Describing your protagonist’s appearance in first-person POV is trickier than it looks—your narrator can’t just announce her own features. There’s a technique I used throughout the Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries that makes it work naturally, and once you see it, you’ll reach for it in every scene.
Hello, Jane Cleland here. The question is, how do you describe your protagonist if you’re writing in the first person?
It’s a good question, because you’re not going to have someone say, I’m five foot tall and thin. The way I always did it, because I did write in the first person for my Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries, is I would always provide context. Josie, who was 5’1 and petite, but strong. She had trouble stepping up onto a pickup truck, a step outside. That was a big step for her, but no problem hoisting herself in. I might say something like she was about my age, mid-30s, and that alerts the reader that the character’s in the mid-30s, but also Josie. Context. While you’re describing something else, I think that’s most effective.
I know you can do it. I look forward to hearing how it goes for you. I read all the comments. Do put them in. And if this tip had value for you, would you like it? Would you share it? Would you subscribe to the channel that opens up features that lets us make these videos even more valuable for you?
Thank you.
*Transcripts are software-generated. To report any transcription errors, please use my contact form!
