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One of the things that can make a character unique is adding a quirk. We're all a little odd, aren't we? I know I am. Some of those endearing (or not so endearing) idiosyncrasies can make an MC or supporting character - or even antagonist - jump to life. It has to fit though. It has to feel real. I totally believe that my daughter's unicorn could be sneaking around eating socks. :D Here let's use some actual examples, shall we?
- Hermione Granger can't resist getting questions right, even when it's inappropriate. Think of the Minister revealing Dumbledore's will. She can't help but mention the snitch's touch memory even though it may not be in their best interest. Or the slightly manic look she gets when planning the foray into the ministry that Harry associates with "revision".
- (from my daughter) Avery in Charlotte's Web enjoys collecting weird objects.
- President Snow in the Hunger Games will forever be associated with roses. When he left one behind in District 12 in Mockingjay, chills ran up my spine.
- Hobbits in LOTR have "second breakfasts" a pastime that still makes me smile.
What kind of quirks have you used for your characters? What are some of your favorites that you've read? Do you believe in sock munching unicorns?
Quirks are good but as with most things they only work when the writing is good. Some quirks come across as forced. But I will say that sometimes it is the quirks that make me love a character and make them feel real!
ReplyDeleteQuirks is something I have to work on. My family is very quirky, but their quirks would be a big fail in a story.
ReplyDeleteSo that's what happens to my kids' socks. I thought the sock gnomes were stealing them. :D
I'm shocked! A little sister likes to annoy her big brother??? *gasps* How could that cute little girl annoy anybody? :)
ReplyDeleteI love reading a book where the characters have quirks. It makes them memorable. I try to add a funky detail here and there--like the Christmas harmonica music :)
I love creating character quirks. Sometimes they grow organically through the story, but sometimes I do plot out something specific for them too. Quirks do add that feeling of authenticity to the story.
ReplyDeleteLove the unicorn story! She'll need to keep that idea around and write a book about it one day :)
ReplyDeleteI love character quirks. In my current ms, the male mc constantly plays with his grandfather's pocket knife.
What do you mean unicorns aren't real? *look of horror*
ReplyDeleteI LOVE adding quirky traits to my characters! In my current WIP, I've had fun creating a (smallish) secondary character, Lydia. From chapter 7: "Lydia kept digging through her leather bag, setting paint brushes, rolls of film, a memo pad, a bunch of candles, knitting needles, a hammer, a spark plug, and several other assorted odds and ends on the table. She began to hum."
My beta readers love her.
One of my favorite "quirky" characters I've read was in "Garden Spells" by Sarah Addison Allen. The MC's elderly cousin has a habit of walking up to strangers and known persons alike and giving them "presents," like a lighter or a jar of maraschino cherries. And always, the person she gives the present to has a need for it in the near future. I loved it!
Fun post, Lisa! :D
Love this post, Lisa, and I think it's incredibly true. It's something I've been challenging myself on recently w/ my own writing as I do think it makes the characters come more alive.
ReplyDelete-- Susan
I love the quirky in a character. They endear them so quickly to readers who have their own peculiarities and can relate.
ReplyDeleteAs to second breakfasts . . . yes. Absolutely.
Great post, very interesting. I've been trying to 'quirk up' a few secondary characters in an R&R recently, and the MC's ditzy friend has been given a love/annoying obsession with Michael J Fox/Marty McFly, and is always finding 'Marty-alikes' wherever she goes. The other characters hate it, because as they always point out, he's older than their parents.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping agents won't say it's dating the MS, because I'm a teenager now and I love it!
Just today I was making one of my new characters be obsessed with Lego Star Wars, for no other reason than it deepens him and it gives me an excuse to use great Yoda quotes throughout.
ReplyDeleteIn CHIME, Briony's sister Rose makes paper collages.
Sock munching unicorns are very real. They also eat car keys. I love quirks. I have a character who always spins her hands when she get worked up. Gotta go eat my elevensies.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa. You just gave me a wonderful idea!
ReplyDeleteI like the bold, brassy characters who spout off even when they shouldn't.
ReplyDeleteI love me a good quirk ;). One of my favorites (from a movie, not a book) is the little girl in Signs, who always insists that her drinking water is contaminated and leaves mostly-full glasses all around the house. This plays directly into the story resolution, and so makes it even more cool.
ReplyDeleteMy stepdaughter has a thing with unicorns, too, the rainbow-pooping kind (the sillier and more outrageous the better). I could totally see her putting a missing sock in a unicorn pillow-pet mouth just to annoy me (as she knows I've written a SERIOUS book about unicorns).
ReplyDeleteAah, I just love hobbity and Hermione quirks.
Reminds me to go add some quirks to my unicorns.
Of course I believe in sock-eating unicorns! I'm pretty sure they hang out in our laundry room, which explains all the socks that go missing somewhere between the hamper and the dryer. And quirky characters can be such fun. I love Avery, for example. But a little quirky goes a long way.
ReplyDeleteI ABSOLUTELY believe in sock munching unicorns! I completely agree with you - the best characters have quirks. But not too many, or it just gets crazy! :D
ReplyDeleteLOL! Sock munching unicorns. My husband likes to tease our youngest with donkeys. Seriously. She gets all bent out of shape whenever he brings up donkeys. (!) It's HILARIOUS! He'll say, "Laura, I had a dream last night about a donkey." (she screams) He says, "It was wearing a T-shirt w/a picture of you on it!" (she screams louder)
ReplyDeleteI always want to give my characters quirks, and I always forget to do it! I'm doing it now. Thanks LG2! :D <3
I love quirks, and I agree, they help make characters feel real. I don't know why, but I have an easier time giving quirks to my secondary characters than my protagonist. Is that weird?
ReplyDeleteI always forget this kind of thing - great reminder! But you're right, it has to be "just right" for the character. :)
ReplyDelete