collecting dust.

You don't know why they haven't garnered any interest. You've given up on them as a result.

Try revisiting those stories and gender-switch the lead protagonist.

If you have an action thriller with a male Special Forces soldier as the hero, try to reconceptualize it by switching the gender of the lead to a woman.

If you have a scary story set within confined spaces as a woman struggles to survive, try to play with the dynamics of a strong male being helplessly trapped.

It helps you to focus on character dynamics, depth, and arc. When you switch the genders of characters, you can explore the different aspects of female versus male or male versus female actions, reactions, and interactions. It gets you out of your comfort zone with the story, forcing you to think differently.

It can help give an old story new legs or get you ready to take on a different character gender in future stories.

Ellen Ripley ( Alien ), Spock ( Star Trek ), Starbuck ( Battlestar Galactica ), Salt ( Salt ), and Murph Cooper ( Interstellar ), to name just a few, were all gender-switched characters.

3. Gender-Switch One of Your Supporting Characters

Rather than handling a whole overhaul of a story by switching the gender of your lead protagonist, try taking on a supporting character instead.

It will still require some challenges and efforts, but it's a writing workout designed to help you adapt to any needs that may come up in your screenwriting career. If you're writing on assignment, you'll often be asked to switch the genders of supporting characters to meet the needs of casting.

Paula ( 40-Year-Old Virgin ), The Ancient One ( Doctor Strange ), M ( James Bond movies), and Hobson ( Author remake) were all gender-switched characters.

4. Write Overly-Detailed Screenplay Description and then Cut it Down to One Sentence

If you're a screenwriter, you've heard the Less Is More directive plenty of times in your screenwriting journey.

Less Is More  is the best mantra that screenwriters can embrace because it serves their script so much better than overwriting, which sets too much atmosphere, too much direction, and above all, too much information for the reader’s mind to process while they’re trying to visualize what is meant to be a film.

The true testament of an excellent screenwriter is to be able to convey style, atmosphere, and substance with as little description needed.

So start by indulging yourself as you write an overly detailed scene description. Go nuts. Have fun. Go into as much detail as you'd like.

Now try to rewrite that scene description using just one line of description.

Overwritten Version

Single-Line Version

The overwritten version of this scene is a perfect example of what a majority of screenwriters mistakenly write. They try to create atmosphere and visual style, but it hinders the read and gives too much information to process quickly. In the end, all that the reader needs to know is that it’s a dark and wet cell block.

It helps you learn how to convey more by writing less.

When you have long scene description, the reader gets lost in the details as they struggle to move onto the next image that they are supposed to be seeing.

When you master the art of condensing atmosphere and visual flair down to a single line of description, you're giving the reader a better reading experience. And you're also learning what's important, and what's not.

 5. Write Overly-Long Monologues and Cut the Dialogue Down to One Line

Yes, you can do this while you work on your latest project. But let's make this a single workout.

Create any scenario where one character is trying to convey something through dialogue delivered to others. You can write a full exchange between that character and one or more characters in the scene — but go crazy and write what may possibly work well as a monologue.

When you're done, read it a few times over and then...

... cut it all down to just a single powerful line of dialogue.

It helps you get to the core of whatever the character is trying to say. Whoever he is talking to in the overwritten version likely knows most of those details. The writer is trying to represent drop exposition to convey what they believe to be more meaning.

But the single-line version (technically two, we know) says so much more with so much less.

6. Volunteer to Write Script Coverage for Someone Else's Screenplay

Some of the best writing education a writer can receive is reviewing and analyzing the work of other writers.

So reach out to your peers or writing groups and volunteer your services. When somebody offers you a script to review, read the screenplay from cover-to-cover and write up to seven pages of script coverage. Our partners at Coverfly have a great free peer script exchange called coverflyX .

What does this writing workout do for you? It allows you to work that objective muscle of yours.

When you read and review your own screenplays, it's challenging to be anything but subjective. However, being objective with your own work is the pinnacle of a screenwriter's journey. You need to learn how to analyze screenplays while being able to point out not just the bad but the good as well.

Read ScreenCraft's How to Become a Hollywood Script Reader

7. Take a Minor Character and Conceptualize a Story with Them in the Lead

There are two ways you can go about this workout. The first — and easiest — is by taking a minor character from your own project and conceptualizing a new story with them in the lead.

The second — and most fun and challenging — is by taking a minor character from a popular book, movie, or television series and creating a new story with them as the featured character.

If you want to keep it simple, just write a page synopsis of the story. If you want to challenge yourself even more, write a short screenplay version of whatever story you come up with.

It has to be compelling and engaging though. It can't be an extra scene or moment from that book, movie, or television series. You need to develop a story with that character as the lead protagonist.

It flexes your conceptualization skills, your character creation abilities, and your assignment capabilities.

Can you create an original concept for a character that you didn't create while embracing the mythos of the source material?

Can you find ways to make an otherwise forgettable character interesting by creating depth and arc?

Can you be the hired writer that can tackle an assignment with intellectual property that isn't yours?

These seven writing workouts will help you grow those creative muscles — and they'll help you grow as a writer too.

What other writing workouts do you recommend? Comment below or share your own writing workouts through Facebook and Twitter.

Ken Miyamoto has worked in the film industry for nearly two decades, most notably as a studio liaison for Sony Studios and then as a script reader and story analyst for Sony Pictures.

He has many studio meetings under his belt as a produced screenwriter, meeting with the likes of Sony, Dreamworks, Universal, Disney, Warner Brothers, as well as many production and management companies. He has had a previous development deal with Lionsgate, as well as multiple writing assignments, including the produced miniseries  Blackout , starring Anne Heche, Sean Patrick Flanery, Billy Zane, James Brolin, Haylie Duff, Brian Bloom, Eric La Salle, and Bruce Boxleitner. Follow Ken on Twitter  @KenMovies

For all the latest ScreenCraft news and updates, follow us on  Twitter,   Facebook , and  Instagram .

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How to Describe Pain in Writing

What’s the worst pain you’ve ever felt? And how would you describe it?

Describing physical pain in writing is a challenge that most writers face at one time or another. A character might have a headache, give birth, or get injured in an accident or a battle. (By the way, if you’re reading this, you might also want to check out my writer’s guide to serious injuries and calamities .)

When I was writing my book The Equinox Stone , I did a lot of thinking about ways to describe pain since my characters get pretty banged up over the course of the book. Near the end (spoilers), one of them has several injuries, and I wrote: “His adrenaline was burning off, leaving him in a symphony of pain, one part of his body screaming, the other parts answering with agony of their own.” I really liked the “symphony of pain” idea.

Since so many writers look for ways to describe pain in creative writing, I figured I should do a master list of words and phrases to use. I’ve also suggested ways that the character can react to the pain, which you could use whether you’re writing from the point of view of the person in pain or the point of view of someone with them. Some of these could probably be adapted to emotional rather than physical pain.

In most cases, you probably won’t use these ways to describe pain verbatim (although you’re certainly welcome to, even with the longer phrases.) You’ll adapt it for the paragraph you’re writing. You might also combine one or two ideas. Like all my master lists, it’ll probably make you think of even more ideas.

Save the post as a bookmark or a Pinterest pin so you’ll have it when you need it!

she braced herself for the pain

a dull ache

a deep ache in his bones

a throbbing ache

his head throbbed

pain filled her head

pain squeezed her head

a jab of pain

a burst of pain

a flash of pain

prickles of pain

a blaze of pain

a stinging pain

a spike of pain

white-hot pain

a sharp pain

a shooting pain

a stabbing pain

a piercing pain

a corrosive pain

a crippling pain

a searing pain

a grating pain

a grinding pain

a drumbeat of pain

pain shot up her leg

pain surged through her body

pain lashed across his lower back

pain ripped through her chest

pain branched across their back like lightning

pain lacerated her shoulder

pain twisted his belly

a cramp seized her foot

pain exploded behind her eyeballs

the pain flared in his leg

a flaming pain in her wrist

a burning pain in her neck

pain coursed through his body

pain like a sharp knife in his gut

pain lanced through him

pain went through her like a sword/spear

blinded with pain

dizzy from the pain

disoriented from the pain

the pain blossomed in his midsection

the pain spread through her bowels

a wave of pain rolled through her

pain crashed through his body

he let out a gasp from the pain

she panted with pain

she hissed with pain

he grimaced in pain

he managed to grin through the pain

he winced at the pain

she cringed at the pain

they strained against the pain

she curled up in pain

he doubled over with agony

she writhed in pain

he moaned in pain

she sucked in a sharp breath at the pain

he howled in pain

she grunted from the pain

he let out a cry of pain

she bit back a cry of pain

she yelped with pain

he let out a shriek of pain

he screeched in pain

she screamed in pain

the pain brought tears to his eyes

he quivered with pain

he was wracked by pain

she trembled from the pain

she was shaking from the torment

she convulsed with pain

his breathing was shallow

the pain took her breath away

they tried to breathe through the pain

she tried to focus on something other than the pain

he clutched his head in agony

she clamped her hand around her stubbed toe

he cradled his wounded arm

he grasped her hand tightly as the pain hit

she gritted her teeth against the pain

he clenched his teeth when the pain hit

his face was drawn with pain

her face was twisted with pain

she stiffened with the pain

he went rigid with agony

her back arched off the bed with the pain

she spoke haltingly from the pain

his voice was tight with pain

her voice was rough with pain

it hurt too much for him to speak

pain like he’d never felt before

the pain robbed her of rational thought

he was out of his mind with pain

she was delirious with pain

he prayed for an end to the suffering

she wished for the release of death

he blacked out from the pain

the pain abated

the pain eased

the drugs softened the pain

the pain faded

the pain diminished

the pain evaporated

the pain dissolved

the pain released her

the pain subsided

the pain dulled

the pain drained out of her body

Okay, I could do this all day, but I’ll stop it here! Do you have other thoughts about creative ways to describe pain? Let us know in the comments!

And if you’re not following the blog already, go ahead and subscribe below for more writing resources. Thanks so much for reading, and happy writing!

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34 thoughts on “ how to describe pain in writing ”.

These are fantastic references for even a causal writer like myself! Thanks a bunch!

Glad you like the post, Poppy! Have a great week!

This is a the most thorough list I’ve seen on this subject, and I will be referring to it often. Do you have an upcoming list for how to describe crashes—cars, planes, and snowboards in particular? ?

Hi MJ! You know, I haven’t done that yet…but it’s a great idea! Maybe sometime I will 🙂

Wow! Thank you for this exhaustive list. That’s really helpful. It is a great challenge in writing to describe pain accurately.

Aw thanks, Naomi! Hope everything’s going well with you 🙂

Bryn, you asked for the worst pain we had ever felt. I have been through childbirth – the memory of that pain has faded with the years. The abscessed tooth has no power of recollection. It whispers only from the gap between my molars. But the pain of betrayal still bears the image of suffering. Like a poisonous plant – dark and barbed – wrenched from my heart tearing away at life and ripping holes in my soul. Healing has come. The trauma is tamed. My life is no longer dominated by the toxic relationship, but in my memory, there remains the image of the event that nearly ended my life.

Hi Jessie! I never gave birth, but I have had an abcessed tooth, and that is definitely one of the worst physical pains I’ve ever felt… You write so well about a different kind of pain. That is so wrenching and powerful. Some of the worst scars aren’t the ones we can see.

Thank you Bryn.

My absessed tooth could not be numed so I endured 15 seconds of pain while he drilled into the pulp to relieve the pressure and ingect pain killer into the pulm.

It hurts just reading all of those ahahaha KIDDING! Thank you for sharing!

Hi, R.L.! Hahaha, that is honestly why I added the ones to the end about the pain going away!! Thanks for reading 🙂

This is such a wonderful list. Then again, all your lists are wonderful. They always help spark my brain when I’m looking for the right words.

Aww thank you Erin! Hope everything’s going well with you this week!

1 I was screaming before i hit the ground. 2 the X-ray tech Turned my foot to the side and tried to strangle her. Real experience

Donald—OWWWWW. And “I was screaming before I hit the ground” is an amazing sentence!

Those are great examples.

Aw thanks. Thanks for reading, Denise! Have a good rest of your week 🙂

“I was screaming before I hit the ground” LOVE IT!!

True experience, the best kind.

I haven’t really experienced a lot of pain. So I guess that the worst pain I’ve ever felt would be breaking my ankle- although walking with a orthopedic boot was pretty bad too, or even just wearing. You try wearing one for more than a couple of hours when there is a literal metal plate pushing against the pad of your foot.

This is an excerpt from the first book in my Chronicles of Undying series, Garden of Soul (which is currently unfinished and unpublished). I got a bit frustrated trying to find a creative way of conveying that she was experiencing a phantom pain from having her head busted open.

At first, there was only darkness and pain; something that I had gotten used to in my short life. I could see nothing but the dark corners of my mind, and the shadowy beings that dwell within them. But then I slowly forced my eyes to open, struggling to think through the mind-numbing pain which made me want to find a nail to ram into my eye to relieve it.

Have you ever had a doctor ask you to rate your pain on a scale of one to ten? Well, those numbers can’t even begin to describe the terrific pain that I am trying to relate. It felt almost like an intense headache; except that it was not localized to any specific part of my brain, nor did it spread across my head in dull, severely-debilitating waves of pain like many migraines. Instead, it felt like someone had taken a blowtorch to my skull before systematically removing my brain piece by piece with an ice pick.

A bit late to this post, but must say it’s a great list that will be very useful to me as I do the rewrite and revisions of my screenplay and finally get around to making headway on the novel.

A technique I kind of ripped off the Jason Bourne series, and probably a lot of other works out there, is having my main character show a degree of stoicism outwardly with minimal reaction to major injuries. That, combined with her flattened affect (that she has due to a mental illness) that she’s been able to override at will through practice.

Below is a scene from the screenplay that takes place during her escape from an assassination attempt on her in a crowded train station after losing her heels and crossing a subway train pit to get away.

Being that a screenplay is a recipe for filmed exposition, I’ll need to apply things similar to your suggested descriptions and those suggested by others above for the novel version so I can put readers in the mind of my character (I’m not quite skilled at that yet).

“As she’s going up the Outbound Green Line stairs, she hunches down, takes her light coat off, turns it inside out and puts it back on, ties her hair back in a ponytail with a couple of rubber bands, and puts on her sunglasses. Her feet ache from her rapid crossing of the subway pit and the rocks of the track ballast.

As she gets to the top of the platform a ROLLERBLADES GUY, wearing large studio headphones, crosses her path and runs over her exposed left foot, creating a bloody gash. She winces, ever so quickly.

The guy looks at her.

ROLLERBLADES GUY “God lady, I’m so sorry.”

ZOEY “Rollerblades. AND headphones. In the subway. Keep it up buddy, you know; shame I won’t get to see it someday.”

And on she walks on with a slight limp.”

Zoey’s no superhero and she doesn’t have a belt or watch with a million jaw-dropping tools like 007 (though at times I give her a collapsable baton and a Leatherman like tool). I suppose her superpower is her ability to withstand and overcome pain to complete her objective.

There’s a show (not the feature film) on Amazon Prime called Hanna, I was watching late last year, where one of the lead characters, Marissa, seems to constantly get shot, afflicted by enemies and torturers, injured in car accidents and left for dead, or otherwise beaten to a pulp.

Like Zoey, Marissa is an intelligence officer (this genre seems to be getting too crowded), and despite her ability to pass as a forty-ish soccer mom, she fights like hell to achieve her objectives. My best analogy would be that she’s a human Terminator, who would march on until she had no legs and even then would crawl with her last.

I’m eager to watch the next season as well as find a script of the show floating around, if I can, to see how they described what we see on screen and what I can learn from it to create my own unique story.

Another valuable resource. Thanks, Bryn!

Shared with my writer friends! Thanks, Bryn! -n

All of the ones you used.

The doctors last words were, “We’re going to amputate your foot.” // I, in my drug induced euphoria, blithely said Okay.” I woke up and the bastard quacks hadn’t done it.

In my current wip I have a birth scene where the young woman is unused to pain and makes a lot of fuss. This will be a great resource for that. Many thanks. I’ve bookmarked it!

Hi Vivienne! Thanks for reading, and I hope it’s useful. And hope the writing’s going well! 🙂

My MC assists in an appendectomy in the amazon where there is no narcotics. A paralytic was used. The MC demands to know if the doctor knows how much pain he caused.

I screamed while still flying across the intersection and landing did nothing to stop the explosion in my leg.

I have had basically 2 different worst pains, one for most intense, and one for longest lasting.

My most intense pain was from an intestinal blockage I had many years ago. I had chronic constipation for years, but this was different, I couldn’t pass anything. I woke up in pain and I was crying, the pain was easily an 8 or more on the pain scale, worse than any abdominal pain I had before or since. I texted my momma telling her that I had some really bad intestinal pain and I needed an enema. After a while of letting the enema work, I was able to pass it and the pain was gone.

My longest lasting pain started one day when I slipped on the stairs. My back and my tailbone were both hurting. The back pain went away quickly. The tailbone pain however lingered. And not just for hours or a day, it stayed there for 6 weeks. The first 3 weeks were incredibly painful for me, I was grimacing every time I got up or sat down because it hurt so much at that moment. And I naturally did it slower to try to minimize the pain, but, it didn’t work. When I was going to sleep, I had to sleep on my stomach. I generally start sleeping on my side, but that was too painful, so I went to sleep on my stomach with my head turned to the side so I could breathe fine. However, every day, I would wake up on my back. It didn’t immediately hurt when I woke up, but just like getting up from a chair, getting up from my bed hurt, and I had to do a certain maneuver to minimize pain when getting up from my bed.

The last 3 weeks weren’t as painful as far as sitting and getting up from a chair was concerned, but sleeping on my side was still too painful and getting up from my bed was still quite painful. Finally, 6 weeks after my tailbone injury, it finished healing and the pain was gone.

I’ve had a lot of pain, but those 2 are my worst. And I will find this page useful, as my stories almost always involve pain at some point.

The only pain that I’ve experienced was when I tripped and fell on to a metal separator for a garden and nearly lost my left thumb. when it happened, I couldn’t feel any pain, but somewhere in me, I knew I was in pain. I just couldn’t at the time.

This was maybe seven years ago, but I still remember the pain when the doctors stuck a needle in my hand to numb the pain to stitch up my hand. now that hurt, maybe even worse than me splitting open my hand. It felt like my hand was on fire and that it was spreading up my arm to the rest of my body. I screamed like I never had before, almost blacking out. I wished that I had.

When they put the stitches in, it felt like someone was poking and tugging at my skin. I didn’t look. I hadn’t wanted to because I knew what I would have seen. Blood, my blood, sweeping out of my hand and onto the table it was laying on. thinking about it new gives me chills and to this day I have slight pricks of pain every now and again from the wound.

I hope this helps with your writing or for anyone else who reads this. Thanks for the advice too. I’m trying to write a novel and was having trouble, but this blog really helped me.

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Marthix New Member

Describing muscular beauty.

Discussion in ' Character Development ' started by Marthix , Aug 10, 2010 .

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_f3d108e2f52300574c856d24badb21a0'); }); Alright, I run into a small issue when I'm trying to describe females who have tough, athletic muscles. Not body-builder type, I'm just talking natural muscle from workouts/runnings and such. This may sound like an odd question, but how do I describe and make natural female muscle (the athletic type, both lower and upper body) sound beautiful? For males, it's easy to describe muscle mass and not make the reader raise an eyebrow or two. For females, I'm a bit more cautious. This is a very small bit to my novel that would like to include on one or two particular characters. Please let me out.  

Islander Contributor Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_f3d108e2f52300574c856d24badb21a0'); }); Use words like "lean", "athletic", "smooth", "powerful", "well-trained", "strong", and "toned". I think they are descriptive without giving the impression of a bodybuilder. EDIT: I'm not sure, but maybe you can make the reader infer how the body looks by placing it in the right context - the character is seen in a tracksuit, lifting weights, mentioning how fast they can run four miles, etc.  

Elgaisma Contributor Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_f3d108e2f52300574c856d24badb21a0'); }); Probably use words like carved, vigorous, healthy, strong, sturdy would like to say statuesque but not sure if thats right lol  

Aconite New Member

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_f3d108e2f52300574c856d24badb21a0'); }); Slightly disagree on the last one: Despite the classical beauty trope, statuesque sounds to me like a euphemism for fat--not to say it's a bad body type per se because of that, but I see more Venus of Willendorf than Venus de Milo when I hear that word. People who are naturally athletic will most likely be more physically adept too; possibly, emphasizing how she's more physically capable in everyday life (going up four flights of stairs, unlike her lazy coworkers who use the elevator [like me]), would get the point across without a sledgehammer, too.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_f3d108e2f52300574c856d24badb21a0'); }); Aconite said: ↑ Slightly disagree on the last one: Despite the classical beauty trope, statuesque sounds to me like a euphemism for fat--not to say it's a bad body type per se because of that, but I see more Venus of Willendorf than Venus de Milo when I hear that word. People who are naturally athletic will most likely be more physically adept too; possibly, emphasizing how she's more physically capable in everyday life (going up four flights of stairs, unlike her lazy coworkers who use the elevator [like me]), would get the point across without a sledgehammer, too. Click to expand...

HeinleinFan Banned

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_f3d108e2f52300574c856d24badb21a0'); }); When I read, I tend to prefer occasional sentences, which then build up to a complete picture. So if the writer mentions a woman who is short and wiry, built like a gymnast, I stick that in my "how this character looks" mental file. Later, if another character sees her for the first time and notices that she has no problem hoisting a sixty pound pack up onto her shoulders, her back and arm muscles flexing smoothly, then I'll add that to my "how this character looks" file as well. Now, there are books that describe male muscles in lavish details because the author wants to convey that the guy is "hot." I myself prefer authors to give the details in bits and pieces, so I don't expect purple prose when it comes to body type -- for either gender. I'd honestly rather that someone be described as "bulkily overweight, with layers of fat that obscured the muscle underneath" or "athletic, with narrow shoulders and long, lanky arms that moved like pistons" no matter their gender. I'll get the idea if the author is at all consistent in his / her / their characterization.  

Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_f3d108e2f52300574c856d24badb21a0'); }); Lists of words have been offered, but the real question to me is the why ? I don't mean why , like, "Why would you bother?" I mean why, like, "What is the specific purpose of the description?" Your description could easily be as light as a passing mention all the way up to, and including, pornographically explicate, in all truth. So, what is the why ?  

Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_f3d108e2f52300574c856d24badb21a0'); }); An alternate approach is to describe another character's reaction to her physique instead.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_f3d108e2f52300574c856d24badb21a0'); }); Thanks to all for their suggestions! I just don't want to overdo it you know. The reason behind all this is because I just want to get better at describing things. Perhaps there's a little sex appeal going on between a few particular characters. That's why I needed help describing bulkier female muscle and employ the best words to make it sound more beautiful. Thanks everybody!  

Flyingfishphilosopy New Member

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_f3d108e2f52300574c856d24badb21a0'); }); Hello Marthix, If it's a description you are attempting, allow me to share one that came up as I read your plea. Wherein I gratefully, as well shamelessly borrow the strong words provided in earlier posts. I pray it to be helpful in any way, and please try to ignore the grammar and punctuation, since English is not my native tongue. When she ran passed my view, she reminded me of the white swan I saw earlier, taking flight from it's pond: With it's well shaped wings striking powerfully at the watery surface. Raising countless drops of crystal clear water to be basked in the mourning sunlight, as did tiny drops of sweat from the well toned arms on the girl I loved. I shivered as her powerful shown legs contracted at the same time my own heart did. The athletic muscles decorated her body as a gorgeous pearl necklace would have done. When I began to notice I was holding my breath, she had flown away from my sight, as the beautiful swan before her. If my words were not of any help, at least I hope the grammar linking them together, has made you smile.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_f3d108e2f52300574c856d24badb21a0'); }); Flyingfishphilosophy, that description is wonderful. I love it. Thank you for sharing. Now if I can do that for these two particular females, I'll be all set! I love description and this was one of my harder issues to tackle in regards to it!  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_f3d108e2f52300574c856d24badb21a0'); }); Does describing an athletic female (like Lindsay Vonn or Serena Williams) as one with a "powerful frame" seem to masculine? Just curious.  

Taylee91 Carpe Diem Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_f3d108e2f52300574c856d24badb21a0'); }); Does describing an athletic female (like Lindsay Vonn or Serena Williams) as one with a "powerful frame" seem to masculine? Just curious. Click to expand...

Tamsin New Member

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_f3d108e2f52300574c856d24badb21a0'); }); I would steer clear of the 'pearl necklace' description if I were you. That has entirely different connotations!  

Motley Active Member

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_f3d108e2f52300574c856d24badb21a0'); }); I agree with Tasmin. Plus, I fail to see how well-defined muscles are anything like a bit of bauble at the throat. Of course, this is just my opinion, but I find what you wrote to be a bit overboard in the description department. The guy seems to be absolutely drooling. It is possible to get the image across with less. That may be stylistic preference though.  

Daveyboyz New Member

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_f3d108e2f52300574c856d24badb21a0'); }); Statuesque does not imply fat to me and neither does amazonian. In my opinion some of the women who go in for bodybuilding and fitness look very good in relaxed form its only when they are pumped up and flexing that they look masculine. They say that males don't process size but just the ratio's of hips to waist and waist to chest. Its about having curves in the right places, alot of female swimmers have broad and muscular shoulders and powerful legs but they also have thin waists and retain a generally feminine shape (thinking of Sharon Davies.) Muscular definition is not such a wonderful thing, I think you need to focus on leaness and athletisism. Smooth and capable, shapely and well honed, finely balanced, well proportioned are all the kinds of qualities to be described. I'm sure you can produce the image you want in the mind of the reader if you apply the words in the right way.  

Trilby Contributor Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_f3d108e2f52300574c856d24badb21a0'); }); She was a tall and athletic with all her curves in the right places. Her athletic body gave her an air of confidecne. She oozed sex appeal and she knew it.  

razcox New Member

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_f3d108e2f52300574c856d24badb21a0'); }); For me i find it helps to look at something that sums up what i am picturing and try to discribe that. So for a powerful man thats muscled i would print out a picture of a bull and list words to fit what the animal looks like. For a woman i would look more at a greyhound or Cheetah which has a more graceful power and leaner muscle to it. Oh also have to agree about the pearl necklace, thats a whole different subject there!  

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From the Editor

January 24, 2023, how to exercise your descriptive muscles, use the world around you as a playground to stretch your skills at using analogy and metaphor.

By Jacqui Banaszynski

Tagged with

A resident of the Butterfly House at the Tucson Botanical Gardens in Arizona. Jacqui Banaszynski

It’s a hard question to answer. There’s no guidebook I know that points in the direction of a fresh description, no thesaurus I know of for analogies or metaphors. Even if such references exist, lists of descriptive phrases would be limited by space, convention and the editors’ approval. They wouldn’t be yours . Then, the more they were turned to and used, the more they would risk becoming that scourge of written work: clichés.

(I may take on the issue of clichés in a future post. There’s more to consider than j ust don’t use them . A student of mine once made a passionate argument in their defense; she said they were shortcuts to clarity. In a writing workshop just last week, a young journalist was puzzled over the clichés I noted in her drafts; those phrases were new to her. Casual chat among contemporaries is riddled with them, as are my quick letters to friends. Live spoken journalism, like broadcast and audio, can tap them in a conversational tone and breeze on; they don’t stick like they do in written work. As for clarity — shared understanding? Only if the people you’re writing for do, indeed, share those cultural, political and literary allusions.)

Back to fresh descriptions. When people ask how to conjure them, I offer three considerations:

• Think of the audience. Will the bulk of them understand your shorthand references?
• Educate yourself. Google the derivation of a phrase or term. You might misunderstand it yourself.
• Pay attention to other writers and let their language inspire yours.

Then I suggest a fourth, which I consider the most important:

• Play with words. Anytime, anywhere and without limits.

Exercising your descriptive muscles

Some people seem hardwired to see the world in literal terms; a pen is never anything but a pen, a writing instrument, varying only by specifics: ballpoint, felt-tipped, fountain, nib width, ink color. Others understand the world through analogy, metaphor, even allegory. That pen? A channeler of dreams. A wand that holds memories. The tether to a paycheck.

The best writers stretch to both ends of that spectrum. And like any stretch, it requires exercise. That’s where word play comes in. The playground is all around you, everywhere, all the time. Pay attention to it. Think about how you would describe it literally so someone else, not able to see it for themselves, would have little doubt about its shape, color, weight, texture, utility, even smell.

Then make the stretch fun: Imagine what you are looking at in entirely different terms. What color is the sky of winter? In Seattle, when the cloud cover is low, I imagine “low” as a basement ceiling and the color as the bluish-white of skim milk. When I’m in the mountains, I try to find words to describe the variations of blue: Faded denim, bruised, brittle, Delft pottery.

Would I use any of those descriptions in a piece of writing? Who knows — although I just did. It depends on the tone of what I’m writing, and whom I’m writing for. But I play that way it all the time, several times a day. I’m not a natural or comfortable writer, so I need to work my linguistic stretch with as much purpose as I stretch my back. Word play is my literary yoga. I try to stretch to metaphors drawn from sports, fairytales, parables, nature, music, historical figures, Hollywood stars. My range is as limited as my experiences in life, but I keep reaching.

A butterfly word-gym

The latest place I super-stretched was at Tucson Botanical Gardens. The Butterfly House sits in the middle of the gardens. From the outside, it looks like little more than an expanded garden shed. On the inside — magic, held breath, laughter that is too rare after childhood. I’m still trying to find the right words to describe the place, and still failing. On the literal level, I could log the hanging orchids, the humidity, the pottery dishes filled with sliced oranges and grapes, the airlock of plastic strips at the entry and exit that keep the butterflies in and safe. I could draw on a bit of dialog from the gardener who let us in: “If a butterfly lands on you, don’t brush it off. Just be still and hang out until it leaves.” I’ve been doing some online research into the correct names of the butterflies I saw. Mostly failing so far.

I am struggling, too, on a metaphorical level. The words I used above — magic, held breath, laughter — start to express a feeling. They might be effective for some readers, but elusive for others. My brain clicks through adjectives — diaphanous, gossamer, shimmery, mottled — to describe the wings of that black-and-white beauty in the top photo. I reject them as vague and, yes, a bit clichéd,

So as I muddle through my day — laundry, email, cleaning the mud of recent rains off the flagstones along the house, gathering tax documents — I listen to the radio and note the tributes to folk-rock legend David Crosby , who died last week. The accolades and adjectives are endless, but I’ve yet to hear or read a metaphor for his music that makes me think, Yes! That’s exactly what it feels like to listen to him.

Then I let myself drift back to images of those butterflies and indulge in a bit of word play. I haven’t yet found the language that describes the experience. I might never. I don’t have to because I’m not on formal assignment to write about the Butterfly House — so it’s the stretch that’s fun. My quick Google research tells me the black beauty below is probably some type of swallowtail, though to write about her (it?) with literal specificity, I would engage an expert. Meanwhile, perhaps inspired by David Crosby, I think of her (him?) as the  Stevie Nicks  of butterflies.

Black-winged butterfly at the Tucson Botanical Gardens in Arizona. Jacqui Banaszynski