Physical Attribute Entry: Fingernails

Marcello Casal Jr/ABr @ WIKIMEDIA

Physical description of a character can be difficult to convey—too much will slow the pace or feel 'list-like', while too little will not allow readers to form a clear mental image. If a reader cannot imagine what your character looks like, they may have trouble connecting with them on a personal level, or caring about their plight. 

One way to balance the showing and telling of physical description is to showcase a few details that really help 'tell the story' about who your character is and what they've been through up to this point. Think about what makes them different and interesting. Can a unique feature, clothing choice or way they carry themselves help to hint at their personality? Also, consider how they move their body. Using movement will naturally show a character's physical characteristics, keep the pace flowing and help to convey their emotions.

FINGERNAILS

Descriptors: long, short, ragged, chipped, uneven, bitten, painted, decorated, glossy, pointed, curved, waxy, thick, peeling, missing, cracked, acrylic, false, manicured, yellowed, rounded, curled, flat, blackened, stubby, thin, misshapen, claws, brittle, diseased, colorful, shiny, healthy, shaped, pierced, dirty, polished, buffed, translucent; groomed, hangnail, trimmed, split


Things Nails Do:

• Pluck: pick, pull, drag, collect, draw, harvest
• Lift: pry, wedge, lever, manipulate, force, tamper, raise, heave, jimmy
• Scratch: scrape, scuff, cut, scar, chafe, rub, graze
• Protect: defend, cover, guard, ward off, cut, slice, repel

Key Emotions and Related Fingernail Gestures: 

• Nervous: bite, pick at, chew, nibble, strip
• Anger: attack, cut, slash, slice, pierce
• Pride: admire, paint, polish, shape, manicure, flaunt, adorn, show off

Simile and Metaphor Help:                           

• Clawed: The necromancer's thick nails clicked against the tabletop, a set of yellowed dragon claws ready to strike.
• Bitten: Randy's mangled fingernails looked like a dog's well-loved chew toy.

Clichés to Avoid:

•  Overusing nail biting to show nerves

HINT: When describing any part of the body, try to use cues that show the reader more than just a physical description. Make your descriptions do double duty. Example: 

Aunt Mary was the eccentric of the family, refusing to cut her nails until they literally began to curl into corkscrews that you could comb your hair with.

BONUS TIP: The Colors, Textures & Shapes Thesaurus in our sidebar might help you find a fresh take on some of the descriptors listed above!