Not only can these lead to a dull reading experience, but in some cases can be out right offensive. The most important thing to avoid when using character quirks is any stereotype or cliché. Check It Out How NOT to Use Character Quirks You'll be surprised what comes out as you write in their voice.Įasy to use, and and full of amazing features, you can quickly turn your book into a professional book. In fact, one great way of learning what your character's quirks are is to interview them. Once you have a quirk, you can input it into your character profile and may be included in a few character exercises. Just make sure they also serve a purpose, and are not different for the sake of being different. That's why it's important to try unique combinations, and quirks you've never heard of before when developing your characters. Be original: it's easy to get caught up in stereotypes when using quirks.But what if you gave them a quirk that seemingly clashed? How might this deep in the character, or help you understand them differently? Try the unexpected: you may be tempted to give your characters a quirk that makes sense for what you know about their character.That's why you want to make sure that each quirk serves a purpose to either advance the plot, or deep in what we know about the characters. Make them important to the plot or characters: a quirk that serves no purpose will just seem like extra fluff.Here are a few strategies for incorporating quirks into your story: The important thing is that the quirks make sense and don't feel forced, which will come with practice and editing of each character trait before it goes out for a final draft. Follow this template and you'll find your characters are just jumping off the page at you (not literally, unfortunately) Get it FREE! How to Use Character Quirks in Your NovelĬharacter quirks can be developed during character creation or they can evolve naturally as you write your character's story over time. They also make them feel more like a real person, which can be especially important for character-driven stories.īy the way, if you want to really flesh out your characters, we've got an all-inclusive character profile builder that you can look at. Quirks help your character stand out from the other characters in the book. It also gives you an opportunity to challenge yourself as a writer by developing unique traits for each character, rather than generalizing their character traits. Why Are Character Quirks Important?Īdding character quirks to your character makes them more complex and interesting for both you and your reader. It could be how they always chew on their pencil when nervous or where they place their hands while talking to someone new.Įxamples of famous quirks range from physical quirks such as Harry Potter's lightning-shaped scar, to Katniss Everdeen's skill with her bow, to Spider-Man's tendency to spout humorous quips while stringing up bad guys ( Pro Tip: Superheroes are a great source of character quirk examples). It's not something huge or drastic, but rather small details in their personality, appearance, or behavior that reveal more about who they are under the surface and helps you flesh characters out. How to Use Character Quirks in Your NovelĪ character quirk is a subtle detail about your character that makes them unique.
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