Comments on: Creating Credible Characters–Mannerisms and Quirks

By: Make POV Work for You: POV Begins with Character « KayeDacus.com

Make POV Work for You: POV Begins with Character « KayeDacus.com — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:05:40 +0000

[...] Creating Credible Characters–Culture Clash Creating Credible Characters–Let’s Get Personal Creating Credible Characters–Mannerisms and Quirks Creating Credible Characters–What Do You Want? Creating Credible Characters–What’s in a [...]

By: Character Tags in Fiction

Character Tags in Fiction — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:03:22 +0000

[...] on character tags: Kaye Dacus [...]

By: Creating Credible Characters Refresher « KayeDacus.com

Creating Credible Characters Refresher « KayeDacus.com — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:05:00 +0000

[...] Creating Credible Characters–Mannerisms and Quirks “…The level of quirkiness Johnny Depp brought to that character [of Captain Jack Sparrow] most likely would not translate well to the written page. It works fine in the movies because they are physical gags that we quickly interpret visually and understand. But if you tried to describe his facial expressions, it would take too many words and would slow the pace of the story too much. Our characters’ mannerisms and quirks will arise out of who they are—so as you go through the personalization process with them, be looking for things that can become something unique to help define your character for the reader. …” [...]

By: Fiona

Fiona — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:33:26 +0000

Hi Kaye, I’ve just come across your excellent site. I’m a creative writing tutor and am currently running a course online and at a college. Today we looked at characterisation. I’ve just recommended this article to my students.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 02:53:26 +0000

One of my heroes will not make eye contact with someone when he’s nervous. Goes back to his childhood when he would look at his uncle and get slapped. It drives his girl crazy because she loves looking at his eyes.

By: Erica Vetsch

Erica Vetsch — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 21:05:35 +0000

Boy howdy, you ask tough questions. I love it! Aside from a tendency to put too much sighing in??? I’m not sure what my characters do. One twirls her hair around her fingers when she’s thinking, and also bites her lip.

In the one I started today, a secondary character uses the word “Well” a lot and the protagonist clasps his hands behind his back under his suit coat when he’s thinking.

By: PatriciaW

PatriciaW — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 18:53:02 +0000

Unusual foods or food combinations. Fidgety habits, like swiping one’s hair to the side. Things like breaking out in a sweat, but only on the nose, when nervous. Neck cracking. Quoting song lyrics or breaking into song unexpectedly. Speech patterns.

All one has to do is look around. All of the above come from my immediate family. (We’re a strange bunch, huh?)

I think it works best in writing, though, when the author repeats it several times up front and then doesn’t mention the habit/quirk again until absolutely crucial to the story action. If done correctly, the reader will envision the character doing said habit/quirk even when the author doesn’t say so explicitly.