PHYSICAL FEATURE THESAURUS

MUSCULAR BUILD



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CHOOSE MY PLAN

HELPFUL TIP:

Physical features should do more than simply describe how a character looks. Just like their occupation or area of giftedness, a character's appearance can say a great deal about them. Hinting at traits through clothing choices, alluding to an emotional state through movements, and highlighting certain details for comparison or contrast purposes can help readers form opinions on who the character really is.
DESCRIPTORS AND KEY ELEMENTS:
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SIMILE AND METAPHOR EXAMPLES:
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CLICHÉS TO AVOID:
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TWISTING THE STEREOTYPE:
  • When you see a really muscular person, the first thing that often comes to mind is steroid use. And while this can be the case, there are other options for people who want to bulk up. To avoid this cliché, look into other ways that your character might build muscle.
  • Muscular builds are most often spawned in the gym. But there are other activities and lifestyles that might create a hardbody, such as farming, heavy lifting, and some types of construction work. Genetics definitely can play a part in body type, too, so keep all of this in mind when building your muscular character.
  • Young men tend to corner the market on muscles, but muscular builds can cross all kinds of lines. A brawny character who is female or over sixty may be just the ticket for your story.

PEOPLE LIKELY TO HAVE THIS BUILD:
Bodybuilders
Weight lifters
Gym enthusiasts
Personal trainers
WWE Wrestlers
Athletes

FAMOUS EXAMPLES:
Arnold Schwarzenegger
The Rock (Dwayne Johnson)
Bo Jackson
Herschel Walker

OTHER THOUGHTS ON THIS BODY TYPE:
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