Help Writing Attractive Characters

I'm a heterosexual guy, so I'm in no position to say what counts as a "hot guy." All I know is what the stereotypical "hot guy" is, with the six pack, beefy arm muscles, etc. However, I personally never thought the stereotypical "hot girl" was the most beautiful type of girl around. I understand everyone has their individual perks, their tastes, their kinks, etc.

With my newest writing project—and when revising my older projects—I want to highlight certain details with my male characters that might make them more attractive to people who find guys attractive. I'm afraid that I might've failed to really highlight the details you want to feel is hot, so...can you please offer me some insight?

I'm not asking for necessarily what "everyone" finds attractive. What do you, as readers, find attractive in your fictional characters? Or, perhaps, as writers, what do you see people respond to positively in the characters you write? For the sake of this thread, you can write what you find attractive in female characters, but...

...also, my next project specifically features a lot of nerdy/geeky characters, so...what do you guys find adorkable?

Going by the fact that I'm physically kinda average - no six-pack abs or beefy arms - but can "scrub up well" (when I can be arsed shaving and putting on nice clothes) and I've had more than a few attractive women refer to me as "hot", I'd go with "so long as he doesn't look like the arse-end of a horse".

Look at the sort of people they show on TV and movies - not all the guys are "ripped" and, in many cases, if they do have the 6-pack abs, those are never seen as the character is clothed throughout the piece, so you're left with a guy of "average-looking" build (no beer gut or multiple chins) - yet they are portrayed as "hot" and desireable and, if the reactions of the women in the audience are anything to go by, they are "hot".

They look at least "healthy" - not overweight - they're fairly handsome and they convey themselves confidently.

If you convey that your characters are self-confident and they look "reasonable", you should be able to sell their "hotness".

I portray a lot of my characters as "average" looking. Not supermodels, just regular fairly attractive people if they do their hair and put on nice clothes that feel comfortable and suit them.

Build-wise, anything from skinny to a few extra pounds and carrying them well (i.e. not all drooping down over the belt), taking in "average" build and fairly athletic/toned (not necessarily 6-packs for the guys and certainly not Schwarzeneggeresque).

I don't find a lot of the Barbie-doll glamour girls particularly "hot" or even "attractive". A clear example being Loni Anderson from WKRP in Cincinnati. I always found Jan Smithers to be waaaayyyy hotter - she looked more "real" while Loni just looked fake.

I think the hottest woman on Firefly was Jewel Staite as "Kaylee". And Gina Torres as "Zoe" looked bloody awesome, too.

And on the topic of Firefly, the guys of the crew were widely varied in look and build and you seldom got to see their uncovered physique (the episode "Trash" being a notable exception) and yet it's no great stretch to accept that "Zoe" would find "Wash" to be desireable or "hot" (ok, his arms are rather muscular, but he's pretty average-looking) or that "Kaylee" should have the hots for "Simon" (whose 6-pack and muscular physique was not seen until the Serenity movie, prior to that he looked pretty average, all covered up).

edited 22nd Oct '12 3:26:45 PM by Wolf1066

Since you're working with a non-visual medium- at least that's what I'm getting from 'writing project(s)' -you could actually get away with providing few details if you still find yourself not all that confident.

But, as an average female, let me say this: everyone is attractive in their own way. Though there are indeed some women and girls who pine for men who resemble the Hollywood adonis mold, many women do not. Realize that, as Wolf said, what we as humans whether male or female consider attractive are indications of health and the ability to care for oneself. More often than not, in both literature and real life, personality and carrying oneself with a quiet confidence carry as much weight, if not more than physical attractiveness in the game of human romantic competition. Never forget that- if there's no personality or substance beyond that six-pack or those C-cup breasts, relationships are going to suck.

edited 22nd Oct '12 7:10:28 PM by CrystalGlacia

If you're trying to go the 'attractive, but not supermodel look" try to describe the characters as at least well groomed, no need to go crazy, just good hygene, somewhat okay skin and clean hair (if it's a little messy that okay, and it could even be endearing possibly) I know many people are fans of glasses-wearing characters (such as myself)and if you're trying to get [[Adorkable]] that's probably the way to go. Don't forget non-body charateristics too. Stuff like a friendly smile and bright, enthusiastic eyes can go a long way.

@Wolf 1066: What in the world is with all the "quotation marks"?

As for personal advice, I'm not really one for talking about what I find attractive, and I'm not sure that can be easily summed up in terms of looks anyway (from past experience, I can tell that I definitely do have a "type" appearance-wise, but personality trumps looks every time). But I can say this: if you're going to try and invoke the adorkable thing, do not overdo it. A lot of characters who seem to be trying to create that kind of effect really seem like they go overboard into pure geek wish fulfillment territory, losing any real multi-dimensionality as characters.

lol! Just to clear one thing up: character is the most important part. I love making complex, multi-layered dynamic characters. I mean, why else would you read a story if you didn't want to see what happened next? >___<

But yeah, so the big thing I'm getting is that confidence and how a character holds themselves is important. Okay, that makes a lot of sense. >__< Well-groomed? So I can't have my characters roll around in sludge while letting head lice in their braided underarm hair? Tragic...

Hmmm, but okay, so far this advice is really helping me out a lot. >___<

I rarely put physical attractiveness in my writing consciously, partially because I don't want to draw focus towards it too much but also because I feel that (apart from certain features) I shouldn't describe physicality too much. Mostly because I want the reader to draw from the personality to picture the character, in a way. I try not to be too specific, though I add some details.

As for how to write attractiveness? Well, keep in mind the voice of the story. If the narrator is a character, their own personal attraction to others might come up or not depending on characterization. Looking back on my old narrations I find they praised some characters too much, which can lead to a detached reading experience I find. If it won't work in the narration, bring it up in dialogue.

OP - Would you like me to reminisce then? :) He was of an athletic build with wavy brown hair soft enough to wind my fingers through, a strongly defind jaw, a freckled nose and eyes of the bluest blue, like fragments of a fresh spring sky. If I could have made a guy out of clay who I would have been personally attracted to, he would have been it.

You would be surprised at how important little things are in defining what makes someone attractive. Take bone structure, posture, or an appearance of good health.

Also, doesn't being heterosexual not usually preclude the ability to at least recognise attractiveness in the same sex?

Oh yes, and a crooked smile can be as beautiful as a perfectly straight one. It all depends on the person.

Technically not, but it usually robs the ability to describe it well through at least middle school.

I'm a male, so I can't offer any personal experience, but I've heard that unlike guys, male physical attractiveness tends to vary more from woman to woman, and there isn't necessarily a general consensus as to what women in general find attractive as opposed to what men find attractive. (A muscular body may be the exception, though.)

Are there any female tropers who would like to weigh in on this and confirm this or correct me?

edited 25th Oct '12 6:14:39 PM by shiro_okami

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I do think it's more varied, but in general, the big things to look for are confidence, good personal upkeep, and personality. Seriously, personality goes a long, long way.

edited 25th Oct '12 6:53:10 PM by CrystalGlacia

Well, yeah. Although I was talking more in terms of physical attractiveness, but if you're talking about non-physical attractiveness, that stuff matters even more.

I sure haven't heard of a 'standard' in male physical attractiveness from any real-life female.

edited 25th Oct '12 7:21:29 PM by CrystalGlacia

It would also depend on what the person who finds them attractive is attracted to. Many years ago (22 I believe) I started a relationship by suddenly noticing a girl's eyes for the first time- I just sort of blurted out "You have amazing eyes" and we became a couple almost immediately. (I think I may well count as adorkable, which helped!)

It could be personality, sometimes it is the seducer is giving the seduced something they don't get from their current partner, such as attention or compliments.

I'm pretty sure there's a social one, though whether any individual person shares it is always an open question (certainly I don't match up too well with society's standards for female physical attractiveness).