I'm writing a story based in Sengoku period Japan, the main character has a scar across his face. How would I describe it? It was put there by a sword--I've never really described scars, but I feel like I'm overthinking it a tad. Any suggestions? Or ideas I could develop into my own?
I don’t know what the Japanese call it, but it sounds like you’re talking about a chelsea smile. If you’re going to attribute this to the Japanese, then no- don’t wing it.
Chelsea smile would be both sides, wouldn't it? Unless I'm thinking of the wrong thing. I could be, probably am. I don't know if there should be a specific name for this, but if you're looking to describe it then the way you've described it in your post - just where it starts and where it ends - is pretty clear, add some colour and a little crispness to that and you're there?
It could be one side or both. In certain mob contexts it’s sometimes a three strike thing. It depends on the severity of the transgression. Of course, it’s not limited to the mob world.
Don't call it anything. Just describe it the first time you introduce the character, then just call it "his scar". In the novel Dune, Gurney Halleck has a similar scar caused by an inkvine whip,. It is referred to as "his inkvine scar".
Or... Given to him in the Pit and Shovel after spilling a guy's pint. Oh, wait. Wrong country, century, and theme.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow_smile I thought it was called a rictus.....a rictus.....damn, something like that....does anyone know that specific word?? I *know* it but I can't remember the spelling....sigh. I'm only 46 and my memory's already going....
See, I would use rictus to describe it even though that's more about a smile, like a death rictus. "a rictus scar stretching from lip to ear. . ." I'd describe the horror of it a bit more, maybe dwell on who created it (in grisly detail), and then I'd just call it a rictus scar from there out. Rictus is such a cool word. Reminds me of that one Clive Barker kid's book, "The Thief of Always." He has a character in there named Rictus. That's actually a very good book. It reads like Roald Dahl, who is also awesome, especially with his books for adults. Kind of the opposite path as Barker. It's funny how those two guys overlap in tone. This all reminds me of "Ichi, The Killer." Good old Takashi Miike. Always there to cheer up a soul.
there's this juxtaposition of a brutal thing like a scar imposed by some violent means, coupled with phrases like "put there by", that always give me the creepiest sense. not even necessarily in the sense of it being soft words in tandem with brutal imagery, but more that a scar can be placed onto someone's mouth (or wherever), as if it was more specifically intended than even a blade intends to make the scar come. welp. reading back at this, it occurs to me that i DEFINITELY need more coffee. [/S A R C A S M]
A zygomaticus major is the muscle involved so why not a name like that, the cut is either a laceration or an avulsion
Exactly. I took the word "describe" to mean more of an interaction of senses, rather than naming or short-lining it: "It cropped his ear and pulled on his eye and nose as it slithered down his face. I cringed as it ended above the corner of his mouth, stretching it into a grotesque, unnatural grin." It could be something like a parallel between its appearance and the character's reaction to it?
Before saying anything else, without knowing the narrative mode of the story, this question is next to impossible to answer because without knowing the mode, we don't have a delineation of the narrative constraints in play. A 3rd omniscient narrator is at liberty to describe things in ways that a 1st person or 3rd limited narrator may not be. With that said... For me, descriptions of things like this have very little to do with the technical aspect of the item in question, and leans much more heavily into why I am describing the item, what I'm tryin to get out of the description with respect to where it is in the story. So that's my second question to you, what are you hoping to achieve with the description in the location wherein it finds itself deployed? The first is what is the narrative mode - 3rd omniscient, 3rd limited, 3rd objective, 1st person...? Which structure have you chosen? We need this to know what's plausible for the other question.
if you want to show horror or revulsion it may be best shown through the reaction of another character.. " Yukiko recoiled in horror, abe's face looked as though it had be clawed by a huge cat, the puckered pink scar giving him a permanent leer" - that kind of thing
