Hendry County Arrests, Gottlieb Pinball Repair, Articles H

I have a hard time describing my thoughts on content, but I really felt I should here. Richie Billing writes fantasy fiction, historical fiction and stories of a darker nature. It makes for a more entertaining read. Fashion photographer Bill Cunningham said, Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life. Try applying this philosophy to clothing descriptions in your writing and see what happens. Sure, it helps your reader to know how you picture a character. - Use lines to break up a piece of clothing and create a kind of mosaic. And if you were skilled at surviving and killing, it was a good way to make a living. By using fur for decoration you quickly create fictional pieces in no time. Otherwise they wont take you seriously as an artist.. You can keep track of your characters signature style, upload photos, note how their style evolves, and keep these ideas right at your fingertips as you write. It's also an indirect way to describe their physical appearance by examining how the clothes fit them. Use your first-person narrators senses sight, hearing, touch, etc. Am I trying to blow the interview? What also worries me is that in Chapter 3 I used a lot of descriptions of the house, like the main characters room and then I had him go to various other rooms, looked at pictures of his family he has yet to meet so chapter 3 had the least story development or social scenes but the ones it had were good ones and I ended it with a scene that creates more development and story hype. Im struggling to properly figure out how to describe clothing for a fantasy setting Im trying to create. - Use nudity. Which of these clothing types is your character most likely to reach for when starting their day? This may seem like a tricky thing to do as there's so much out there already, but it can often be as simple as simply changing a texture, the patterns used or the amount of fabric. Heres how to describe clothing in writing to show your readers the world to which your character belongs. And lets not forget the trusty steed. If it fits your universe it usually works, so don't be afraid of doing something different. As the battle continued through the day, a rumor grew that Harold had died or fled the field, I forget which. Like all forms of exposition, your goal is to deliver this information without pulling the reader out of the story. So sometimes all it takes to create futuristic clothing is to take a trend that has passed, alter it slightly and you're done. Chest plates had grand etchings. Casual. "A dress" (or using "the" to refer to a particular "garment") means an item of clothing that is normally worn by women. Its because concrete details are incredibly effective in communicating abstract concepts. Not really. show how hard is to escape in a narrow street. Really like your article. Black and white usually does the trick as well. Fancy clothing description generator - Fantasy name generators Dont worry, thats not a trick question. Improving Google Rankings With Keywords And Content, Tips On How To Make An Essay More Engaging, A fantasy writers guide to weaponry Richie Billing, A fantasy writers guide to Castles and Keeps: part one Richie Billing, The Life of the Medieval Lord - Richie Billing, How To Create Your Very Own Living Breathing Fantasy World - Richie Billing, Fantasy Races - The Ultimate Guide To Elves, Orcs and Dwarves | Richie Billing, Killer Diseases of the Middle Ages | Richie Billing, Medieval Cannons: The Essential Guide | Richie Billing, On Writing: Fantasy Without Magic Of Metal and Magic Publishing, The Lives Of Medieval Peasants - Richie Billing, Fantasy Weapons - Medieval, Magic And Other Types - Richie Billing, Great Examples Of The 5 Senses In Writing, 5 Mistakes Men Can Make Writing Women Characters, The Power of Words: Essay Writing Techniques, Mastering Body Language With Former FBI Agent Joe Navarro, A Lawyer's Perspective On Writing Fantasy, Do you want to grow your mailing list, check out. Those of us who dont get all jazzed about writing clothing descriptions often fail to consider that a good wardrobe has layers. To navigate your way through this guide, just click the links below. Impoverished with children to care for, she uses her last money to give her husband a dignified funeral. You can quickly convey a number of things about your characters based on the clothing they wear. It may be apocryphal, but Harold Godwinson is said to have done just that at the battle of Hastings in 1066. Troubles with Clothing in Fantasy + Some Ideas - Brielle Andela When heated, steel turns from yellow, to brown, to blue, to red. ). And what weve covered here today is only just the tip of the iceberg. Theyre the lifeblood of any relationship. It's your creation, your imagination and your time you use and spend, so make sure you use and spend it on something you enjoy. That fancy Ming dynasty dress looks completely different with exposed shoulders and that medieval set of pants look completely different if you turn them into shorts with exposed legs. The padded material could absorb blows from blunt, A Guide To Writing Stories That Genuinely Helps, "Helped me land my first book deal" - Jack Shannon, Author, Get More Writing Support From Fellow Fantasy Writers, A complete guide to worldbuilding, with a template. Pauldrons, gauntlets, and even leg armor were fashioned into elaborate designs. It gives you an idea of the capabilities that armor can have. Expensive indeed, and heavystronger horses had to be bred to handle the weight. A knight, by definition, was a lord. So its unsurprising to see soldiers wielding swords and axes and shooting bows. And medieval warfare was a bloody affair. (Has denim been invented yet? Can you imagine tweaking this to make your own set of fantasy armor? Once blue, it is quenched a second time, permanently fixing its hardness. Finally there's the aspect of fashion to take into account. Helmets were arguably the most distinctive feature of an armored knight. But you may run into difficulties when it comes to the practicalities. I really loved this article, but I have one question, it was very helpful. The only cloak in the world made with silk spun by the cat-sized spiders that live in the forbidden mountains. This usually involves dresses from some time pre-renaissance and a tunic or shirt paired with trousers for men and women who are doing warrior stuff. Blunt weapons were effective, causing haemorrhaging and concussion, so padded garments known as a doublet or gambeson were worn underneath to provide added protection. Jeans and a tee it was. 50+ Fashion Terms: Fundamental Words Related to Style Well, mostly. The line could be thin or thick, glowing, metallic-looking or just plain, padded or smooth, patterned, decorated or simply a seem. Maybe their goal is to entice a mate. Youre more than welcome to join us and wed love to have you on board. Separate and enlarge it, turn down the Opacity of the layer . The reader does not need the full outfit in one go. Nov 28, 2022 - Explore Anung V's board "Character description" on Pinterest. Consider this example from Hard Times. Pingback: Fantasy Weapons - Medieval, Magic And Other Types - Richie Billing, Helping writers on their journey and readers find their next favourite story.. Creative Words to Describe Outfit & Clothing - INK Other clothing pieces could be various types of hats and scarves, (trench) coats and even something as simple as pockets or buttons used for fastening rather than as decoration to name just a few. We all love a character with a cool set of fantasy armor: the baresark Rek from David Gemmells Legend with his enchanted coat of bronze, or Tomas from Raymond Feists Riftwar Cycle with his gleaming white dragon plate which gifted him incredible power. Let it hang diagonally across their chest and over their shoulder instead. Ideas are forever being shared and discussed. That works. A lowly one at that, but one very much capable of climbing the ladder. Stealthy clothes bring to mind burglars clad in black outfits and soft-soled sneakers. One reason clothing descriptions can start to feel like a tedious laundry list (see what I did there?) They looked something like this: One of the main defensive strengths of plated armor came from its curved design, which deflected both blades and arrows. The fact the clothes seem to stand by themselves indicates just how heavy they are with jewels and embroidery. 100 Male Fantasy Outfit Concepts & Designs ideas | fantasy clothing Mail was lightweight and flexible. I never thought of there being a uniform for Midwestern ladyness. Thanks, Sana. In pre-thermometer times this was difficult as you can imagine, so instead, armorers observed the colour of the heated steel. As far as guidelines go this is the first to be broken though, consider this one more of a starting point rather than something to necessarily end on. Make it mandatory to hold up a piece of clothing. We often express ourselves through our clothing, at least when we have the freedom to do so, so knowing who we're designing for is the first step in creating the perfect outfit for a character. See how Dickens contrasts the fact-obsessed, overbearingteacher Thomas Gradgrind and his wifes personalities through (among other details) their clothing description. The same goes for other types of technology that could realistically be incorporated into the design of your character's clothing. (Where do they buy their clothes? The changes and improvements made by technology will often create new trends or alter old ones to the point you may as well consider them a new one, so depending on the technology available in your fictional universe you may wish to create a completely new trend. (Cough-cough-cough.) As well see below, medieval armor developed through necessitypeople needed to protect themselves from those wicked blades and needle-sharp darts. Not quite. Maybe a bracelet represents a character's relationship to her mother. This includes items like steel-toed boots, heavy denim, or tech-forward, snag-resistant superhero spandex. How to create a fantasy costume design | Creative Bloq Using the work of Alexander McQueen, this unit guides students through the analysis of a fashion collection, introducing them to the critical language and methodologies needed to evaluate fashion design and runway presentation. On the other hand you may wish to add layers for the same purpose. Ready to sketch vivid characters for your novel? This pride, though justifiable, displeased Katerina Ivanovna for some reason. How to Give Your Characters Style: Describing Clothing in Writing Written by MasterClass Last updated: Aug 19, 2021 3 min read Creating vivid descriptions for a story or character is a mark of a great writer. As such, the contemporary tales that have followed, like Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Dungeons and Dragons and everything in between, have paid homage to that era. Here are a few different types: We mentioned gambesons above. I tend to avoid describing clothing. The more outlandish the fantasy species your character is the more outlandish you can usually be with clothing, but familiarity is usually still a solid ground for a realistic feel, even if the universe and the creatures are completely unrealistic. And ninety-nine percent of the clothing descriptions in your first draft are just jeans. I get it. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. For a bigger image, just click on the link above. Another benefit to chain mail, a point which can slip the mind of writers, is that it was cheap and efficient, able to accommodate different-sized warriors, unlike expensive plated armor. Lets talk about how to describe clothing in writing organically. So why not join the gang? In other words take what exists and apply it differently. I would be great to expand it with armor from other areas, Samurai armor, for example. In both of these it was mostly the rich who had the extravagant clothing, which brings back the earlier point of how culture influences what a character might wear. By playing around with this you quickly create very subtle, but more unique fantasy-themed items. Sci-fi and fantasy don't necessarily have to be futuristic and historic respectively, but they're commonly associated as such, so for the sake of simplicity that's what I'm going with for the purposes of this guide. Reddit - Dive into anything Because it actually is possible. A jacket or coat of mail was usually worn with a hood, or coif, of the same material to protect the head and neck. Clothes that are suitable for everyday wear rather than formal occasions. An owl, a real owl! But for writers like me who get stuck in the white socks, green dress rut, heres a quick reminder: Details about fabric, fit, quality, and color are super effective when it comes to creating a sense of character, place, or moment. And what does she put that cap on for? "Garb" or "dress" (without an article) is a rather drab abstract noun for what a person is wearing. Using a squared, pixelated look or circuitry patterns usually works great too, which can even be combined with layered clothing to create the circuitry feel. Whats the respected uniform, and does your character wear it? 04. There is simply more characterization, not only of Gem but the other characters, too. As knights became fully armored, so did their mounts. At least in most cases. Heres a great visual guide on female fantasy armor by YouTuber Shadiversity. Dragon scales, fiery furs and feathers and other elements can quickly turn a standard item into a fantasy one. Such coats were made from brass or iron, though steel was deemed best due to its toughness. What is a good way to do Show not tell in a first person POV state? 100 Words to Describe Clothes - grammarhow.com Clothes can betray our greatest joys and our deepest insecurities. Okay, maybe not.Secrets in real life can be a little trickywe all have thembut they have a way of blowing up in our faces, depending on how big they are.Your characters are really no different. The clothing itself can be just standard medieval gear, but with these elements they immediately look (wood) elvish. Whether its a matter of indulgence or survival, feeling good is a deeply relatable goal. Are they overalls or coveralls? Not to mention the social status of a person. Mantel creates a vivid sense of the wealth that the church amassed in these times. Is your central conflict a life-or-death situation? Only the most sophisticated, Dr. Urbino among them, wore their ordinary clothes. You can also check out some of my other guides too, like: If you have any questions about this guide on fantasy armor, please get in touch. Clothes that are loose and hanging in folds. Just click this link and dont even think about touching your wallet. I love to wear baggy trousers in summer. Not a Dabble user? A few small details of clothing may distinguish your characters from each other, highlighting their personalities. Its hard to really appreciate just how sickeningly awful medieval warfare would have been. But Ive also noticed that artful clothing description does make a character, a setting, and even a moment more engaging. ), The geographical location of your story. A velvet scrunchie. "He was wearing a spandex tank top" is an improvement from just mentioning that your character's wearing a shirt; but consider adding the element of color: "He was wearing a black-and-yellow-striped spandex tank top.". Maybe your character heads out on the town wearing a daring leopard print jumpsuit, only to have their best friend immediately ask where they got the kitty costume.. If youre good at talking clothes, you can sit this one out. Leather could be stitched into coats, or added to mail to provide added protection. - Mix cultures. Stylish. Another important function of clothing description in stories is to create an authentic sense of time and place. Lets take a look at some individual pieces of armor. Here are some classic characteristics you can draw out through clothing description. What your character wears reveals where they come from, how they rank in society, how they want to be perceived, and even how they feel about themselves. Make sure you know whats hot and whats not in your specific setting, as well as what specific words the locals would use. Every time we got separated in a public space, I discovered myself in a sea of mature women with the same haircut and pastel tops. More on that in a bit. Given that I am writing alone in my apartment, you might rightfully conclude that my goal is to be comfortable. Smart: Neat and tidy clothes but not necessarily formal. Which was, indeed, a little weird straight off! Our imaginations can do a surprising amount with just a few key details. What your character wears can tell us a lot about how they feel or how they want to feel. No problem! It can genuinely be tough to come up with cool ideas for epic fantasy armor without drifting back to things that weve seen in the likes of Dungeons and Dragons, The Elder Scrolls and movies like Lord of the Rings. Its a bit OCD of me. Characters Wear More Than Just Clothes. Slog through another meaningless day in a world where nothing matters? Another quick way of making standard clothing fantasy themed is by converting clothes form the relative future to one that could be created in whichever time period your universe falls under. I'm talking about the jagged, triangular shapes you find on some stealth planes or the digital camouflage patterns. His writing offers a masterclass in how to describe clothing in stories. Think of other interesting combinations: A teacher who dresses provocatively; a beggar with an innate sense of style. This is often enough to make something look more futuristic, especially if used on something that looks glossy, shiny and/or smooth. Or else that she feels shamed by her Aunt and thus decides to be good. Characters can also comment on or react to one anothers clothing, as long as the exchange reveals something about the world or relationship. What is the prevailing value in the society of your story? In Dostoyevskys Crime and Punishment, the poor, Tuberculosis-stricken Katerina Ivanovnas husband is trampled to death by a horse-drawn cart. Another might claim power by striding in wearing torn jeans and a tank top. Those warriors came from the people who lived on the lands under the watch of the knights. Fashionably elegant and sophisticated. Once blue, it is quenched a second time, permanently fixing its hardness. Theyre probably less concerned with how they look (unless they want to look intimidating) and more concerned with things like survival or victory. You can try all Dabbles premium features for free for fourteen days. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town. They should be doing that. You may have imagined a man in an expensive suit or a woman in designer clothes. With these two changes alone you already have an item that didn't exist in medieval times, but is familiar enough to work in a fantasy setting. Here, for example, Hilary Mantel describes a Cardinals residence being plundered by the Kings men in 1529 England, in her historical novel Wolf Hall. Shoes made with bendable displays already exist, allowing you to change your shoe's design on the fly. Well cover everything from helmets and plate armor to chainmail. An anxious college student buys a flower crown in the hopes of feeling young and free at Coachella. At a quarter to six, Gem pulled off the low-cut top Emma had wolf-whistled and clappedat when theyd met for their usual weekend catch-up. This is a fun one. One way to deal with clothing is to not try to be unique. - Christine, on How to describe clothing in a story (with examples), 8 story hook examples (how to grab attention), Story structure examples: How to create payoffs for readers, How to describe to immerse readers (complete guide), How to write deep POV: 8 tips and examples, 9 exposition examples: How to write clear introductions, How to make a plot captivating: 7 strategies, Writing great characters: 5 lessons from modern novels. But put me in a job interview wearing the same outfit, and youd probably start making new guesses about my intentions. Sometimes they're more interesting and lovable than the main characters themselves and end up stealing the show., Secrets. - Change lengths. What Clothes Say About Your Characters - The Write Practice Describing clothes : writing - reddit That also will help readers really experience things through their eyes. Borrowed armor wouldnt fit as well as a suit made for the wearer and wouldnt be as well balanced, so someone in borrowed armor would be more likely to have problems moving in his armor. One character might demonstrate their power by showing up to prom in a designer gown. Maybe theyre wearing an article of clothing that once belonged to someone theyve lost. - Furs and other animal parts: A quick and obvious way of making something look more fantasy-themed is by simply adding elements of fantasy creatures. Like Dostoyevsky, think how something as small as a characters change of clothing can affecttheir own or others behaviour. If you write historical fiction, youre probably way ahead of me. Im writing a little in the Epic Fantasy genre and there were quite a few useful notes I wasnt aware of here. Instead of a nobleman being described as wearing red silk slippers, parachute pants, a bejeweled cloth belt, a flowing blouse and an ascot; you can simply describe him as wear very fancy and extravagant clothing befitting his high status in society. Stockings, long gloves, scarves or separate layers of clothing make a huge difference. The appearance of armor was a big deal for knights. His pants are simple and narrow and reach down to his hard leather shoes. Thanks Liv, Im glad you found this helpful. Thanks Benjamin! Even the non-conformists are influenced by societal norms.