it's that both Mary Sues and jewel-colored eyes are associated with amateurish writing.
Anything, if done badly enough, can be associated with amateurish writing.
As it happens, we here in the Liaden Universe(R) don't actually do that much character description. We do some, because -- the Sainted Jane aside -- readers do kinda want to know what a character looks like. And, just as anything can be done badly, anything can be done right.
Just saying that, "This is a cliche. Don't Ever Do It." ignores the possibility of wringing excellence from the ordinary.
Saying that "brown" is the same as "topaz" ignores the fact that "topaz" is a prettier word, and may fit the rhythm of a particular sentence better than "brown" ever will, no matter how true.
no subject
Anything, if done badly enough, can be associated with amateurish writing.
As it happens, we here in the Liaden Universe(R) don't actually do that much character description. We do some, because -- the Sainted Jane aside -- readers do kinda want to know what a character looks like. And, just as anything can be done badly, anything can be done right.
Just saying that, "This is a cliche. Don't Ever Do It." ignores the possibility of wringing excellence from the ordinary.
Saying that "brown" is the same as "topaz" ignores the fact that "topaz" is a prettier word, and may fit the rhythm of a particular sentence better than "brown" ever will, no matter how true.