The writings of J Ray Lamb

You’ve met her before. The girl with “flowing ebony hair,” “emerald eyes,” and “lips like rose petals.” Or him, with “chiseled jawlines,” “stormy gray eyes,” and “shoulders like a Greek statue.”

We don’t know them.

We’ve just met their tropes.

Describing physical appearance is one of the trickiest — and most overdone — parts of character writing. It’s tempting to reach for shorthand: hair color, eye color, maybe a quick body scan. But if we want a reader to see someone — to feel the charge in the air when they enter a room — we need to stop writing mannequins and start writing people.

So let’s get granular. Here’s how to write physical appearance in a way that’s textured, meaningful, and deeply character-driven.

1. Hair: It’s About Story, Texture, and Care

Hair says a lot — not just about genetics, but about choices. Does your character tame it? Let it run wild? Is it dyed, greying, braided, buzzed, or piled on top of her head in a hurry?

Good hair description considers:

Texture (fine, coiled, wiry, limp, soft)

Context (windblown, sweat-damp, scorched by bleach)

Emotion (does she twist it when nervous? Is he ashamed of losing it?)

Flat: “Her long brown hair framed her face.”

Better: “Her ponytail was too tight, the kind that whispered of control issues and caffeine-fueled 4 a.m. library shifts.”

You don’t need to romanticise it. You need to make it feel real.

2. Eyes: Less Color, More Connection

We get it: her eyes are violet. Cool. But that doesn’t tell us much.

Instead of focusing solely on eye color, think about:

What the eyes do (do they dart, linger, harden?)

What others feel under them (seen, judged, safe?)

The surrounding features (dark circles, crow’s feet, smudged mascara)

Flat: “His piercing blue eyes locked on hers.”

Better: “His gaze was the kind that looked through you — like it had already weighed your worth and moved on.”

You’re not describing a passport photo. You’re describing what it feels like to be seen by them.

3. Facial Features: Use Contrast and Texture

Faces are not symmetrical ovals with random features. They’re full of tension, softness, age, emotion, and life.

Things to look for:

Asymmetry and character (a crooked nose, a scar)

Expression patterns (smiling without the eyes, habitual frowns)

Evidence of lifestyle (laugh lines, sun spots, stress acne)

Flat: “She had a delicate face.”

Better: “There was something unfinished about her face — as if her cheekbones hadn’t quite agreed on where to settle, and her mouth always seemed on the verge of disagreement.”

Let the face be a map of experience.

4. Bodies: Movement > Measurement

Forget dress sizes and six packs. Think about how bodies occupy space. How do they move? What are they hiding or showing? How do they wear their clothes — or how do the clothes wear them?

Ask:

What do others notice first? (a presence, a posture, a sound?)

How does their body express emotion? (do they go rigid, fold inwards, puff up?)

Flat: “He was tall and muscular.”

Better: “He had the kind of height that made ceilings nervous — but he moved like he was trying not to take up too much space.”

Describing someone’s body isn’t about cataloguing. It’s about showing how they exist in the world.

5. Let Emotion Tint the Lens

Who’s doing the describing? A lover? An enemy? A tired narrator? The emotional lens will shape what’s noticed and how it’s described.

In love: The chipped tooth becomes charming.

In rivalry: The smirk becomes smug.

In mourning: The face becomes blurred with memory.

Same person. Different lens. Different description.

6. Specificity is Your Superpower

Generic description = generic character. One well-chosen detail creates intimacy. Let us feel the scratch of their scarf, the clink of her earrings, the smudge of ink on their fingertips.

Examples:

“He had a habit of adjusting his collar when he lied — always clockwise, always twice.”

“Her nail polish was always chipped, but never accidentally.”

Make the reader feel like they’re the only one close enough to notice.

Describing appearance isn’t just about what your character looks like. It’s about what their appearance says — about how they move through the world, how others see them, and how they see themselves.

⇰ the pause. THE PAUSE. like “are we doing this? oh god we’re doing this.”

⇰ looking at each other’s mouths like it’s a life-or-death decision

⇰ someone whispering “can I?” or “just once” before going for it and RUINING ME EMOTIONALLY

⇰ hands. gripping shirts. cupping faces. hovering like “do I touch?? I WANNA TOUCH”

⇰ breath hitching?? yes. shakiness?? absolutely.

⇰ that stupid moment where one of them pulls back a few inches like “wait are you sure” and the other just goes for it again

⇰ kissing like they’re scared it’ll be the last time

⇰ kissing like they’ve been waiting ten goddamn years

⇰ teeth clashing awkwardly and both laughing about it but STILL FEELING IT

⇰ one of them freezing for a second mid-kiss because the feelings just hit

⇰ the post-kiss moment of “uh. so. yeah.” where neither knows what the hell just happened

@celestialwrites for more!!

“good god, you are a pain.” “then why are you even here?” “maybe i’m a masochist.”

“say that again i dare you.” “what are you going to do about it if i do?”

“your existence unnerves me.” “aw, i’m flattered.”

“hi honey.” “don’t honey me, you just threw a book at me!”

“huh, you know when you’re not scowling at me your eyes look a little more blue than green.”

“what if one day you wandered off a cliff?” “would you join me?”

“sometimes i feel like you want to get hit.” “by you? most certainly.”

“miss me?” “i had wondered where my headache went.”

“you are certainly interesting.” “is that a compliment or are you making fun of me?” “yes.”

“i’m not docile by any means.” “i’ve noticed, i notice everything about you.”

“i need help to bury a body.” “and you thought of me? aw.” “actually, i’m the only one that would miss you if you went to prison.” “you’d miss me?”

“i hate you!” “as long as you feel something towards me.”

“watch it!” “it’s cute how easy i can rile you up.”

“do you truly hate me?” “i wish that was possible.”

⊹ standing too close. like just barely not touching. why are their shoulders breathing on each other??

⊹ conversations that sound normal but feel like foreplay. “pass the salt” has never been so loaded.

⊹ one of them says something flirty and the other freezes for 0.2 seconds like “oh.”

⊹ eyes dropping to lips and then—back up. with effort.

⊹ holding eye contact just a little too long. like... are they gonna kiss or duel??

⊹ unintentional physical contact that lasts one second too long and now they’re both broken

⊹ a hand on the small of the back. that’s it. that’s the tweet.

⊹ tension so thick that other characters start noticing like “hey are you two okay?” (they are not)

⊹ “accidental” sleepovers. “oh no there’s only one bed.” yeah. suuuure.

⊹ biting back a smile. biting back a moan. biting anything really.

⊹ one of them walks away and the other has to physically restrain themselves from watching the hips

- A manipulative character is a master of influence, skilled at bending others to their will without them even realizing it. Show their ability to read people, understanding their desires, fears, and weaknesses, and then use this knowledge to subtly guide their actions and decisions.

- These characters often present a facade of charm and trustworthiness. Highlight their charismatic nature and how they can easily win people over, making others believe that they have their best interests at heart, while secretly pulling the strings.

- A manipulative character is adept at creating and controlling narratives. Demonstrate their talent for spinning stories, spreading misinformation, and planting seeds of doubt to achieve their objectives. They always have a backup plan and can think several steps ahead.

- They thrive on secrecy and deception. Illustrate how they carefully conceal their true intentions and motives, keeping their schemes hidden while appearing innocent or even benevolent. They might use half-truths and strategic omissions to maintain control.

- Show their capacity for patience and strategic thinking. A manipulative character knows that some plans take time to come to fruition. They are willing to wait, gradually nudging events and people in their desired direction until they achieve their goal.

- Highlight their emotional intelligence. These characters can read a room, detect subtle shifts in mood, and adjust their approach accordingly. They know exactly when to apply pressure, offer comfort, or feign vulnerability to manipulate others.

- They often exploit relationships and social dynamics. Depict how they use friendships, family ties, and professional connections to their advantage, playing people against each other or leveraging loyalty and trust to further their own ends.

- A manipulative character is skilled at deflecting blame and responsibility. Show how they can twist situations to make others seem at fault, creating scapegoats or diverting attention from their own actions. They are experts at maintaining a clean image while orchestrating chaos behind the scenes.

- They use flattery and validation as tools. Illustrate their ability to make others feel special, understood, and valued, all the while steering them towards choices that serve the manipulator's agenda.

"I don’t love you—I consume you. And still, I am starving."

"If you asked for my body, I’d give it. If you asked for my soul, I’d bleed it out. But you want more—you want me emptied, undone, erased."

"You call this love. I call it worship, and worship always ends in sacrifice."

"Every time you touch me, I lose a piece of myself I will never recover—and I keep offering more."

"I swore I would never kneel for any man. Then you walked in, and I fell willingly."

"I would rather burn with you in shame than live holy without you."

"You will not be my salvation. You will be my ruin—and I choose you anyway."

"There are nights I pray you would stop calling me, and mornings I pray you never will."

"You are not my beloved. You are my idol, and I will die a heretic for you."

"I have given you everything but my blood, and some nights, I want to give you that too."

"When I kiss you, I taste guilt—but guilt has never been so sweet."

"You are not enough for me. Yet I would rather starve on you than feast on anyone else."

"I wanted you so much I began to want the destruction you brought with you."

"You think I desire your body. No—I desire your surrender."

"If I must betray God to have you, then let me be damned."

"I told myself I would walk away. But every time you call my name, I hear it as a commandment."

"I don’t want your heart. I want your weakness."

"You have already destroyed me, and still I crawl back, asking for more."

"You will never love me as much as I love you. And that imbalance is what binds me to you."

"You are not my sin. You are my altar—and I bring myself as the sacrifice."

"You’re not what I need. You’re what I can’t stop wanting."

"I don’t want you in pieces. I want all of you, even the parts that will wreck me."

"Every time I tell myself it’s the last time, you look at me and I believe in forever again."

"I would rather choke on your absence than breathe someone else’s presence."

"You’re not my salvation. You’re my craving—and I never stop feeding it."

"I don’t love you gently. I love you like hunger. Like thirst. Like I might die without you."

"If this is sin, then let me stay damned."

"You tear me open, and I still keep handing you the knife."

"I’ve kissed other mouths, but only yours makes me feel like I’m losing my soul."

"You call me weak for wanting you. I call it worship."

"I don’t want to forget you. I want to ache for you for the rest of my life."

"Even when you’re not here, you live in my veins like a sickness I never want cured."

"You’re not enough. You’ll never be enough. And still—I would choose you over everything else."

"I can’t stop confessing you to myself in the dark."

"I’ve ruined everything I am to keep you close—and I’d do it again."

"It’s not love. It’s hunger wearing love’s face."

"I don’t want your promises. I want the parts of you you swore no one would ever touch."

"You undo me with a look, and I hate you for it—but I would crawl back a thousand times."

"If I could strip myself of shame, I’d still keep you as the reason I fall."

"You’re not my sin. You’re the prayer I can’t stop breaking myself over."

fixing each other's collar/zipper/tie/etc - getting unexpectedly close, breath catching when they realize (or their light touches burning into the other's skin)

^ also moving someone's hair out of their face/behind their ear

^ or touching someone's necklace/bracelet/watch

eye contact in a crowded room, but not exchanging any words/expressions - just looking at each other, the rest of the world going still.

^a(n unironic) wink in this situation. or an eyebrow raise, lick or bite of lips, or head tilt. there's something in the subtlety of it - like "this is between us"

pulling someone in by their belt loops??? this is so random idk

feeling the other's breath/lips ghosting their neck

any sort of whisper. anywhere. goddamn.

a long pause when someone is speaking, as though they lost their train of thought while looking at the other person

their bodies accidentally pressed together - being stuck in a small space, falling onto one another, or having to sit really close together. the pause when it's realized.

^this but they're hiding

"make me"

"i dare you"

"and if i do?"/"what will i get (if i do)?" "show/tell me what you want"

the pinky reach before holding hands for the first time

slow dancing (the hand placement, eye contact, proximity, MUSIC)

teaching the other something that involves physical contact (like holding their hands while trying to balance on a skateboard, or guiding their hands somewhere)

eye contact, waiting for one to fold

"don't do that to me" (tempting the other)

sharing earbuds - forced proximity, the vulnerability in sharing things that matter to them

"you're drunk, go home." "maybe, but it's the only time i'm brave enough to tell you that i...i like you."

"you said to call if i ever needed you...hi..."

character b slurs, "geez...why do i keep thinking of you...? get out of my head silly..." laughing drunkenly as character a smiles. "maybe you're just tired, b."

"don't...don't look at me like that, a...just...don't. my heart's already unsteady enough."

"...you know you'll forget this by the morning..." "then promise me you'll remember it for me."

"if i say i love you now — can we just blame it on the alcohol and forget it all in the morning?"

"you make me go all...i don't know...maybe it's the alcohol talking..."

character a downs the shot when asked who their crush is, then points straight at character b without saying a word.

"dude..." "dude." "i love y...bLRreeeUUughhhHhHHhhhhhHHhHHHhhHHH"

"remember when i said you didn't mean anything to me and that i never loved you? yeah...i lied...and this bottle of wine's not letting me hide it anymore."

"i'm drunk. i love you."

"i think...i think i'm in love with you." "tell me again when you're sober..."

it's late, the stars are bright as character a and b relax on the rooftop, drunk as they can be before, "b...i think i want to be more than friends..." a says, sipping onto the bottle of beer. "what....what?"

"i keep pretending you don't mean as much...but i'm a little drunk and — i guess i still love you after all."

⊳ "I've never heard that one before." / "That's a first." (In response to a compliment or even insult.) ⊳ "Oh yeah, I used to be really __." (Ugly. Fat. Short. Unpopular. Any negative adjective.)

⊳ "It's not the first time this happened. I'll be okay." (In response to a painful event.)

⊳ "I... didn't think it'd hurt like this."

⊳ "Dang, I wish I was __ like you." (Smart. Pretty. Funny. Any positive adjective.)

⊳ "I'll do better next time, I swear."

⊳ "Hey, uh. Do you think I'm (too) __ ?" (Annoying. Overbearing. Any negative adjective)

⊳ "Are... you going to leave?"

⊳ "Why me? I don't understand what you see in me."

⊳ "Aren't you going to get some food?" "No, it's okay. I need to eat less anyway."

⊳ "No, it's my fault. I just need to work harder, somehow." (In response to a failure or mistake.)

⊳ "You really think I can do this?"

⊳ "Do your __ (parents, friends, etc.) also tell you __?" ('You're too loud', 'you're too lazy', etc.)

⊳ "Oh, no, it's okay. Let them be. I hear this all the time." (In response to an insult.)

⊳ "I don't think you should've chosen me."

⊳ "Haha, I'm not actually that __ (smart, talented, etc.). You should look at __ (name), though."

These subtle cries for help are subtle because they're often spoken lightly--almost like a joke. A passing comment that flew by too fast to analyze. They're honest but not dramatic and often don't focus on themselves--the character speaking. These lines are fantastic for foreshadowing and revealing deeper, more sensitive parts of the character.

In real life, we don't always directly ask for help. We don't directly rant about our more personal and lasting issues, but we'll make comments with deeper meanings, and you can absolutely demonstrate this in your writing.

Happy writing~

(How your character defends their soft core and what could shatter it) Because protection becomes prison real fast.

@celestialwrites for more!!

♡ "it took you almost 4 years to fully trust me, and it took you all of one minute to stop."

♡ "do not waste your breath with lies, for once tell me the damned truth."

♡ "i have always wanted the good, the bad, and the ugly from you! i never wanted you to hide."

♡ "do you not get it? we don't ever get a happy ending, we don't ever go home!"

♡ "tell me you didn't, i do not care if it's a lie, just tell me you didn't."

♡ "you are a part of me and i cannot stand it."

♡ "don't waste away a life that was never yours. it was always hers."

♡ "every second i spend in pain without (s/o) is better than any day i spent not knowing them."

♡ "your tears will not bring him back." "fuck you."

♡ "that may just happen to be your gravest mistake, you thought you could fix her."

♡ "look me in the eye and say it. say it! say they're dead!"

♡ "i will be the greatest loss of your life."

"Feel this? It's just for you."

"Let's ruin ourselves for anyone else."

"I want to taste you so badly."

"Make me beg for it."

"Oh I can do this all night long."

"You surprise me every day."

"Let's find out how much you want it."

"Kiss me, I can't wait any longer."

"Come on, please, do it."

"Oh, you like that?"

"Hmm, you're not very patient, are you?"

"Well, let's see what happens tonight."

"Can you kiss it better?"

"Oh, you're hard to please."

"I had a very nice dream that started like this."

"You are so amazing, please never stop."

"Can you be good for me?"

"It's so hot when you talk like that."

"Stop teasing me and do it!"

"You're still holding back, just let go."

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V

A is the driver, B is the passenger.

They play I Spy.

They sing along to the radio.

They kiss at every red light.

A keeps one hand on the gear stick so B can touch them.

B feeds A food/holds up a drink to their lips.

They're both passengers. A sleeps on B.

They get stuck in traffic and play games to pass the time.

They go shopping for a new car (either a shared one or an individual one).

They go for a joyride early in the morning/late at night, when there aren't many other cars on the road.

They lie down on the hood of the car and cloudgaze/stargaze.

They watch a movie at a drive-in theater.

They get food from a drive-thru place and park somewhere while they eat and talk.

They drive to somewhere they've never been.

They go on a road trip.

B admires A while they drive.

A drives B around so they can run errands.

➣ SOFT LOVE

♡ "you're cute when you're mad."

♡ soft shoulder kisses.

♡ "home is where you are, whether it is here, in the deepest ocean or hottest desert, you are my home."

♡ slow and curious first kiss, both characters seemingly nervous, blush painting their faces.

♡ stolen glances across the room.

♡ "the gods took their time with you."

♡ wearing their heart on their sleeves around each other.

♡ character A's face blushing as B smootheres them in compliments even years into their relationship with character B.

♡ quiet murmurs of affection.

♡ “i missed you.” “i was gone for two hours.”

♡ coffee shop and bookstore dates.

➣ HARD LOVE

♡ guttural rain confessions.*

♡ "do you not get it? every second i spend in the absence of your presence pains me."

♡ harsh and passionate first kisses.

♡ "i fucking yearn for you and you haven't so much as spared me a glance in years!"

♡ walls that they have each spent years building crumbling in the presence of one another.

♡ heated arguments turned into heated confessions.

♡ "i hate you! i hate you so much i can't bear to be near you." "you are walking a fine line between hate and desire, love."

♡ both being far too stubborn to admit their feelings, their hearts both caged deep within them.

♡ (years/months) of pent up emotions being aired in an argument and when the dust settles the only emotion left is their desire for each other.

♡ “do you think i want this? do you think i want to be stuck in this endless cycle of wanting you? do you truly think i enjoy waking up every morning realizing you’re not there?”

♡ tears spilling as they finally give in and proclaim their feelings.

♡ “i am not an easy person to love.” “i think i’ve got the hang of it.”

REBLOG TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL WRITERS!!<3

❥ “So, what I was thinking, um... Um... I... Sorry, let me just start over.” [whispered] “Is A okay?” “Oh, they're fine. B just walked in.” “Ah.”

❥ “A walked into a wall again.” “What did B do?” “Bent over to pick up a pen.”

❥ “They must be fucking with us. A just tucked a strand of hair behind B's ear. It's the cutest shit I have ever seen.” “Sadly, they are serious.”

❥ “Did you hear? A and B are alone on night shift.” “I know I work in HR, but at this point I hope we have a scandal tomorrow. Can't stand this tension anymore.”

Traumatic Event Comfort Prompts For Your OTP

B has a nightmare and calls A for comfort. B quickly feels bad for waking A up but A insists on staying on the phone.

^ except they're in the same bed.

A wakes B up while B is having a nightmare.

B recalls a traumatic event and dissociates. A helps bring them back to reality.

B lands themself in the hospital but doesn't tell A out of fear of being judged (either because of a physically traumatizing event or an emotional response to a mentally traumatizing one). A finds out anyway and stays with B the whole time to help them recover.

B refuses to eat after a traumatic event. A makes them their favorite food to try to change their mind.

After going through a traumatic event, B feels undeserving of A’s love. A assures them otherwise.

A is typically the one who goes through traumatic events, so when one happens to B, their usual roles are reversed.

B shuts down and refuses to speak after a traumatic event. A meets them at their level, showing support and love without saying anything.

B is extra clingy/needy after a traumatic event. A is happy to oblige.

B breaks down crying after recalling a traumatic event. A is there to wipe their tears and lift them up.

They're friends. A confesses their feelings for B after B goes through a traumatic event.

A takes the day off from work to take care of B.

“It's been a while. Is it a good or a bad sign that you're back here now?”     “I guess we'll find out.”

“Keep looking at me like that and I'll close early.”

“You're doing that on purpose, aren't you?”     “What, licking the salt off the rim of my class without breaking eye-contact? No.”

“I stayed open late yesterday. Hoped you'd stop by.”

“How much for your number on the next napkin I ask for?”     “About the cost of one dinner.”     “Perfect.”

“You know I can feel your eyes burning in my back, right?”     “Don't flirt with other customers then.”

“When are you getting off? I can walk you home. The area can be sketchy this time of night.”

“I'm cutting you off.”     “Buzzkill.”

“Don't apologize. You're one of the few people I don't mind venting.”

“You're drinking awfully fast. Bad day?”    “Give me two more and I might tell you.”

“Let me call you a cab. You're not gonna be making any good decisions tonight.”