Comments on: The Mirror Is Not Your Friend

By: Sarah (Sally) Hamer

Sarah (Sally) Hamer — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 21:14:51 +0000

In reply to Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt. It is similar to an infodump, Alicia. Nice when we can find something better.

By: Sarah (Sally) Hamer

Sarah (Sally) Hamer — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 21:13:50 +0000

In reply to Diana Stout. Good point, Diana! We certainly can put those mirrors to good use. Thanks!

By: Sarah (Sally) Hamer

Sarah (Sally) Hamer — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 21:13:14 +0000

In reply to Janet Morrison. Glad to help, Janet. Revision is really the exact place to "fix" this sort of thing. If we're worrying about whether something is right, we're not allowing our creative mind the space to tell the story. Good for you!

By: Sarah (Sally) Hamer

Sarah (Sally) Hamer — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 21:12:06 +0000

In reply to Jenny Hansen. Exactly, Jenny! What a great way to put it!

By: Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt

Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 19:58:50 +0000

I do have a mirror scene in the first novel in my Pride's Children mainstream trilogy - because she's a narcissist, and a rather beautiful actress who needs to reassure herself:
"She slid out of the negligee. Her body posed itself for her approval in the triple mirror, posture and attitude honed by coaching and practice, her right leg bent just so. Her instrument. Taut and muscled, just the right hint of firmness under a thin softening layer: in repose, female. She worked hard for the perfect effect. She’d seen women body builders in person, once, and they disgusted her: unnatural women’s heads on men’s bodies, their breasts either empty from total absence of body fat—or fake. She cradled her breasts like her best custom underwire bra. The nipples stiffened obediently, tightening the skin. Perfectly formed, perfectly proportioned B cups, heavy. The gift that convinced her God meant her to be on a pedestal."

The other characters get described only by one of the three main characters when that character has a real reason for noticing something.

Describing what characters look like when they first appear seems to be a feature of having a narrator/omniscient pov. I prefer deep close third pov - and the description only happens where well motivated and required by the plot.

We all notice what other people look like, to some extent, but it completely stops the story to do it in what is similar to an infodump.

By: Diana Stout

Diana Stout — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 18:46:21 +0000

I rarely describe the physcial attributes of a character anymore unless it's important to the story or to any other character. Like a height difference, or how they're dressed relates to their air of character, like snobbery, elitism, factory worker, etc. I totally agree that a mirror shouldn't be used as description aid. The best use of a mirror is when they're seeing their soul, questioning their values, or horrified at what they've just done. Great blog post!

By: Janet Morrison

Janet Morrison — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 17:48:06 +0000

This is timely information for me as I'm revising the first draft of my first novel. Thank you, Sally.

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 17:47:11 +0000

The mirror trick always irritates the heck out of me. *I* can't use it, so that author can't use it kind of thing. LOL. I learned from Les Edgerton that the less you describe how the character looks, the better it is for you. The reader will put in the description then, and it will make THEM bond with the character. Behavior, mannerisms, community, yes. Actual "police sketch" details...he said don't do it. Because if you do it, it won't give your reader a chance to see THEMSELVES. He literally changed how I think of character description.

By: Sarah (Sally) Hamer

Sarah (Sally) Hamer — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 15:13:36 +0000

In reply to Debbie Vilardi. Exactly, Debbie. If it pulls you out, description -- or anything else, for that matter, it could be done in a different way. Good! Thanks!

By: Sarah (Sally) Hamer

Sarah (Sally) Hamer — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 15:12:21 +0000

In reply to Anna Chapman. Oh, that works great! You've made it a major part of the mystery and question in the story. That's the way to do it!