{"id":547214,"date":"2022-10-28T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-28T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/?p=547214"},"modified":"2023-10-26T13:14:35","modified_gmt":"2023-10-26T12:14:35","slug":"character-quirks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/character-quirks\/","title":{"rendered":"Character Quirks: How To Craft Vivid Characters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Every person in real life has personality traits \u2014 something that makes them unique, interesting, and different to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, even you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So when you’re creating memorable characters for your story it’s really important to ensure that they have traits and characteristics that make them memorable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This doesn’t mean every character in your books needs to have quirky traits, but \u2014 when it comes to character creation \u2014 it does<\/em> give you the opportunity to have a lot of fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, I’m going to discuss what character quirks are, how to write them successfully, and what to avoid. I will also be listing 80 quirks for you to consider in your next story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s start…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are Character Quirks?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Quirks are character traits that make the people in your story memorable, relatable and different to one another. A quirky character is one who some may consider unusual, eccentric, or a bit weird.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A character’s personality is fundamentally important when it comes to a story’s plot, helping form a realistic and engaging narrative and strong dialogue, and providing a memorable cast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quirky characters may have unusual physical attributes (different coloured eyes, for instance), unique personality traits (they skip instead of walk), or peculiar habits (they put lipstick on before they eat). Either way, a quirky character generally looks or behaves in a way that differentiates them from other characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine the Cheshire Cat without his smile, Jo March without her books and impulsivity, or Sherlock Holmes without his pipe and hat. Impossible!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Character quirks not only help a character jump off the page but without them some of the world’s best books would be a lot less interesting to read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Write Successful Character Quirks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To create believable characters, you need to make them stand out from one another. Each character quirk needs to be unique, relevant and recognisable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s look at these points in more detail…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be Original<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Think of new quirks that you’ve not seen in a story before. You may want to tweak more common traits to make them weird or you could try using people in real life as inspiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are writing about a detective, it wouldn’t be very original to have him hold a magnifying glass all the time… but what if, like Inspector Gadget<\/em>, his entire coat was created to help him investigate better?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are writing a romantic heroine, instead of making her loveable and worthy of her dream man from the onset, why not make her an interfering busybody fascinated by the love lives of others \u2014 like Austen’s Emma<\/em>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you are creating a teen hero, instead of making a strong, valiant and heavily armed boy \u2014 why not create a female character from a poor background whose only skill is shooting a bow and arrow, like Katniss from The Hunger Games<\/em>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having an original link or contrast between a character’s purpose and their particular quirk, a unique trait that can be both their flaw<\/a> and saviour, means you have an original character that can be easily described<\/a> in one short sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all, you know exactly who I’m talking about if I say, ‘he’s a kind giant with big ears who collects dreams in jam jars.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make Sure The Character’s Quirks Are Relevant<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Don’t give a character cute quirks that don’t mean anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, in JoJo Moyes, Me Before You<\/em>, the very chirpy protagonist<\/a>, Lou Clark, wears wacky clothes (stripy tights, bright shoes, overly fluffy jumpers) while Will Traynor, the paraplegic she cares for, is very serious and dresses smartly at all times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

None of this is by accident!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The author has carefully chosen these differences as the irony is that Lou is full of life and energy but is stuck in a dead-end job and relationship, with no plans to do or go anywhere. Whereas Will (who was once very successful and adventurous) can’t physically do all the things he once wanted to and has nowhere to be, but still looks the part of a successful businessman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So they are both dressed as the person they wish to be, with neither confronting the fact they are not that person anymore\/yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The realisation of what they both ultimately want to do with their lives is the main theme of the story \u2014 and the resolution at the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"quirky-characters\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Use Quirks To Show A Change In Character<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of my favourite types<\/a> of quirks in a character is seeing what they do under stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Netflix series Money Heist<\/em>, the police inspector, Raquel Murillo, has very long hair. Every time she has to deal with the hostage takers she ties her hair up. Every time the viewer sees her do that, we know she means business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the end of the series, she has swapped allegiances and wears her hair down nearly all of the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ‘let your hair down’ is often used literally in storytelling to show a woman going from being rigid and controlled, to relaxing and letting go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the movie Something’s Gotta Give<\/em>, Diana Keaton’s uptight character, Erica Barry, wears high turtle neck sweaters the entire time. By the end of the movie, once she finds the courage to be herself, she pulls at the neck of her sweater and rips it off, signifying her new vulnerability and freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have Fun With Foils<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you’re going to have two main characters, use character quirks to highlight their differences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Sapkowski’s book and the Netflix TV adaptation, The Witcher<\/em>, we see two visually and behaviourally different characters. The lead, Gerald of Rivia, is physically big and strong, he fights monsters for a living \u2014 he’s also monosyllabic, emotionally closed and grunts a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, his unwanted companion, Jaskier, is a poet, minstrel and bard who never shuts up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The juxtaposition of both these visual and personality quirks makes for really interesting foil characters<\/a>, helping to highlight each attribute the other lacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also makes for many an amusing scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What To Avoid When Creating Character Quirks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The problem with personality traits<\/a> is that if overused, and done badly, what could be a fun and memorable way to distinguish one character from another can quickly become grating for the reader and stop them from wanting to turn the page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what should you NOT do when developing your character’s personality<\/a>? Here are a few helpful tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steer Clear Of Clich\u00e9s<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some character quirks and certain words have been overdone to the point of being farcical (although, if writing satire or a genre where readers expect certain tropes, go to town with the cheese!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, not every devilishly hot leading man needs to smirk or have a crooked smile. Neither does he have to be tall, dark or handsome. What if, like Cyrano de Bergerac, he has a big nose and is worried about his appearance?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid Stereotypes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Racist, sexist, ableist, or any other type of stereotypical observations are not quirks. Mental health issues and disabilities are not quirks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, it’s insulting to make it a quirk that the intelligent female scientist also happens to have a big bust, or that the Asian kid is a maths wiz, or that the Italian woman moves her hands around a lot when she speaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think about why<\/em> you are giving certain characters a unique trait, how<\/em> it fits into the plot, and try to be original with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t Overdo It!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If all<\/em> your characters are ever so quirky it will detract from the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s important to create unique characters, yes, but each one doesn’t have to be weird and kooky. Sometimes having a fall guy, a straight and serious foil, can enhance the hero’s<\/a> quirkier traits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How To Plan Your Character Quirks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now you know what character quirks are, and how to avoid writing them badly, where do you start?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Think About What You’re Trying To Say<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Every character in your story should look and act a certain way for a reason. So imagine your cast, (create a vision board on Pinterest if it helps with physical features), and ask yourself why<\/em> they look and behave the way they do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n