1001 Character Quirks for Writing Fiction
Copyright © 2007 J. Timothy King. All rights reserved. Cover: The Las Vegas strip at night Cover design by J. Timothy King. Original photo o!rtesy "#"hoto.org. "!blished by J. Timothy King. http:$$%!ir&s.'timothy&ing.om$ (irst edition: )ovember 2007 "rinted in the *nited +tates o, Ameria.
A note printing eboo&: (eelon ,ree to print o!tpaper this eboo& ,orle,t yo!r !se. (or bestabo!t res!lts print this it do!ble/sided /1$2 3 11 ,lipping to o-n right. personal 4o! an then bind the pages along the le,t/hand side. (or e3ample yo! o!ld p!nh the pages -ith a 5/hole p!nh and then plae them in a 5/ring binder or report over.
Table of Contents Using this Book.......................................................................................................................4 Enhancing Character with Quirks..........................................................................................4 Start by giving him some character........................................................................................5 Use quirks to generate character ideas................................................................................. Use quirks to sho! his character........................................................................................... "ake his quirks re#evant to the story......................................................................................$ %&'#ain his quirks !ith back(story..........................................................................................$ )u&ta'ose him against his o''osite.......................................................................................* +ave him face someone !ho doesn,t get his quirk................................................................* -ut him in a situation !here his quirk doesn,t fit..................................................................10 +ave him res'ond to a dramatic situation............................................................................10 dd quirks /ust for fun..........................................................................................................10 Coming up With Your Own Character Quirks..................................................................... ee' a character /ourna#......................................................................................................11 2bserve rea# #ife...................................................................................................................11 sk !hat !ou#d make things more interesting for your character.......................................13 +ave your character do something you !ou#dn,t e&'ect.....................................................13 Use the o''osite of !hat you !ou#d do...............................................................................13 -u## su'erstitions out the archives... or /ust invent them......................................................13 4et to kno! 'eo'#e !ho are different than you...................................................................1 sk 4oog#e6 7ahoo6 8echnorati6 or another search engine.................................................1 sk yourse#f ho! 'eo'#e got !here they are.......................................................................1 8hro! t!o a!ay....................................................................................................................1 9e !e## rested.......................................................................................................................1: 4et quiet...............................................................................................................................1: !ow to "ultipl# Character Quirks........................................................................................$ %escribing the Character an& Writing the 'tor#.................................................................$ 8he Wido!,s 4randdaughter................................................................................................1$ The Quirks.............................................................................................................................()
Using this Book The -orld6s ,avorite most ,amo!s most memorable haraters have one thing in ommon. They have personality. That is they are !ni%!e !nli&e any other harater. ●
Curious *eorge is a !rio!s little mon&ey and it al-ays gets him into tro!ble.
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'herlock !olmes observes everything dra-s asto!nding onl!sions by oordinating
masses o, ,ats plays violin and !ses dr!gs. ●
T#ler %ur&en is ,earless and a little ray. 8O&ay a lot.9 And his plans no matter ho-
ray al-ays -or&. 8Almost.9 ● ●
"ichael Corleone -ill do literally anything to protet his ,amily6s interests. %arth +a&er has the ,ore in his hand and !ses a mehanial breather.
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!uckleberr# ,inn is an orphan and a loner even tho!gh still '!st a boy.
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!omer 'impson says ;mm... #on!ts... and means it.
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And 'pongebob '-uarepants is... 4eah -ell yo! get the point.
!t most ,!nny haraters are %!ir&y.9 The thing yo! have to remember is that %!ir&s do not ma&e the harater. =!ir&s an only bring o!t -hat harater is already there. That6s -hy yo! sho!ld &no- -ho yo!r harater is be,ore yo! start giving him %!ir&s. This boo& -ill help yo! ome !p -ith %!ir&s to give yo!r haraters. >!t i, the %!estion is -hih %!ir&s to give this is not a list o, 1001 ans-ers. ?ather it is a list o, 1001 ,ollo-/!p %!estions. @t is a tool ,or yo! to ome !p -ith yo!r o-n ideas ,or harater %!ir&s. )at!rally yo! may !se any o, the %!ir&s in this boo& as/is b!t to get the most yo! an o!t o, them !se them to spar& yo!r o-n ideas bea!se only yo! tr!ly &no- yo!r o-n haraters. The beginning o, this boo& is a t!torial. @t starts -ith an overvie- o, ho- to reate a harater and goes into ten -ays to !se %!ir&s to enhane yo!r harater. @6ll !se an e3ample harater to demonstrate the proess. Then @ tal& abo!t 12 tehni%!es yo! an !se to ome !p -ith yo!r o-n %!ir&s. @ also go over -ays yo! an m!ltiply harater %!ir&s to ta&e these 1001 harater %!ir&s and t!rn them into 2000 5000 10000 or even more. And @ -rap !p -ith a / step proess yo! an !se to t!rn yo!r harater into a story even i, yo!6ve never -ritten a story be,ore. @ also inl!de a snippet o, a story starring the harater -e reated in the boo&. (inally omes a list o, 1001 n!mbered %!ir&s. This is the b!l& o, the boo&. +ome o, the %!ir&s are general. Others spei,i. +ome are shallo-. Others stri&e deep. +ome are only %!ir&y ,or ertain haraters. Others are so strange yo! may not even -ant them in yo!r story. And some %!ir&s overlap -ith others bea!se di,,erent overlapping variations spar& di,,erent ideas. +ome are patently o,,ensive bea!se some haraters are patently o,,ensive. =!ir&s are not all abo!t ,!n. +ometimes they are abo!t villainy. @n all the harater %!ir&s @ !se the prono!n he to re,er to the harater. Bo-ever remember that eah o, these an re,er to ,emale and male haraters ali&e. Also note that %!ir&s an be applied to haraters o, any age. Bo-ever some %!ir&s are !te on a small hild b!t reepy on an ad!lt. And others that are appropriate ,or an ad!lt are dist!rbing on a hild.
Enhancing Character with Quirks @ hose this phrasing are,!lly: enhancing harater -ith %!ir&s. +ome -riters thin& that %!ir&s ma&e the harater. @t6s a ommon misoneption bea!se many laypeoplereaders D
1001 Character Quirks
vie-ers ritistal& abo!t a harater6s %!ir&s as i, they -ere the harater bea!se they assoiate a harater6s %!ir&s -ith the harater himsel,. Let me repeat that: Ee assoiate eah harater6s %!ir&s -ith the harater. This is -hat ma&es him more memorable bea!se -e remember things thro!gh assoiation. The h!man brain is not designed '!st to store data li&e a omp!ter. ?ather -e remember things by assoiating them -ith other things. This is the basis o, every memoriation tehni%!e helping yo! ,orm assoiations bet-een things yo! &no- and things yo! need to remember. +o i, yo! -ant yo!r ,itional harater to be memorable yo! need to assoiate the part that ma&es him a harater -ith the part that people remember. @n other -ords yo! need to lin& his %!ir&s -ith his harater. >!t -hat is haraterF Charater is -hat happens !nder the s!r,ae. As Bolly Lisle says harater is -ho yo! are -hen no one is loo&ing and -ho yo! are -hen someone is loo&ing and ho- those t-o people are di,,erent and -hy. Charater is -hat ma&es a person. The 2&ford -ocket ;ictionary of Current %ng#ish 300 de,ines character as the mental and moral %!alities distintive to an individ!al. #on6t e3pet to be able to thro- a b!nh o, %!ir&s together to ,orm a harater. =!ir&s an enhane harater b!t they annot ma&e it. Bo-ever they an ma&e a harater more interesting. >ea!se a harater6s %!ir&s ma&e him more !ni%!e !nli&e any other harater in any other story. There,ore his %!ir&s ma&e him more memorable. >!t !se them '!diio!sly. #eep haraters !s!ally have -ell hosen %!ir&s that s!pport their harater. These apply to a plethora o, sit!ations and ma&e the harater seem onsistent in his %!ir&s. (or e3ample +herlo& Bolmes6s ma'or %!ir&s -ere that he observed everything and proessed large n!mbers o, ,ats %!i&ly to arrive at startling 8b!t orret9 onl!sions. @n the ,ollo-ing dis!ssion @ give diverse e3amples o, !sing vario!s %!ir&s. These are '!st e3amples. ;ost o, them @ pi&ed at random '!st to demonstrate the tehni%!es. @ probably -o!ldn6t give a single harater all o, the %!ir&s @ tal& abo!t. ?ather @6d start -ith several that do the most ,or the story then add more as the story demanded it. And as yo! an see that6s -hat @ do in the e3ample story. Charaters -ith many %!ir&s are ,re%!ently shallo- by nat!re bea!se the %!ir&s ma&e them inonsistent. >!t they also an be very entertaining. 4o! an add these haraters to any sene to spie it !p. @n ,at yo! an !s!ally '!st add an appropriate %!ir& to ma&e that parti!lar sene -or&. 4o! don6t have to thin& very m!h abo!t being onsistent -ith the harater bea!se there6s not m!h harater there. These haraters an be very e,,etive minor haraters b!t they !s!ally an6t ma&e an engaging story. 4i#more The !ltimate s!h harater is Kir& Gleason,it,rom sho. Kir& b!t hadhe a di,,erent areer in every episode -hatever -ith the the television episode. Be lived -ith his4ir#s mother also had h!ndreds o, tho!sands o, dollars saved 8,rom all those areers no do!bt9. Be had a mass o, phobias and psyhoses yet -as al-ays seen engaging in st!nts or being p!t in harge o, something and sre-ing it !p or -hatever. @t -as hilario!s. @t -as said that i, a sene ,elt slo- the -riters -o!ld '!st add Kir& to it and that -o!ld ,i3 it right !p. Kir& -as a very memorable harater b!t he -as never as&ed to be the enter o, any ma'or story line. 'tart b# giing him some character.
As @ said above yo! might -ant an e3tremely %!ir&y shallo- minor harater that yo! an thro- into a sene ,or omedi e,,et. >!t yo!r ma'or haraters m!st have m!h more. They sho!ld ,eel li&e real people -ith needs history dreams ambitions ,riends val!es a areer hobbies and so ,orth. The more yo! -ill demand ,rom a harater and the more greater and longer the story he m!st ,ill the deeper he6ll need to be. Enhancing Character with Quirks
eThe+tory.om$$. The Character C#inic ontains a large list o, %!estions that hallenge me to de,ine my harater6s harateristis. There are many lists o, harater/ Character C#inic is the set b!ilding on ,itional the @nternet b!t the Bere6s single best reso!re @6ve !se ,o!nd ,or%!estions ,leshing o!t haraters. an abbreviated o, %!estions yo! an 8based on the Character C#inic and on other reso!res9: ●
Ehat are his needs and goalsF Bo- does he p!rs!e or avoid themF Ehat obstales does he ,aeF
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Ehat are the best and -orst things that ever happened to himF Bo- do they a,,et himF
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Ehat things has he done that he6s pro!dest o, and most ashamed o,F
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Bo- does he thin& others pereive himF Bo- does he pereive himsel,F Ehat -o!ld he most li&e to hange abo!t himsel,F Ehat are his 'ob and hobbiesF Bo- did he get themF #oes he en'oy themF Ehat does he li&e best abo!t themF Eho does he -or& -ith love and assoiate -ithF Bo- does he ,eel abo!t themF Bodid they meetF Ehat do they do togetherF Eho is the most important person in his li,eF Eho does he loo& !p toF Eho does he hate or avoidF Ehy does he avoid themF Bo- does he ,eel abo!t themF Ehat happened to ma&e him ,eel that -ayF Ehat is his ethni or !lt!ral heritageF Bo- did he a%!ire itF Bo- strongly does he assoiate himsel, -ith itF Ehat are his val!es and religio!s belie,sF Bo- did he a%!ire theseF Bo- ,ar -ill he go to !phold themF Bo- does observe his religionF
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Ehat does he most ,ear and -hat does he most hope ,orF Ehat is his deepest seretF
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Ehere does he liveF EhyF Ehat does he love and hate most abo!t his omm!nityF
)otie -hat6s missing ,rom the above list: his name se3 height eye and hair olor other physial harateristis nervo!s gest!res and so ,orth. >ea!se these things rarely have anything to do -ith harater. ?ather they are %!ir&s and they sho!ld be de,ined later. I
1001 Character Quirks
+ometimes yo! an !se them to s!pport his harater. (or e3ample i, he has a Je-ish heritage yo! might hoose a Je-ish name and physial harateristis ,or him. >!t most o, the time yo! an pi& them o!t o, a hat. 4o! add them ,or e,,et b!t they don6t de,ine his harater. Use -uirks to generate character i&eas.
;any times the harater6s harateristis are sel,/evident. >!t yo! an also !se the list o, %!ir&s to generate ideas ,or these harateristis. (or e3ample let6s reate a harater. Ee6ll all him Je,,rey. Je,,rey is o!tgoing has a strong sense o, val!es and is in a 'ob in -hih he6s al-ays being as&ed to disregard those val!es. ;ore spei,ially he believes in proteting people6s ,eelings b!t he -or&s ,or a ban& and o,ten has to deny loans or to repossess property that has been p!t !p as ollateral. O, o!rse there are many obvio!s %!estions. Ehy -o!ld he ta&e a 'ob that -o!ld learly ma&e him so on,litedF And -hy doesn6t he %!itF Ehat events ,rom his past gave him his val!es and made him ,eel so strongly abo!t themF And so ,orth. Ee need to ans-er all these %!estions in order to ,lesh o!t the harater. >!t ,or no- @6m going to as& a ompletely di,,erent %!estion. Ehat hobbies does Je,,rey haveF That6s a legitimate harater %!estion and it sho!ld be ans-ered even i, the ans-er is that he has no hobbies. 8>!t then -hy does he have no hobbiesF ;aybe bea!se he lives ,or his areerF9 (or ideas try going to the list o, %!ir&s. (or e3ample loo& at %!ir& 25 Kno-s sign lang!age ,l!ently. That o!ld be a hobby. That implies more potential ideas too. ;aybe he6s interested in iss!es s!rro!nding dea,ness perhaps bea!se o, a past e3periene involving a dea, loved one. Or maybe he6s an amate!r ling!ist al-ays learning ne- lang!ages. Or going in another diretion an amate!r arhaeologist al-ays st!dying anient iviliations. Another e3ample: @ ,lip at random to %!ir& 705 Thin&s that the last good novel movie video game et. ame o!t years ago. There are several good ideas there. ;aybe he loves reading novels. Or loves -athing movies. Or loves playing video games. Those are hobbies. And maybe he blogs abo!t his love o, novels or movies or video games. And maybe he hates most o, the novels that are p!blished. ;aybe he loo&s ,or novels that sell poorly reasoning that those are the ones he6ll li&e best bea!se the best sellers are all pop!lar dre&. 8+ee %!ir& I0.9 +o @ g!ess @ strethed the tr!th. @ said that %!ir&s ant ma&e the harater. >!t going do-n yo!r list o, %!ir&s can help yo! generate ideas that -ill ma&e the harater. Use -uirks to show his character.
@n other -ords invo&e the po-er o, sho-H don6t tell. @n ase yo! haven6t heard the phrase yet sho-H don6t tell is one o, the basi r!les o, -riting. @t means that instead o, telling the reader Je,,rey is o!tgoing yo! sho- it by -hat Je,,rey says and does. @n o!r e3ample o!r harater Je,,rey is o!tgoing believes strongly in proteting others6 ,eelings and is a!ght in a 'ob -here he is re%!ired to disregard that belie,. +o onsider ,or instane these %!ir&s: ●
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=!ir& 2 Claims to be o!t ,or himsel, b!t al-ays seems to p!t others ,irst. This pretty m!h desribes Je,,rey6s areer and ho- it on,lits -ith his personality. Ee o!ld inl!de this %!ir& as part o, Je,,rey6s desription b!t it -o!ld be more po-er,!l to tell one or more stories o, ho- Je,,rey said he -as o!t ,or himsel, b!t aomplished a more noble res!lt. =!ir& 5 "rattles on abo!t trivia -hen there are signi,iant matters to dis!ss. +omeone might do thatmatters i, he doesn6t to ,ae the signi,iant matters. @n Je,,rey6s ase these signi,iant o!ld -ant inl!de on,lits abo!t people6s ,eelings. Be
Enhancing Character with Quirks
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probably also avoids tal&ing abo!t the on,lit bet-een his ations and his val!es by digressing into trivia. ●
=!ir& 71 Tries to get along -ith everyone by al-ays giving in to everyone. >ea!se Je,,rey ares deep do-n abo!t others6 ,eelings he tends to give into them. Be probably rationalies doing his 'ob on the same gro!nds giving into his boss to avoid !psetting him.
These are '!st a ,e- e3amples @ p!lled almost at random ,rom the list. There are many more. And -ith the tehni%!es @6ll e3plore belo- to m!ltiply a %!ir& into m!ltiple %!ir&s there are even more alternatives. The basi idea ho-ever goes ba& to h!man memory and ho- it -or&s. To ma&e yo!r harater memorable yo! need to assoiate his %!ir&s those !ni%!e details the layman remembers -ith the harater himsel,. That6s -hat yo! aomplish -hen yo! lin& his %!ir&s and his personality. "ake his -uirks releant to the stor#.
The most important part o, yo!r harater is his story. A harater beomes memorable not only -hen -e assoiate his %!ir&s -ith his harater b!t also -hen -e assoiate them -ith his story. +o !se %!ir&s to generate story ideas by p!tting him in sit!ations -here his %!ir&s -ill prod!e on,lit. (or e3ample: ●
=!ir& 21 >ea!ti,!l 8or handsome9 e3ept ,or a single physial de,ormity. Bomight this ma&e ,eel abo!t o-n sel,/esteemF ;aybe Je,,rey &eeps the 'ob is heone has bea!se hehim doesn6t ,eel hehis deserves anything better. Then his internal battle o, sel,/esteem.
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=!ir& D2 Attrated to a spei,i ,eat!re o, the opposite se3 not !s!ally onsidered se3y Mli&e a -oman6sN th!mbs. Bo- does Je,,rey e3plain to the -oman o, his dreams that he6s ,allen in love -ith her th!mbsF etter yet maybe Je,,rey a!ses an aident that ma&es someone angry or h!rts someone.
The bottom line is that yo! an get mileage o!t o, a harater6s %!ir&s by t!rning them into story on,lits. Or i, yo! need plot ideas yo! an loo& at the %!ir&s list ,or inspiration. J!st loo& ,or %!ir&s that an be t!rned into story on,lits. E/plain his -uirks with back0 stor#.
This is the ,lip/side o, !sing %!ir&s to prod!e story on,lits. This is !sing ba&/story to e3plain a harater6s %!ir&s. #oing so gives the reader a reason to believe in his %!ir&s and there,ore ma&es them seem more real. This an ma&e even ray %!ir&s seem pla!sible. And the reason -hy doesn6t have to be elaborate -itty or srcinal.
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=!ir& 102 Eill only eat ,ood he has himsel, prepared... ;aybe Je,,rey does this bea!se someone he did b!siness -ith one poisoned him in a attempt to m!rder him. =!ir& 205 (alls asleep in stress,!l sit!ations. @t '!st happened one day -hen Je,,rey had to go !p against a parti!larly pitiable or insight,!l person someone -ho says something to him that !t to his heart li&e he6s never been !t be,ore. >!t instead o, dealing -ith it he s!ppressed his ,eelings. The stress bet-een -ho he -as and -hat 1001 Character Quirks
he -as doing -as too m!h ,or him to handle and his brain '!st sh!t do-n. On that day he beame a narolepti and he6s never been able to sha&e it. ●
=!ir& 57I Lives to role/play. ;aybe Je,,rey tries to esape the -ay he ,eels by ta&ing on other personas. Be dresses !p in ,!ll ost!me and hanges his mannerisms to math. This isn6t m!ltiple/personality disorder bea!se he &no-s that these personas are not real. Be6s '!st ating. >!t he ta&es it so serio!sly really gets into the part bea!se it helps him esape reality.
Giving a reason -hy is a po-er,!l -ay to ma&e haraters seem real. @n a story simply tell the ba&/story that e3plains any %!ir&s the harater has. 1u/tapose him against his opposite.
Bighlight a harater6s %!ir&s by '!3taposing him against his opposite. This is parti!larly !se,!l ,or omi haraters !sing the ,!nny man straight man pattern. That is p!t a %!ir&y harater in a h!moro!s sit!ation. Then have him meet a serio!s harater -ho m!st -rap his mind aro!nd -ith the %!ir&y one6s sit!ation. >!t even in non/h!moro!s passages yo! an ontrast t-o haraters in order to highlight the harateristis o, eah. Consider: ●
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;i3ing opposites prod!es ready/made on,lit. This an be the basis ,or drama or omedy. This not only enhanes harater by dra-ing attention to it b!t also enhanes a harater6s story. And bea!se this tehni%!e prod!es on,lit yo! an !se it to generate story ideas. !ae him face someone who &oesn2t get his -uirk.
This is similar to '!3taposing him against his opposite b!t in this ase he ,aes someone -ho mis!nderstands or ma&es light o, his %!ir&. +o: ● ●
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=!ir& 111 Al-ays ta&es ritiism... personally. )o- have him meet a ritial person. =!ir& DI A,raid o, poverty... Bave him try to e3plain -hy he doesn6t ta&e ,inanial ris&s even -ith money he an a,,ord to lose. >!t the harater he e3plains this to thin&s he so!nds paranoid. =!ir& 72 <3ellent eyesightH an read in lo- lightH an see long distanes. +o he
reads something in the dar& and his ompatriot do!bts him thin&s he6s ma&ing it !p. And li&e '!3taposing opposites this tehni%!e an also be !sed ,or story ideas. Enhancing Character with Quirks
3ut him in a situation where his -uirk &oesn2t fit.
"!t yo!r harater in a sit!ation -here he is as&ed or re%!ired to do something he normally -o!ldn6t. This is also similar to '!3taposing him against his opposite b!t in this ase -e6re '!3taposing him against an inompatible sit!ation. @t an also be !sed to dramati or h!moro!s e,,et. (or e3ample: ●
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=!ir& 12 ?e,!ses to begin eating !ntil someone else ta&es a bite ,irst. ;aybe he sits do-n to eat -ith someone -ho has the same %!ir& as he. >!t neither person -ants to admit that he has the %!ir&. +o -ho ta&es the ,irst biteF =!ir& 515 (orbids hildren ,rom playing -ith rope... >!t -hat i, they6re not his &idsF And -hat i, the hild6s parents are right there s!pervisingF =!ir& 1 Al-ays venting abo!t something that6s bothering him. >!t sometimes no one -ants to hear yo! vent. This %!ir& o!ld introd!e press!re into a ,riendship or it o!ld threaten to &eep an important relationship ,rom ,orming.
Li&e mi3ing opposites this prod!es ready/made on,lit. And yo! an also !se this tehni%!e to generate story ideas. !ae him respon& to a &ramatic situation.
This is the onverse o, the above. ?ather than prod!ing drama ,rom a harater6s on,lit -ith his environment let him respond to a dramati on,lit -ith a %!ir&. @, yo! &no- -hat dramati on,lit he ,aes yo! an loo& at the list o, %!ir&s ,or ideas o, ho- he might respond to the sit!ation. Or alternatively yo! an generate story ideas by as&ing -hat on,lit might a!se a harater to a%!ire that %!ir&. Bere are some e3amples: ●
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=!ir& 27 Al-ays tal&s do-n to others. Je,,rey does not tal& do-n to others bea!se he &no-s this -o!ld h!rt their ,eelings. >!t i, someone tries to dig into his inner seret i, someone presses him on it maybe he gets all high and mighty as a de,ensive mehanism. =!ir& 7 +tress al-ays a!ses him health problems. Je,,rey lives -ith stress. @t6s part o, the li,e he6s made. >!t he6s al-ays &ept it s!bmerged !nder the s!r,ae. ;aybe -hen this on,lit omes to a head it starts to a!se him health problems. =!ir& D0 +ho-ers t-ie a day. )o Je,,rey doesn6t !s!ally sho-er t-ie a day. 8Altho!gh in some hot and h!mid areas o, the -orld people do sho-er t-ie a day.9 >!t maybe he does so -hen he ,eels dirty and maybe he ,eels dirty -hen his 'ob starts to get to him. @nstead o, dealing -ith the real iss!e tho!gh he ats o!t by sho-ering in the a,ternoon.
The ommon strain here is to have a harater do something he normally doesn6t to demonstrate that something is di,,erent.
+ometimes its -orth '!st adding %!ir&s -ith no better reason than that its ,!n. Or more a!rately to try them on ,or sie. Eith most haraters yo! -ant to be are,!l ho- many and -hat yo!ideas don6tthat -ant to -o!ldn6t ma&e them inonsistent. >!t going do-n the list o, %!ir&s %!ir&s yo! an add spar&bea!se harater yo! have tho!ght o, other-ise. 10
1001 Character Quirks
And sometimes it6s -orth adding %!ir&s '!st to ,lesh o!t a harater and ma&e him more interesting. The most ommon e3ample o, this is giving a harater a name and physial desription. 4es @ onsider a harater6s name and physial harateristis to be %!ir&s. They6re !s!ally not -hat give him harater b!t they do enhane his harater. +o his name might sho- his harater by demonstrating his ethni heritage. Or there might be an interesting ba&/story behind that sar he has aross his hee&. ;any times -e add physial desription '!st to ma&e the harater more interesting. Ee give him se3 height -eight and hair and eye olor so that -e an vis!alie him. These aren6t harater b!t they do ma&e the harater memorable. This is most important to remember -hen it omes to harater names. +ome -riters -aste ,ar too many brain ells agoniing over -hat to name their haraters. Bere6s the gist o, it: Ee give o!r harater a name so -e &no- -hat to all him. ;ost o, the time that6s it. @t6s li&e the hostage negotiator tal&ing -ith the riminal. Ehat sho!ld @ all yo!F @t doesn6t have to be yo!r real name b!t @ have to be able to all yo! something. >eyond being able to all him something it really doesn6t matter m!h -hat yo! name yo!r harater. >ea!se i, he has harater that6s -hat de,ines him. Or to p!t it another -ay i, the -rong name -ill s!lly yo!r harater he m!st not have had any to start -ith. Ee don6t assoiate the harater -ith the name. ?ather -e assoiate the name -ith the harater. +o '!st head on over to http:$$---.>aby)ames.om$ pi& a name that yo! li&eany name -ill doand get on -ith the 'ob o, giving yo!r harater li,e.
Coming up With Your Own Charact er Quirks This seletion 1001-ant harater %!ir&syo!r ,romo-n my ideas o-n harater 'o!rnal. >!t this isboo& '!st ontains the tip o, athe ieberg.o,4o!6ll to develop ,or yo!r o-n haraters and yo!r o-n stories. There are n!mero!s reativity tehni%!es yo! an !se to b!ild yo!r o-n list o, harater %!ir&s. These same tehni%!es an be adapted to ome !p -ith story ideas and other reative problems yo! may eno!nter. 7eep a character 5ournal.
Keeping an idea 'o!rnal is a &ey tehni%!e ,or apt!ring ideas. As yo! live -ath TV read boo&s... and espeially -hile yo!6re %!ietly thin&ing abo!t yo!r latest story ideas -ill '!st pop into yo!r mind. And i, yo! don6t -rite them do-n yo!6ll lose them.
This is the advie everyone gives -hih ma&es it a lihP. >!t it6s a lihP ,or a reason: bea!se it6s good advie. )!mero!s great %!ir&s ome ,rom real %!ir&s that real people have. @ &no- one -oman -ho seems to babble on inessantly abo!t every inane s!b'et in the !niverse. >!t it '!st seems that -ay to me bea!se @ li&e to e3press mysel, in onise ,at!al statements and o!t o, all those -ords she !ses maybe Q o, them are at!ally !se,!l to me. @ also thin& the most bea!ti,!l part o, a -oman is her eyebro-s. @ &no- someone so %!iet @ thin& he6s ignoring me hal, the time. And @ &no- one s-eet little girl -ith s!h a vivid imagination she names and be,riends inanimate ob'ets li&e the st!,,ed animals in her bed and the raindrops r!nning do-n a -indo-pane. @ at!ally !sed this %!ir& in one my ad!lt haraters. Coming up With Your Own Character Quirks
11
sk what woul& make things more interesting for #our character.
Ehat traits -o!ld ma&e things more di,,i!lt ,or yo!r harater in his %!estF Or -hih ones -o!ld r!b !p against other haraters in the story reating seondary on,lits and a deeper storyF This is all '!st good storytelling o, o!rse. >!t it also demonstrates the iterative nat!re o, the -riting proess. 4o! don6t de,ine yo!r harater and then '!st -rite a story -ith him in it. ?ather as yo! -rite yo!r story yo!6ll disover ne- things abo!t yo!r harater -hih -ill then beome part o, his harater desription. And those ne- harateristis -ill spar& even more story ideas. !ae #our character &o something #ou woul&n2t e/pect.
@, yo!r harater is an o!tgoing person have him engage in times o, %!iet tho!ght. @, he is !s!ally st!bborn and arg!mentative have him a%!iese in ertain sit!ations or -ith a ertain person. @, he is a ,at/and/,ig!res person have him get sentimental abo!t something. These %!ir&s an be espeially good -ays to sho- that a harater is a,,eted by something. They an also generate intrig!e or on,lit. (or e3ample let the harater !s!ally be very open -ith his signi,iant other. Then one day he doesn6t -ant to tal& abo!t -hat he did ,or l!nh. Be hems and ha-s and is obvio!sly lying abo!t his story. Bis +.O. nat!rally s!spets he6s heating on her. 8Eho -o!ldn6tF9 >!t it t!rns o!t to be that he6s at!ally on a diet didn6t eat l!nh at all and is ashamed o, it. That6s a %!ir&. Use the opposite of what #ou woul& &o.
As -riters -e tend to ma&e o!r haraters the same as o!rselves. +o try ma&ing yo!r haraters more %!ir&y by '!st ma&ing them di,,erent ,rom yo!. Thin& o, -hat yo! -o!ld do and have yo!r harater do the opposite. (or e3ample @ love siene/,ition b!t @ hate gimmi&y si/,i bea!se the most important part o, the story to me is the story line. @ don6t are ,or aliens or high/teh devies e3ept as they at!ally a,,et the plot. And @ an6t imagine anyone else ,eeling any di,,erently. +o @ o!ld reate a ,itional harater -ho loves high/teh si/,i gimmi&s as deeply as @ love a rih story line. (or him it doesn6t matter ho- -ea& the plot or haraters are as long as there are plenty o, high/teh gadgets and ke!# haraters -ith p!rple s&in. That6s a %!ir& i, ever @ did see one. 3ull superstitions out the archies... or 5ust inent them.
One o, the gems on my boo&shel, is 8he %ncyc#o'edia of Su'erstitions by Christina Bole srcinally by !t in )orth Eales i, yo! hear the all o, the golden plover that6s an omen o, death.
1001 Character Quirks
*et to know people who are &ifferent than #ou.
The -orld is made o, all types o, people. Ehat yo! onsider strange or o,,ensive someone else may onsider normal. Ee !s!ally don6t thin& abo!t this bea!se eah o, !s tends to believe he6s li&e everyone else. This attit!de seems to be hard/-ired into o!r brains. +o even tho!gh @ onsio!sly &no- that others are di,,erent ,rom me @ still tend to re,let my o-n attit!des and val!es onto them. >!t realiing this and learning abo!t ho- other people6s minds -or& is a -onder,!l so!re o, harater %!ir&s. @ one -or&ed -ith a g!y -ho al-ays seemed to ignore me e3ept -hen he -as ritiiing me in p!bli. @ -as onvined he -as o!t to get me. >!t then @ ,inally ,ig!red o!t -hat -as at!ally going Be ommitments needed to seeas something @ need to !nderstand the theory. Be treatedon. -or& absol!tesHto@ believe treated itH them as estimates that o!ld be revised -hen the sit!ation hanged. Be needed to thin& o!t a problem in all it6s intriate steps be,ore he o!ld tal& abo!t itH @ pre,er to grasp the main points and then %!i&ly ta&e the ne3t ation step. These are all %!ir&s. )ote that they are also potential story on,lits. >ea!se o, o!r di,,erenes @ had tho!ght he -as o!t to get me 8-hih he -asn6t9. And bea!se o, the -ay @ approahed my 'ob @ seemed ,la&y and ,lighty to him 8-hih @ -asn6t9. This e3tends to other !lt!res. There are h!ndreds o, !lt!res in the -orld and eah o, them has its little %!ir&s and traditions. Bere in the *.+. the th!mbs/!p sign means e3ellent or ongrat!lations. >!t many plaes in the -orld it is a dire ins!lt -hih -ill ma&e yo! hated or even p!t yo! in danger o, violene. One story @ -rote had a ,amily o, haraters -ho moved to the *.+. ,rom "a&istan. One thing that -as !ni%!e abo!t them -as their ,amily name. The mother and hildren too& the ,ather6s ,irst name as their last name -hereas the ,ather6s last name -as his ,ather6s ,irst name. >ea!se that6s the @slami naming onvention and this ,itional ,amily maintained it even a,ter moving to the *.+. +o the -i,e and &ids had a di,,erent last name than the man o, the ho!se. Ehile his name -as Bashim Osama his -i,e6s name -as (atima Bashim. sk *oogle8 Yahoo8 Technorati8 or another search engine.
@, the harater -or&s in a loathsome 'ob searh ,or bad 'obs or 'ob horror stories or something li&e that. (or Je,,rey6s harater @ as&ed Google abo!t repossession and it yielded a better areer ,or him that @ -as able to thin& o, on my o-n. This -or&s bea!se people share their tr!e stories via the @nternet and these stories are great inspiration. )o- yo! never -ant to opy someone else6s story -itho!t their permission. >!t yo! do -ant to !se -hat yo! see aro!nd yo! as inspiration ,or yo!r o-n srcinal stories. sk #ourself how people got where the# are.
Ehen yo!6re -athing the ne-s shopping at the s!permar&et or '!st sitting on a par& benh observe other people. As& yo!rsel, -hat events or harateristis might have a!sed them to end !p as they are. One day @ -as listening to the ne-s on the radio. @t told the story o, a -oman -ho drove aross state in order to rob a ban& at g!npoint 8st!pidly and !ns!ess,!lly9. Ehy -o!ld anyone do thatF ;aybe she -anted to be notied. Or maybe she needed to do something meaning,!l even i, also destr!tive. Or maybe she '!st o!ldn6t tell >onnie and Clyde ,rom +t!pid >an& ?obbery 101. @ -rote a short harater sð 8Abigail Ehite9 inspired on this ne-s report. Throw two awa#.
#on6t ta&e the ,irst harater idea that omes to mind or the seond. @, yo! -or& in threes yo!6ll get three ideas ,or the prie o, one. This is parti!larly !se,!l ,or generating great ideas. @, yo! ome !p -ith three good ideas then yo! an pi& the best o, the three and thro- a-ay the other t-o good ideas. *s!ally the ,irst idea @ ome !p -ith is not the one @ end !p !sing. Coming up With Your Own Character Quirks
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And sometimes the right idea omes to me only a,ter @6m hal,/-ay thro!gh -riting the story. Loo& at Je,,rey the ,itional harater -e6ve been !sing as an e3ample. ;y ,irst idea -as to ma&e him a repo man. >!t the only reason he6d be in a 'ob li&e that -as to be s!ess,!l and -hen -as the last time yo! heard o, a s!ess,!l repo manF +o @ made him a ban& e3e!tive instead. Be hired the repo man. That -or&ed ,or a -hile. @ got several man!sript pages into the story and then @ needed to loo& !p a detail abo!t repossession. +o @ as&ed Google read some st!,, and ran aross a piee o, advie -ritten by the o-ner o, a small dealership that sel,/,inanes many o, its sales. That means the o-ner himsel, has to repossess some o, the ars he ,inanes. 8hat,s it @ tho!ght. 8hat,s the 'erfect /ob for my character. @t had an aspet o, s!ess as -ell as a hands/on aspet that -as per,et ,or my story. +o @ hanged Je,,rey6s areer one again. Be well reste&.
#on6t treat yo!r brain li&e a drill press '!st p!nhing o!t holes all day long eah ne- hole e3atly the same as the last. >ea!se it6s not a drill pressH it6s a reative mahine. @t doesn6t '!st h!rn o!t -ords all day longH it h!rns o!t the right !ords. And ,or yo!r reative mahine to -or& -ell it needs to be ,!lly rested. The more yo! p!sh yo!rsel, the more tired yo! get and the -orse yo! -ill per,orm. )o- it is important to -rite. )ever ma&e e3!ses ,or not -riting. @n ,at sometimes yo! '!st have to sit do-n in ,ront o, a blan& page and '!st start typing >lah blah blah blah blah blah. >lah blah blah. >lah blahR !ntil the right -ords ome to yo!. 8@6m serio!s. That6s a -ay to get rid o, -riter6s blo& that really -or&s.9 >!t by the same to&en don6t ass!me that i, yo! -or& an e3tra ho!r yo! an '!st get that last hapter done or h!rn o!t another tho!sand -ords or -hatever. >ea!se yo!r brain '!st doesn6t -or& that -ay. Eor& hard b!t at a s!stainable pae. And this is espeially important i, yo! need ideas. >a& -hen @ -as developing so,t-are ,!ll/time @ beame very e3ited abo!t a ertain pro'et @ -as -or&ing on. @ -as so passionate and energied @ spent 10 days doing nothing else. @ ignored my email. @ too& -or& home -ee&ends. @ ignored my ,amily. A,ter those 10 days @ -as e3ha!sted b!t satis,ied. @ had reahed my goal. ;y so,t-are -or&ed bea!ti,!lly. @t -as a -or& o, art. @ beamed -ith pride. And @ -as ready to ta&e it easy to ome in late leave early goo, o,, a little ta&e a reative brea&. That6s -hen hell boiled over. They needed me !rgently on another pro'et to solve a problem that -as osting the ompany money every day !ntil it -as solved. @ remember one o, the other engineers telling me -hat he needed saying Ehy an6t yo! '!st do thisF @ tried to tell him e3atly -hy it -o!ldn6t -or&. >!t @ -as so mentally e3ha!sted @ o!ldn6t even p!t together a simple
@nspiration is a tiny so,t voie inside yo!r mind. And -hen it spea&s yo! have to strain to hear it. This is not '!st a metaphor. @t6s ho- the brain -or&s. SAhaR6 moments 8that6s a tehnial term9
1D
1001 Character Quirks
o!r -ith an anomalo!s s!rge o, eletriity in the right temporal lobe o, the brain. 1 >!t i, yo! aren6t ready ,or this b!rst o, reative insight yo!6ll miss it. +o get %!iet to sp!r reativity espeially -hen yo!6re ,aing -hat @ all a hard blo& in yo!r -riting. This is more than '!st -riter6s blo& -hih is not being able to start. This is -hen @ need to &no- -hat happened to the son o, the seondary harater bea!se it6s part o, her ba&/story. @ don6t need a ,!ll harater desription. @ '!st need the per,et hoo& the right %!ir& ,or one tiny part o, the story. At some point inspiration -ill pee& in li&e a small timid little boy -ith an idea. >!t i, there6s too m!h distration yo! -on6t notie him. +o t!rn o,, the TV and the radio. Go ,or a %!iet -al& by the river. Or get a-ay ,rom all interr!ptions lose yo!r eyes and let yo!r mind r!n ,ree.
!ow to "ultipl# Character Quirks Ehile yo! onsider ho- eah %!ir& ,its in 8or not9 to yo!r harater here are some variations yo! an also try to spar& even more ideas. (or eah o, these @6ll give an e3ample starting -ith %!ir& DI Al-ays ,eels lonely isolated o!t o, plae et. no matter ho- many people are -ith him. ●
Use the opposite. Al-ays ,eels com'anionshi' no matter ho- fe! people are -ith
him. ●
9egate one wor& or phrase espeially a#!ays or never. >ever ,eels lonely isolated
o!t o, plae et. no matter ho- many people are -ith him. ●
!i&e the trait8 &ispla#ing the opposite. Al-ays #ooks ha''y and engaged6 but actua##y ,eels lonely isolated o!t o, plae et. no matter ho- many people are -ith
him. ●
●
Take it to the 92th &egree. Al-ays ,eels #ike he,s the on#y 'erson on the '#anet6 even though he,s !ith c#ose friends . ssociate a -uirk with onl# one situation s!h as !nder stress. @n an e3treme
sit!ation a harater may ta&e on negative %!ir&s or traits and still garner sympathy. When he,s facing a dead#ine he thinks he can,t meet6 ,eels lonely isolated o!t o, plae et. no matter ho- many people are -ith him. ●
With a list8 choose onl# one or invert the sense o, one or more or s!bstit!te yo!r
o-n item into the list. *s!ally yo!6ll -ant to pi& '!st one item ,rom a list or s!bstit!te yo!r o-n variation. Al-ays ,eels lonely #ike everyone e#se6 no matter ho- many people are -ith him. ●
●
"ake a list by s!bstit!ting one trait or ation ,or another. Al-ays ,eels lonely isolated o!t o, plae et. no matter ho- many of his be#oved 'ets are -ith him. Combine two -uirks or mi3/and/math parts o, di,,erent %!ir&s. Or have t-o %!ir&s al-ays appear together in the same sit!ation. Consistent#y misuses common !ords M%!ir& D7N !hen he ,eels lonely isolated o!t o, plae et.
%escribing the Character an& Writing the 'tor# Let6s bring this all together. @ started -ith a psyhologial pro,ile o, Je,,rey. Then @ tal&ed abo!t a b!nh o, possible traits @ o!ld give him. Bere6s an abbreviated -rap !p o, the ,itional Je,,rey harater. )ote that @6ve made several additions and hanges ,rom -hat @ tal&ed abo!t above. +ome o, these hanges @ made after @ started -or&ing on the story bea!se as @ did more researh and 1. +ee http:$$men.-ebmd.om$ne-s$200D0D15$sientists/e3plain/aha/moments and http:$$---.e!re&alert.org$p!breleases$200I/0D$a,ps/a,t0D00I.php. Describing the Character and Writing the Story
1
as the plot developed @ disovered t-ists that @ tho!ght -o!ld -or& better than -hat @ had srcinally -ritten do-n. Je,,rey is o!tgoing and val!es others6 ,eelings. That is he val!es others6 ,eelings deep do-n as part o, his personality. >!t he denies that part o, his personality bea!se he says ,eelings are st!pid. +o he loo&s do-n on and s!ppresses his o-n ,eelings and val!es bea!se he -ants to believe they are val!eless. +o he pretends to be someone he6s not. And it ma&es him miserable. Be thin&s he needs rihes b!t he at!ally needs to aept himsel, ,or -ho he at!ally is in order to be happy. @ronially altho!gh Je,,rey says that ,eelings are st!pid he al-ays seems to end !p p!tting ,eelings and ta&es val!esritiism ,irst. Bepersonally ares a little too 1119 m!h -hat people thin&lets o, him and he al-ays 8%!ir& evenother tho!gh he never on that it matters to him. And even tho!gh he says it6s a dog/eat/dog -orld that he6s going to be a -inner that being on top and ma&ing a b!& omes ,irst he al-ays ends !p p!tting others ,irst. 8=!ir& 29 Be does things that are as&ed o, him. Be gives into people bea!se he ,eels sorry ,or them... or bea!se they insist. 8=!ir& 719 Je,,rey never believed he -as good eno!gh even tho!gh he -as. 8=!ir& 19 Then years ago he ,ell in love -ith a yo!ng opinionated headstrong -oman. +he had m!h di,,erent val!es than Je,,rey did and she belittled Je,,rey ,or his val!es. >!t he still loved her bea!se he o!ldn6t help it. At!ally he let her get her grind him do-n. 8=!ir& 79 A,ter a year o, this she ,inally d!mped him in a pain,!l piti,!l display. >!t Je,,rey &ne- in his heart or so he said that she -as right to d!mp him bea!se he still had a long -ay to go to be r!el and heartless eno!gh to be a -inner. 8This -as be,ore 8he -o!er of >ice not that it -o!ld have mattered.9
+o Je,,rey6s 'ob -hih he got d!ring that year -ith that -oman is part o, his %!est to ma&e himsel, miserable. Be hates his 'ob -hih meansin his mindit6s good ,or him. 8=!ir& I09 Ber belittling -ords ontin!e to ring in his memory no- several lonely years sine she le,t. @, -e o!ld see into Je,,rey6s psyhe -e -o!ld see that he6s simply a,raid o, getting h!rt again li&e she h!rt him. Be rearranged his very personality ,or her bea!se he believed she -as better than he. And she d!mped him. That h!rt him deeply. >!t i, he -ere a -inner or so he thin&s he -o!ld have '!st ta&en it in stride. This is also -hy Je,,rey does not date -ell. Be dates ,or se3 b!t nothing else. @n ,at he -on6t even ta&e a -oman o!t !nless he ,irst &no-s there are privileges involved. 8=!ir& DD9 @t6s a shallo- e3istene. Additionally heisbelieves else -ants to beD9 on topBe and to ma&e b!& and that everyone else -illing toeveryone sell o!t ,or these. 8=!ir& an6t ,athoma anyone behaving any di,,erently bea!se he believes this is the only -ay to be happy and that there is something -rong -ith him ,or -anting anything else. Ehenever anyone starts to po&e at his psyhe he deploys distrations and de,enses. Be prattles on and on abo!t trivial matters in order to avoid addressing the real iss!e. 8=!ir& 59 Be -ill harp on anything he an thin& o,. >!t he6ll never '!st -al& o!t on the person -ho6s po&ing at his psyhe bea!se that -o!ld be r!de. 8=!ir& I59 )o- he meets a ,rail -ido- ,rom -hom he m!st repossess a ar. 8Be o-ns a small dealership and sel,/,inanes some deals.29 The -ido-6s son bo!ght it ,or her. Then he -as ,ired ,rom his 'ob. There6s something abo!t the the little old -ido- that brings o!t his best %!alities. ;aybe it6s that she re,!ses to be derailed by his prattle even a,ter he stops prattling and starts o!tright belittling her. Or maybe it6s that she at peae being the 2. @ got this idea by as&ing Google abo!t repossession. 1I
1001 Character Quirks
person -ho Je,,rey !sed to also be and he ,elt so nat!ral being that person. Then he meets her grandda!ghter and he -onders -hat6s so great abo!t his li,e. Be develops an aid/re,l!3 problem. At ,irst he thin&s it6s ,rom the @talian ,ood he had last night. >!t his aid re,l!3 doesn6t go a-ay bea!se it6s ,rom the stress o, his eno!nter. 8=!ir& 79 Bis tho!ghts &eeps gna-ing at him !ntil he ,inally goes ba& to visit the -ido-. Baving a harater desription 8,or eah o, yo!r haraters not '!st the main harater9 is only one step in the 'o!rney to -riting a story. +o##y eThe+tory.om$$ ,or more on the Character C#inic.
(or no- here6s a %!i& /step proess yo! an !se to -rite a story even i, yo!6ve never -ritten a story be,ore: 1. 'tart with a conflict. +tart -ith -hatever is pain,!l tense !nom,ortable or mysterio!s. An engaging story starts -ith a ompelling on,lit then lets it get -orse. 2. Tell a fair# tale. Try b!ilding yo!r story on the str!t!re o, a similar ,airy tale or other story. (or e3ample tell Cindere##a as a salesman 8Cinderella9 -ho ,aes his overbearing boss 8-i&ed stepmother9 and ondesending o-or&ers 8evil stepsisters9 and m!st ma&e the sale 8meet the prine9 that -ill s&yro&et his areer. 5. 'tart with a bang. The p!rpose o, the ,irst sentene is to ma&e the reader -ant to read the seond sentene. The p!rpose o, the ,irst paragraph is to ma&e the reader -ant to ontin!e to the ne3t. D. 'how: &on2t tell. A harater desription desribes -hat &ind o, person yo!r harater is. >!t yo!r story m!st demonstrate -hat &ind o, person he is. . 'a# what #ou mean8 an& mean what #ou sa#. *se simple diret lang!age and meaning,!l verbs and no!ns. Let these be the ,o!ndation o, yo!r -riting. *se ad'etives and adverbs sparingly. )ote that Je,,rey6s harater desription is not eno!gh ,or a novel/length story bea!se there are many other aspets to his harater -e need to e3plore. >!t it6s eno!gh ,or a short story. (ollo-ing is a snippet ,rom that short story.
Describing the Character and Writing the Story
17
The Wi&ow2s *ran&&aughter
+he -as '!st another 'ob to Je,,rey Tanner '!st another loan someone de,a!lted on '!st another a!tomobile someone o!ldn6t a,,ord to pay ,or !ntil she limped into his o,,ie. +he -as not someone yo! -o!ld e3pet to ma&e a di,,erene in anyone6s li,e. +he -as neither rih nor po-er,!l. +he -as not vivaio!s not yo!ng not bea!ti,!l. +he -as neither a mover nor a sha&er. +he hobbled along a %!ad ane in one hand dragging her -ithered ,rame behind her arthritis/in,ested 'oints rea&ing -ith eah l!mbering step. +he ree&ed o, old per,!meH a small bla& to%!e sat atop her thinning bla& hair probably dyedH and -hen she opened her mo!th ,rom her shriveled ,ae sreehed a voie li&e that o, the Ei&ed Eith o, the Eest. @6m ;rs. ;ildred Kramer. Je,,rey &ne- the name. Be had handled the ao!nt personally. (or a ,leeting moment he tho!ght o, o,,ering her a seat. >!t then he tho!ght the better o, it. @nstead he said Ehat an @ do ,or yo! ;rs. KramerF @6m here to tal& abo!t my ar. Eell -hat sort o, ar -ere yo! interested inF @nstead o, ans-ering she staggered to his g!est hair and ollapsed into it. ;y son bo!ght it here and yo! handled the loan she said. Eell @ don6t &no- Je,,rey ans-ered. Let me loo& it !p. Be p!nhed some &eys on his omp!ter &eyboard. A-,!l nie -eather -e6re having isn6t itF he as&ed. +he eyed him are,!lly. @ believe -e had -eather li&e this in 12 she said -ith an air o, a!thority mi3ed -ith sarasm a ha!ghty tone that lashed -ith the reedy %!ality o, her voie. Co!ld be. That6s be,ore my time he replied. @t -asn6t b!t he pretended he didn6t get the 'o&e. Be had ,o!nd the right ao!nt on the omp!ter even tho!gh he didn6t need to loo& it !p and no- he -as tapping sporadially on the shi,t &ey and staring at the sreen as tho!gh it -ere doing something !se,!l. @ do remember -eather not too di,,erent ,rom this in 6I tho!gh he said. That -as also the year o, the bliard. (asinating she said. >!t @ -ant to as& yo! Bere6s the thing ;rs. Kramer. That ao!nt is in de,a!lt. *nless yo! remit payment immediately -e6ll need to all the repo man. +he -as !n,aed. That6s -hat @6m here to tal& to yo! abo!t +ir. @ don6t see -hat there is to tal& abo!t ;rs. Kramer. @, yo! an6t ome !p -ith the money -e need the ar ba&. There6s nothing more @ an do. ;y hands are tied. ;rs. Kramer loo&ed on,!sed. @6m sorry. @ tho!ght yo! -ere the o-ner here. 1
1001 Character Quirks
@ am b!t that doesn6t mean there6s anything @ an do. Be rose to see her o!t o, the o,,ie b!t she remained seated. (rom aross his l!ttered oa&en des& she stared !p at him -ith p!ppy/dog/bro-n eyes grasping her ane ,or s!pport. +he said ;aybe @ -as -rong abo!t yo!. Je,,rey -al&ed aro!nd the des& to-ard the door b!t she still didn6t move to stand. +he '!st &ept staring at him as tho!gh he -ere a ir!s attration Je,,rey imagined. See the Skunk("an6 the face of a man6 the heart of a skunk. Or -o!ld that be an ins!lt to the s&!n&F
Je,,rey p!lled over another hair near to -here ;rs. Kramer -as sitting and rested his ,oot on it. Then he leaned ,or-ard s!pporting his body -eight on his &nee to-ering over the old -oman. +he ontin!ed in that same -orn rea&y voie b!t -ith the same air o, on,idene and a!thority. @n my yearsand @6ve had more o, them than yo! might thin&@6ve &no-n many people ;r. Tanner o, all shapes and sies and all types. +ome -ere as hard/nosed as a drill sergeant and st!bborn as a m!le bea!se that6s -hat they believed in. >!t the rest didn6t believe that not deep do-n -here it o!nts. They believed in people. )o- she leaned ,or-ard as m!h as her ailing body -o!ld allo- and got as lose as she o!ld to his ,ae. Ber eyes narro-ed. >!t @ never met anyone -ho got the -ay yo! are !nless something a-,!l drove him to it. ?ead the entire story at http:$$---.JTimothyKing.om$.
Describing the Character and Writing the Story
1
The Quirks 1. Constr!ts an elaborate plan be,ore ta&ing even the simplest ation. 2. (ollo-s thro!gh on plans even poorly oneived ones. 5. Eill say yes to anything anyone as&s. D. Tells the plain tr!th even -hen it a!ses on,lit. . ?ed!es every hoie to a la- or tradition everything by the boo&. I. "!shes himsel, to e3ha!stion -ith ommitments he6s piled on himsel,. 7. Organies everything that happens into a list o, nat!ral la-s. . #enies any ,at that does not ,it into his theory o, ho- things -or&. . @nstantly onots a orret sol!tion to any problem -ithin his e3pertise. 10. ?ealls every ,at -ithin his e3pertise li&e a h!man enylopedia. 11. ?elays the same in,ormation n!mero!s times. 12. Cannot remember names 8or ,aes or sit!ations et.9 or onstantly assoiates the -rong person -ith the -rong name ,ae sit!ation et. 15. Al-ays tells everyone else -hat to do. 1D. Eill do anything i, it bene,its a ,riend. 1. @nstantly &no-s -hat others ,eel. 1I. @nt!itively &no-s abo!t ,ats events sit!ations et. o, -hih others are !na-are. 17. Eill do nothing that an6t be done per,etly. 1. Assoiates every ob'et e3periene et. -ith a herished memory. 1. @ntensely saddened -henever any possession ,riend et. is lost. 20. +h!ts o!t everyone e3ept one or t-o lose ,riends. 21. Ta&es every gi,t ,avor et. ,or granted. 22. <3presses a,,etion and emotion ,reely. 25. Gives redit ,or every e,,ort. 2D. #isorganied 8b!t al-ays &no-s -here everything is9. 2. Lay 8b!t al-ays seems to get things done9. 2I. Conneted -ith in,l!ential people. 27. Appreiates art aesthetis ,eng sh!i ,orm a,ter ,!ntion et. 2. Kno-s his o-n limits s&ills abilities et. 2. Al-ays sees only -hat an go right. 50. Al-ays behaves almly and rationally. 51. T!rns every hat into a long dis!ssion. 52. ;a&es every s!b'et abo!t himsel, 8or abo!t someone else9. 55. ;!st shed!le everything. 8)ever spontaneo!s.9 5D. )ever goes any-here -itho!t a ell phone bla&berry boo& magaine se-ing &it U20 bill et. 5. Al-ays hides ash in his so& shorts bra et. 5I. *tters a ath phrase -henever he eno!nters a ertain song bl!e ar tall -oman et. 20
1001 Character Quirks
57. @s al-ays typing on his laptop te3ting on his bla&berry tal&ing on the phone drin&ing beer or o,,ee smo&ing a igarette h!mming to himsel, -histling smiling et. 5. (rea&s o!t 8or beomes atatoni9 -henever he sees hears ,eels et. a ertain thing. 5. Al-ays seems to do the -rong thing. D0. >eomes e3ited at the prospet o, -athing a movie s&ydiving eating hoolate playing the sto& mar&et et. D1. Ein&s sha&es his head t!gs his ear et. -henever he tal&s reads -al&s et. D2. +ays gooble/,ooble 8or some other ath phrase9 -henever he ,l!bs his lines. D5. Al-ays stops and thin&s be,ore he tal&s or stops in the middle o, tal&ing. DD. Al-ays -hispers 8or sho!ts or m!mbles or st!tters et.9 -hen he tal&s. D. Al-ays he-s his ,ood 17 times 8or he-s -ith his mo!th open or re,!ses to tal& et.9 -hen he eats. DI. +hrie&s -al&s o!t et. -henever something !psets him 8or over'oys him9. D7. Consistently and repeatedly mis!ses a ertain -ord or ob'et. D. *n-ittingly misleads others to believe he6s gay rih o, a ertain ethniity o, a ertain religion et. D. Al-ays -orries ho- lo!d the onversation is ho- a meeting -ill loo& -hether others -ill thin& he6s a raist et. 0. Can al-ays be ,o!nd at a given resta!rant bar stool par& benh et. 1. Assoiates ertain artiles o, lothing 8or some other a,,etation9 -ith the parti!lar mood he6s in. 2. Assoiates a song on the radio -ith a given smell. 5. To avoid ,aing !npleasant reality -or&s or tal&s or r!ns et. D. Tal&s moves -al&s et. %!i&ly 8or slo-ly9. . ?e,ers to %!otes does impressions o, et. pop!lar TV sho-s movies m!si et. I. ;a&es ,!n o, other haraters6 %!ir&s. 7. Gets mean silly %!iet et. -hen he gets sared angry h!rt e3ited et. . Bas ,ear o, ,lying hospitals ats elevators s&ysrapers et. . Al-ays brea&s things trips over things et. I0. Gets depressed moody giddy et. ine3pliably. I1. *ses ma&e/believe lang!ages to e3press 'oy disg!st et. I2. "re,ers Latin Klingon ;orse Code et. to
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70. Al-ays stops mid/sentene to avoid saying something inappropriate. 71. Gossips inessantly. 72. @s a onnoisse!r o, -ines o,,ees potato hips et. 75. Collets stamps -eapons heap novels ondiment pa&ets et. 7D. @s bipolar is paranoid has m!ltiple personalities et. 7. #istr!sts people -ho tal& -ith an aent have bl!e eyes an6t remember his name et. 7I. +ees a do!ble entendre in any sentene. 77. Constantly misprono!nes ommon -ords or !ses alternative pron!niations. 7. ?e,!ses to e3plain -hy he has a ertain tattoo no body hair no pin&y toes et. 7. @s very protetive o, his me timeH snaps at anyone -ho dist!rbs him. 0. *tters a ath phrase -henever he tal&s abo!t a ertain s!b'et. 1. +ings m!mbles et. to himsel, -hile ,ighting bathing et. 2. >elieves he6s olor blind bla& albino diabeti A#B# a -oman et. even i, he6s not. 5. >elieves he6s someone else trapped in the -rong body. D. ?e,!ses to ,ight -ith anyone -earing glasses smaller than himsel, et. . Eears glasses an eye path an ae bandage et. even tho!gh he has no medial reason to. I. ?e,!ses to bathe sho-er lose the door -hile he6s going to the bathroom et. bea!se he believes this leaves him v!lnerable to them. 7. @s a religio!s ealot. . "er,orms ,re%!ently ,or ,riends and ,amily by playing g!itar '!ggling et. b!t he6s no good at it and doesn6t &no- it. . >elieves bla& ats ?ott-eilers o&roahes et. an steal a person6s tho!ghts -hen he6s not loo&ing. 0. @nsists everyone all him by a di,,erent name eah day depending on his mood. 1. Keeps a sample o, soil -ater air et. ,rom eah plae he6s visited. 2. #isagrees -ith anything anybody says. 5. Can6t &eep a seret even his o-n seret even -hen revealing the seret -ill h!rt him personally. D. @nsists he al-ays ret!rn via the opposite ro!te as i, he -ere onneted to home -ith a long string. . Loves to play pratial 'o&es b!t al-ays does them poorly. I. @s onvined he has a s!perhero alter/ego. 7. +t!tters g!shes m!mbles et. -hen he meets ne- people. . Eorships himsel, as a god and insists others do too. . Al-ays o,,ers -hoever he6s tal&ing to a drag ,rom his igarette sip o, his beer et. 100. Claims to s!,,er ,rom temporary insanity blindness dea,ness et. 101. >elieves the -orld is ,lat
1001 Character Quirks
105. Loves to reate art s!lpt!re ard ho!ses et. and then destroys them. 10D. >elieves that God is a sham reated by the lergy to get money. 10. Bis limp hanges ,rom ,oot to ,oot depending on his mood. 10I. Al-ays interprets every statement literally 8or misinterprets9. 107. ;a&es !p ne- names and -ords ,or people and things. 10. (eeling pain ma&es him happy amoro!s et. 10. Al-ays -or&s his strange dreams into onversation no matter ho- dist!rbing. 110. >elieves his destiny is the hero 8or villain9 o, the -orld. 111. Al-ays ta&es ritiism pratial 'o&es et. personally. 112. Al-ays alls people by title 'ob ,!ntion desription et. instead o, by name. 115. #oesn6t !nderstand -hy the hannel n!mbers on one able system are di,,erent than on another or -hy a bottle o, soda osts more than a bottle o, -ater or -hat6s the di,,erene bet-een di,,erent grades o, gasoline et. 11D. Bas no sympathy ,or hildren or people -ho ry. 11. Al-ays bragging abo!t past aomplishments even made/!p ones. 11I. Bates ,ighting &nives g!ns et. even in sel,/de,ense. 117. Al-ays -riting in a noteboo& so he doesn6t ,orget. 11. #o!bts himsel, even -hen he per,orms -ell. 11. Bas no sense o, diretionH gets lost going to the bathroom. 120. Eashes his hands 8or sho-ers9 n!mero!s times every day in order to &eep germs at bay. 121. (eels at ris& !nless he eno!nters something assoiated -ith his l!&y n!mber animal ob'et sign et. 122. ?e,!ses to !se miro-aves ell phones omp!ters et. 125. Constantly training as a ,ighter singer -ordsmith et. even in open ompany. 12D. Al-ays as&s his at teddy bear et. ,or a seond opinion to -hatever anyone says. 12. ?e,!ses to begin eating !ntil someone else ta&es a bite ,irst. 12I. <3tremely protetive o, his ar boat laptop et. 127. Al-ays manip!lates people to get -hat he -ants even i, simply as&ing -o!ld do. 12. Can only !nderstand something i, it6s e3plained to him in great detail. 12. Tries to e3plain everything in great detail even i, !nneessary. 150. elieves that all members o, the opposite se3 are perverts o!t to get him. 155. )ames inanimate ob'ets and tal&s to them. 15D. Al-ays re,ers to himsel, by name and the prono!n he. 15. ?e,!ses to 'ogH pre,ers to s&ip. 15I. >elieves time does not passH only -hat -e pereive hanges. 157. Overprotetive o, ,amily members and ,riends. The Quirks
25
15. ?!de to everyone. 15. Lives in solit!de in a dar&ened room. 1D0. Bas an e3tremely short attention span. 1D1. "ro,esses to share e%!ally b!t al-ays ,inds a -ay to get more than everyone else. 1D2. +pea&s m!ltiple lang!ages ,l!ently inl!ding ?!ssian and Chinese. 1D5. "ro,esses m!ltiple inompatible religions. 1DD. Al-ays ,idgets -ith his hair ring -ath ne&lae earring glasses et. 1D. Al-ays he&ing the time. 1DI. Che-s his nails. 1D7. )ever ta&es God6s name in vain and he-s o!t those -ho do. 1D. (ears he6ll never live !p to his parents6 standards 8or God6s or his mentor6s9. 1D. Loves a speial dish ,rom his !lt!re or some other !lt!ral deliay. 10. Greets ,riends -ith a &iss on the hee& or some other !lt!ral !stom. 11. Abstains ,rom alohol tobao a,,eine romane ,o!l lang!age et. 12. )ever !ts his hair shaves b!ys ne- lothes et. 15. Bas a spo!se and hildren in m!ltiple to-ns. 1D. @ntr!des into every onversation on,lit et. 1. Optimisti pessimisti ynial et. 1I. Addited to alohol niotine a,,eine heroin gambling e>ay et. 17. i&ers onstantly -ith his imaginary 8or real9 ,riend. 1I7. >elieves his pets are reinarnated relatives. 1I. "oints -ith his inde3 ,ingers -henever he tal&s. 1I. Al-ays a,raid o, losing ,ae. 170. )arrates his o-n ations in the third person as he does them. 171. >elieves he an read minds. 172. >elieves reality is a sim!lation in a monster omp!ter 8li&e 8he "atri&9. 175. Lives -ith his mother 8or ,ather9 and -or&s this into every onversation. 17D. Al-ays loo&ing ,or a !re ,or a disease or ondition he has. 17. Al-ays -ears really bad ma&e/!p. 2D
1001 Character Quirks
17I. "arti!larly pro!d o, his ability to sing ded!e dress et. 8regardless o, -hether he6s at!ally any good at it9 and -or&s it into every onversation. 177. @ntimidated by polie elders large men people in e3pensive s!its et. 17. +pends all his money on om,orts and annot live -itho!t them. 17. Al-ays involved -ith a ne- non/pro,it organiation or in a ne- money/ma&ing sheme. 10. Al-ays re,ers to the a!thorities !sing the -ord "unchkins. 11. Al-ays ma&es it so!nd li&e another harater is responsible ,or his problems mista&es dementia et. 12. +leeps aro!nd. 15. A,raid o, ommitment in a relationship. 1D. Keeps a garden. 1. Al-ays tal&ing abo!t home -here he ame ,rom. 1I. )ever arries anything larger than a U20 bill. 17. G!,,a-s li&e a madman: ;-hahahahaR 1. +ho!ts @6m hereR 8or something else9 -hen startled. 1. Tries to be e3pert at everything. 10. Al-ays ,iddling -ith a oin marble &ey et. he p!lls ,rom his po&et. 11. ?e,!ses to go to any-here he an6t bring his at dog et. 12. >i&ers -ith himsel, 8in t-o di,,erent voies9. 15. Vegetarian or Vegan. 1D. +pea&s every errant tho!ght. 1. Al-ays tries to repliate the voie and mannerisms o, -hoever he6s spea&ing to. 1I. Al-ays -orried that he6ll not ma&e his ne3t appointment on time. 17. *n!s!ally short or tall s&inny or ,at et. 1. Loo&s and ats li&e the 06s never -ent o!t o, style. 8Or 706s et.9 1. <3tremely bea!ti,!l 8or handsome9 b!t has no idea. 200. @nstantly ,alls in love -ith every -oman 8or man9 he meets. 201. (reely brea&s the la- and ,eels '!sti,ied in doing so. 202. Bates another person 8or is insane et.9 and ,reely admits it. 205. (alls asleep in stress,!l sit!ations. 20D. Claps -ith his ,eet 8-hen his hands are ,!ll9. 20. @gnores -hat anyone else tells himH hears -hatever he -ants to hear. 20I. +leeps on a polyphasi shed!le. 207. Loo&s 10 years yo!nger 8or older9 than he at!ally is. 20. ?!ns into an angry girl,riend 8or boy,riend9 every-here he goes. 20. *pset -hen ,aed -ith a messy room. 210. #resses li&e the opposite se3. 211. >ig and tall -ith a tiny voie 8or the reverse9. 212. Al-ays smells ne- boo&s mail people et. The Quirks
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215. A,raid o, both bright and dar& both lose and open spaes et. 21D. Al-ays -ants to play ;onopoly Candy Land po&er et. 21. ?elates everything to an e3periene ,rom his hildhood a past 'ob he has held et. 21I. Very good at a s&ill or talent b!t too embarrassed to !se it. 217. Tall b!t envies those -ho are short. 8Or the reverse.9 21. Al-ays himes in -ith !seless 8!s!ally inorret9 trivia. 21. A,raid o, mirrors ameras et. 220. >elieves -omen sho!ld never -ear pants only dresses and s&irts. 221. Al-ays trying to sell something -ith a high/press!re sales pith. 222. Bigh on harisma lo- on ontent. 8Or the reverse.9 225. )ever la!ghsH treats every 'o&e as tho!gh it -ere serio!s. 22D. A minor elebrity b!t e3pets everyone every-here to &no- him. 22. Al-ays blames himsel, ,or everything. 22I. @n onversation !ses aronyms li&e LOL ?O(L et. 227. >elieves it6s -rong to hit a -oman or anyone smaller than himsel,. 22. Eears inappropriate lothing bea!se he thin&s it ma&es him loo& yo!ng 8-hereas it only ma&es him loo& li&e he6s trying to loo& yo!ng9. 22. Al-ays re,ers to himsel, 8or to others9 as The Amaing . 250. "re,ers hamb!rgers a&e oo&ies pie et. to romane. 8Or the reverse.9 251. Kno-s more abo!t the haraters o, his ,avorite TV sho- than abo!t the people he assoiates -ith every day. 252. Al-ays la!ghs at the -rong thingsH o,,beat sense o, h!mor. 255. Al-ays early ,or appointments bea!se he6s a,raid o, being late. 25D. )ever !ses a p!bli restroom. 25. @nterprets dreams. 25I. Al-ays orrets everyone else6s grammar. 257. ?e,!ses to allo- shoes to be -orn in his ho!se or apartment. 25. ?e,!ses to eat any ,ood that has to!hed another ,ood item. 25. Al-ays -ears the latest ,ashions. 2D0. Al-ays sings himsel, a l!llaby be,ore he goes to sleep. 2D1. Al-ays ,eels li&e he6s being bitten by mos%!itoes. 2D2. Al-ays relies on another harater to r!n his li,e. 2D5. Li&es to smell his o-n armpits 8or someone else6s9. 2DD. >elieves Eorld Ear @@ 8et.9 is still going on. 2D. @nvoies his lovers. 2DI. Bypohondria. 8"erhaps -ith none3istent diseases.9 2D7. >elieves all si&nesses in'!ries et. are in the mind. 2D. ;!st ontrol everyone and everything. 2D. Eor&s nights as a stripper esort et. 2I
1001 Character Quirks
20. Al-ays trying to give people his ard -hih he arries -ith him. 21. >ea!ti,!l 8or handsome9 e3ept ,or a single physial de,ormity. 22. Al-ays as&s inappropriate %!estions b!t o!t o, innoent !riosity. 25. Kno-s sign lang!age ,l!ently 8regardless o, -hether he6s dea,9. 2D. Carries batteries 8and toys9 -ith him every-here. 2. Al-ays tries to help o!t a -oman in need 8-itho!t thin&ing ,irst9. 2I. Al-ays teases others abo!t their inse!rities 8and al-ays &no-s -hat they are too9. 27. Al-ays ,orgets -hat he -as going to do or say ne3t. 2. Keeps an intriate diary desribing everything that happens to him. 2. Cannot ,ollo- instr!tions. 2I0. Bas hroni ,lat!lene. 2I1. Bas an !n!s!al n!mber o, toes and -ill not go bare,oot. 2I2. Ehistles -henever he tries to so!nd the letter s. 2I5. Cannot see o!t o, one eye or hear o!t o, one ear move one hand et. 2ID. Al-ays ma&es important deisions by ,lipping a oin. 2I. "onders -hether the light goes o,, in the re,rigerator -hen the door loses -hether the toothpaste sho!ld be p!shed ,rom the middle or the end o, the t!be -hether the toilet paper sho!ld roll over or !nder et. 2II. Carries oo&ies in his p!rse. 2I7. Co-ardly o!rageo!s -easelly pai,ist -armonger et. 2I. Can6t read or -rite. 2I. e,ore eating al-ays pa!ses to than& his ,ood ,or giving its li,e ,or his s!stenane. 8Or prays a prayer o, than&sgiving.9 271. ;a&es 9atman noises 8e.g. 9am -o! et.9 at an antagonist to e3press anger dissatis,ation et. 272. *ses a prostheti limb eye hand et. 275. Leahes o,, o, anybody he an. 27D. +pea&s t-o di,,erent lang!ages and aidentally transitions ,rom one into the other. 27. Loves to dane even -hen not on a dane ,loor. 27I. Al-ays mi3ing metaphors. 277. =!itting smo&ing 8or a,,eine et.9 -ith e3peted side/e,,ets. 27. )ever admits he6s -rong even i, someone proves it to him. 27. Al-ays tal&s do-n to others. 20. #rags his ,eet -hile -al&ing. 21. Al-ays sits on his hands. 22. Al-ays smells li&e igarettes gin mothballs bad breath et. 25. +nores lo!dly. 2D. Bas 2 di,,erently olored eyes. The Quirks
27
2.
1001 Character Quirks
51. Al-ays says it6s too hot 8or old9. 520. Al-ays orreting others6 ,ashion hoies. 521. Al-ays ma&es himsel, at home in another6s ho!se store o,,ie et. 522. Al-ays ta&es a day to m!ll over any deision no matter ho- small. 525. )ever replies to a greeting or %!estion !nless it relates to -hat he6s !rrently thin&ing abo!t. 52D. Al-ays smiles broadly even -hile ma&ing negative or nasty omments. 52. Bas a disability that ma&es it di,,i!lt ,or him to omm!niate b!t is &no-ledgeable and intelligent. 52I. Kno-s only eno!gh o, a ,oreign lang!age to ,a&e it and not very -ell. 527. Al-ays blends into the ba&gro!ndH no one ever noties him. 52. Al-ays prono!nes the g and k in -ords li&e gnome and knob. 52. ?elates everything to a ,able or allegory. 550. Al-ays says @ told yo! so. >!t does anyone ever listen to meF 551. Al-ays -ants to dis!ss his reg!larity 8or la& thereo,9. 552. +!,,ers ,rom depression every -inter b!t re,!ses to be treated ,or it. 555. Keeps tra& o, everyone6s birthdays anniversaries signs et. 55D. Al-ays replies to any email -ithin 2D ho!rs. 55. >elieves rights are ,or pansies 8or that rights are inalienable9. 55I. Al-ays gives alohol to hildren. 557. A,,i3es a sti&er to everything he o-ns: "roperty o, . 55. )ever ta&es ation !ntil he6s e3plained -hy. 55. Al-ays omplains abo!t the prie o, everything. 5D0. ?e,!ses to pay more than he has to even at great e3pense o, his time. 5D1. Al-ays telling o,,ensive ethni or religio!s 'o&es even in the presene o, people o, those ethniities or religions. 5D2. Can read 8and -rite9 !pside/do-n. 8And in a mirror. Or not.9 5D5. )ever !ts his ,ingernails or toenails. 8;aybe bites them instead.9 5DD. Al-ays obsesses abo!t his tas& even i, it has been rendered pointless. 5D. (ears his o-n shado-H &eeps an eye on it. 5DI. Al-ays behaves -ith -hatever personality -ill get him -hat he -ants. 5D7. )!dist. 5D. "yromania. 5D. Erites ,itional stories involving his real ,riends and ,amily. 50. Ehen he sees something he -ants al-ays as&s Can @ have thatF 51. Al-ays ma&es !p a!thenti/so!nding ,ats and tehnial terms. 52. Com,orts himsel, -ith visions o, evil/doers riminals politiians et. b!rning in hell ,or eternity. 55. Al-ays ends !p so!nding more threatening than he means to. The Quirks
2
5D. Al-ays ,inds an e3!se to &iss every !te -oman 8or man9. 5. Loves playing ath -ith &ittens. 5I. )ever realies ho- ridi!lo!s he so!nds !ntil someone repeats -hat he says ba& to him. 57. )ever says -hat he -antsH al-ays as&s i, anyone else -ants it. 5. Only b!ys something i, he &no-s it -as man!,at!red -ith ,air/labor environmentally ,riendly et. praties. 5. Bates parties hobnobbing meeting ne- people et. 5I0. Al-ays !ses ,o!l lang!age even in the presene o, hildren. 5I1. Al-ays !ses a hand&erhie, to to!h a p!bli telephone hair et. 5I2. *ses the ,eeling in parts o, his body to divine the -eather. 5I5. <3presses disagreement by appending the epithet my ,ootR to any statement. 8Or my b!ttR Or my pantsR eomes immediately over/attahed to ne- ,riends. 57. Loves to ma&e ,!n o, other people6s mis,ort!ne. 57I. Lives to role/play. 577. Bas a tattoo o, a religio!s symbol e3/lover6s name seret symbol et. 57. Bas had n!mero!s e3/spo!ses -hih he dis!sses at every opport!nity. 57. Gets a r!sh ,rom b!llying other people. 50. +heltered innoent naive ine3periened g!llible et. 51. (re%!ently is ,o!nd staring into spae daydreaming or deep in tho!ght. 52. Can solve a ?!bi&6s !be in !nder 50 seonds 55. Bas invented n!mero!s inventions. 8)one o, -hih at!ally -or&.9 5D. Constr!ts elaborate toy train set!ps domino displays et. 5. ?eads every ne-spaper and -ebsiteH -athes every ne-s program. 5I. Cannot lie s!ess,!lly. 57. (re%!ently dra-s inorret onl!sions regarding others6 se3!ality. 5. Ehenever in a ,ight -or&s himsel, into an adrenaline/po-ered ,reny. 5. >elieves in e%!ality 8or ine%!ality9 o, se3es raes ages et. 50
1001 Character Quirks
50. @nsists others re,er to him !sing the prono!n it. 51. Al-ays re,ers to himsel, in the seond person 8yo!9. 52. #oes not believe in onspiraies b!t al-ays ,inds a -ay to e3plain to his o-n satis,ation that they e3ist. 55. La!ghs at his o-n 'o&es b!t at no one else6s. 5D. Al-ays names people he meets -ith a ni&name even i, they don6t -ant one. 5. Keeps repeating the name o, -homever he6s tal&ing to in onversation. 5I. *shers -homever he6s tal&ing to aro!nd by the hand arm et. 57. Al-ays gets o,, on a tangent tirade et. 5. Al-ays !ses long -ords long sentenes obs!re ,orms o, -ords et. 5. (re%!ently attends rave parties b!t still manages a real li,e. D00. Al-ays ,l!shes the toilet at least t-ie. D01. A,raid to to!h others 8or be to!hed by others9 even to sha&e hands. D02. Bas a ,it -henever he hears Karen Carpenter 8or Air +!pply et.9 D05. >elieves in pyramid po-er mind ontrol ,ort!ne tellers et. D0D. +naps ,ingers in others6 ,aes to p!nt!ate his statements. D0. !,,alo/sa!e/and/>l!e/heese b!rgers m!stard sand-ihes et. D0I. (re%!ently ,antasies -hat he -o!ld li&e believes to be et. D07. Al-ays ma&es a poor b!t lasting ,irst impression. D0. Ehen as&ed -hih star ,rom his ,avorite TV sho- or movie he6d li&e to meet he ans-ers -ith the name o, the prod!er diretor reator -riter et. D0. Eants to get ba& at God ,or -hat6s happened in his li,e. D10. Gro-ls hisses spits et. at antagonists. D11. +ees angels !niorns ghosts et. D12. (re%!ently says the -rong -ord ma&es (re!dian slips et. D15. Bas a ,avorite day o, the -ee&. 8Or an6t tell one day ,rom the ne3t.9 D1D. Bopelessly in love -ith one -oman 8or man9 or one type o, -oman. D1. Al-ays o,,ends ma&es mista&es et. and e3pets to be ,orgiven. D1I. O,,ended -hen anyone points o!t -hat he does -hat he val!es -hat &ind o, person he is ho- he6s hanged et. D17. +miles -henever he gets o,,ended. D1. @, his spo!se -ere to say @ &issed someone else his ,irst reation -o!ld be to as& Ehat are yo! going to doF D1. B!rt -henever anyone doesn6t li&e him. D20. Bates to s-eat and is t!rned o,, by people -ho s-eat pro,!sely. D21. Al-ays plays to -in even against ,riends. D22.
51
D2. Keeps a diary in the ,orm o, letters -ritten to a ,itional person. D2I. B!ms the theme song to "ission ?m'ossib#e 9atman 8he 8!i#ight @one et. at appropriate moments. D27. Al-ays tal&s in a dry monotone voie or over/e3!berantly. D2. Attrated to a spei,i ,eat!re o, the opposite se3 not !s!ally onsidered se3y: eyebro-s &nees toes th!mbs et. D2. Very !nom,ortable -henever someone stands -ithin 5 ,eet o, him. D50. ottles o, >eer et. DD7. Loves his son 8or da!ghter9 more than anything and anyone else. DD. Al-ays -ears bell/bottom pants baggy s-eatshirts sandals et. DD. *ses names o, ,ood 8or ,lo-ers or toys et.9 as a,,etionate ni&names: pean!t lett!e lea, spaghetti sa!e "op Tart et. D0. Al-ays o-ns !p to his o-n hoies no matter the onse%!enes. D1. Eill not interr!pt someone else even in an emergeny. D2. "lays the game b!t al-ays '!st to play not to -in. D5. Loves to -ath the game b!t never plays. DD. Al-ays &no-s ho- to sh!,,le money aro!nd to ma&e ends meet. D. Al-ays ,olds the orners o, boo&s 8or !ses a boo&mar&9. DI. Al-ays orders a o,,ee -ith ream and no s!gar 8or -hatever9. D7. Allergi to heesea&e mil& eggs ,ish -heat et. 52
1001 Character Quirks
D. +ays the rain sno- ,og s!n et. reminds him o, home 8or amp or Christmas9 even i, his home is not &no-n ,or that &ind o, -eather. D. )ames and beomes attahed to st!,,ed animals aterpillars ro&s raindrops on the -indo- et. DI0. Ehen -rapped !p in his o-n tho!ghts sees and hears nothing else. DI1. Ta&es every %!estion as a ritiism 8or omplement9. DI2. )ever lets his personal problems bleed into his pro,essional li,e. DI5. Al-ays thin&ing abo!t his o-n mortality. DID. )ever satis,ied or happy no matter ho- -ell things are going. DI. Al-ays ,eels lonely isolated o!t o, plae et. no matter ho- many people are -ith him. DII. >reathes heavily as tho!gh he needs o3ygen. DI7. Al-ays thirsty tired h!ngry horny et.. DI. A,raid o, poverty atta& dar&ness being stranded et. DI. Al-ays has to be himsel, no matter -hat the ost. D70. Al-ays single/mindedly p!rs!es -hat he -ants no matter the ris&. D71. *ses one e3periene to e3plain his !rrent behavior prediament et. D72. +pends all his time -or&ing playing -athing TV hasing -omen et. D75. Al-ays -or&s very hard b!t has no onrete goals. D7D. Al-ays starting a ne- pro'et b!t never ,inishes anything he starts. D7. Chasing a dream b!t he an6t tell yo! -hat that dream is. D7I. Loves hates or is indi,,erent to everyone. 8;aybe inl!ding himsel,.9 D77. (ights -ith 8or ,reees o!t9 everyone. D7. The variety o, others6 personalities e3ites him ,r!strates him bores him angers him goes over his head et. D7. Al-ays hasing 8or ,leeing9 his ethni heritage religio!s !pbring et. D0. Bas a ro&/solid 8or none3istent9 sense o, right and -rong. D1. +ees visions -hih al-ays tell him something tr!e. D2. Gets bored ,r!strated et. -henever someone as&s him something he6s ever previo!sly ans-ered ,or them. D5. #oes nothing '!st ,or the 'oy o, itH everything m!st have a p!rpose. DD. Al-ays -aits ,or ,ateH never as&s ,or anything. D. )ever tells anyone plainly -hat he -ants. DI. )ever tal&s abo!t his past 8or ,!t!re9. D7. Thin&s se3 &issing et. is gross. D. Al-ays -ears e3tremely se3y 8or onservative9 lothes. D. )ever thin&s abo!t right and -rong only -hat he an get a-ay -ith. D0. >eomes 'ealo!s -henever he sees a man and -oman la!ghing or smiling together even i, they aren6t dating. D1. @nsists on remaining the same even -hile everyone else is hanging. D2. #reams abo!t stal&ing all his ,avorite TV or movie atresses 8or ators9. The Quirks
55
D5. ?e,!ses to see the h!mor in anythingH believes li,e is not ,!nny. DD. @nsists on getting the se3 %!estion ans-ered be,ore the ,irst date. D. +ees a h!g as the best 8or only9 -ay to e3press a,,etion o, any &ind. DI. @s e3ited 8or intimidated9 by tall 8or short9 -omen 8or men9. D7. Loves to be alone ,or ho!rs by himsel, thin&ing reading -or&ing et. D. Ehen something goes -rong al-ays -ants to &no- -ho he an s!e. D. Ehen he6s p!shed !p against the -all he lashes o!t and never loses. 00. Loves to see ,riends ,ighting -ith eah other. 01. >elieves nothing is -orth doing !nless there6s an element o, ,!n in it. 02. ehaves nervo!sly !nertainly s!bserviently et. b!t is very ompetent and an t!rn any sit!ation to his advantage. 12. <3ited intrig!ed t!rned on et. by violene. 15. >abbles rather than ,ae !npleasant ne-s et. 1D. (eels no sadness anger nervo!sness et. b!t an ,a&e it pretty -ell. 1. ;a&es a h!ge deal o!t o, any gi,t no matter ho- small. 1I. Al-ays borro-ing things ,rom his ,riends and not ret!rning them. 17. Eor&s at home -earing shorts and a T/shirt. 1. )ever goes o!tside. 8Or not d!ring the daytime.9 1. Al-ays -ears his long hair !nder a ap to protet it ,rom the elements. 20. Al-ays &no&s st!,, on the ,loor 8aidentally9 and doesn6t pi& it !p. 21. Al-ays -a&es !p at 2 A; sharp to go to the bathroom. 22. Can -rite -ith his ,eet. 8Or play piano.
1001 Character Quirks
2. Al-ays -ears ertain shoes -ith a ertain dress et. 8elieves s!bstane doesn6t matter only ho- yo! sell it. 1. Can memorie almost anything in reord time. 2. Very observantH al-ays noties the tiniest hanges ,eat!res et. 5. Al-ays -aits !ntil the last moment to get something done. D. Al-ays involved in a problem he6s trying to solve. . Ehenever he reads a ne-s artile al-ays as&s the %!estions that -eren6t ans-ered by it. I. Goes to -or& every day at the same time -or&s %!ietly in his o,,ie systematially ,inishes all his -or& !ntil %!itting time -hen he goes home. 7. Al-ays ma&es hoies based on -hether it ,eels right. . All his ideas -o!ld t!rn to gold i, he implemented them. . Co!ld never aept that his lose ,riend has a ,atal ,la- even i, tr!e. I0. Thin&s that i, everyone does something it m!st be -rong. I1. Lies abo!t his o-n belie,s in order to ,it in. I2. #istr!sts anyone -ho seems to &no- things 8i.e. int!its them9 -itho!t having e3periened or heard abo!t them. I5. Bas -ritten his o-n version o, 8he >it'icker,s 4uide to 9aby#on 5 . The Quirks
5
ID. Can6t s-allo- pills. I. Can ma&e !p any story as he goes along and ma&e it seem planned. II. #esribes e3perienes ,rom long ago in pristine detail. I7. +eems to have a di,,erent areer every -ee&. I. Al-ays manip!lates people to -rong b!t believes he is doing right. I. )ever ompromises his ideals ethis morals et. 70. Can ma&e people do e3atly -hat he -ants. 71. Kno-s and ,ollo-s standard proed!re b!t an6t play politis. 72. )ever tells people -hat he -ants 8even tho!gh he6s their manager9. 75. )ever e3presses his ,eelings abo!t someone else !ntil they e3plode. 7D. )ever leaves a messy ho!seH m!st lean be,ore he does anything else. 7. +tress al-ays a!ses him health problems. 7I. Al-ays gets !pset -hen he loses b!t hates it -hen others let him -in. 77. Eill give yo! the shirt o,, his ba& -itho!t thin&ing t-ie. 7. Al-ays sho-s pro,o!nd respet ,or any n!rse 8or resta!rate!r et.9 7. Constantly reminises abo!t all the things he !sed to do ba& -hen he hated his li,e. 0. >eomes depressed !nless given a steady stream o, positive ,eedba&. 1. Al-ays right b!t al-ays believes he6s not good eno!gh. 2. Avoids all details e3ept those he pl!nges himsel, into thoro!ghly. 5. Thin&s statistis are ,or people -ho don6t are. D. >elieves all ma'or ne-s so!res are s&e-ed and !nethial. . O,,ensive 'o&es abo!t him personally al-ays roll right o,, his ba&. I. Commonly ma&es threats against others -hen he gets angry at them. 7. Al-ays ,eels belittled by people -ho do things better than he does even i, they6re polite and even i, they6re in a di,,erent area o, e3pertise than he. . Ta&es pleas!re in -earing do-n his !nderlings even to s!iide. . "lays by his o-n r!les and intimidates others into playing by them too. 0. Loves to &nit drive a tr!& or do other highly repetitive ativities. 1. Al-ays aepts ritiism even ,rom amate!rs as long as it6s !se,!l. 2. Bates he&lists and an6t ,ollo- them even sa,ety he&lists. 5. Eill apply ,or any 'ob !nder the s!n. D. >elieves the -or& and e,,ort he6s p!t in b!ys him privilege and respet. . +pea&s t-ie as ,ast as normal in order to over !p his stammer. I. Al-ays gets angry at the omp!ter and at!ally p!nhes the sreen. 7. Bis girl,riends 8or boy,riends9 al-ays brea& !p -ith him and he al-ays ,aes it -ith alm resolve. . Al-ays ,aes an emergeny by ta&ing ommand o, the sit!ation. . do-n.Eears nie lothes to ,eel good abo!t himsel, even -hen everyone else is dressing 5I
1001 Character Quirks
I00. Al-ays treats others p!rely based on -hat they do not on any horrors their ,riends and relatives may have ommitted or on any inn!endo. I01. Eon6t drin& o,,ee bea!se he an6t -or& a o,,ee ma&er. I02. Al-ays eats an apple a day no matter -hat. I05. Bas dra-n !p a list o, transgressions and a revenge appropriate ,or eah. I0D. Loves to -ath 8he (8eam b!t al-ays sides -ith the villain. I0. Can b!ild almost anything o!t o, -ood even -itho!t a bl!eprint. I0I. Bas a,,etion ,or anyone -ho is di,,erent than himsel,. I07. Al-ays listening to 'a eletronia ?> et. I0. )ever has eno!gh time ,or all he needs to do b!t al-ays seems to ath the latest episode o, his ,avorite TV sho-. I0. Al-ays seems to give !p even tho!gh he6s more than hal,/-ay to s!eeding. I10. +-ears by his Apple ;aintosh. I11. *nderstands mathematial priniples %!i&ly and applies them. I12. Lapses into his mother tong!e -henever he is happy angry sad et. I15. Al-ays !ses 25 seonds to mean a short time. I1D. Al-ays !ses -itty synonyms ,or everyday -ords e.g. in the A; instead o, in the morning. I1. Overly onerned -ith his grooming ,aial hair ma&e!p et. I1I. Barps on abo!t -hat an6t be ,i3ed b!t re,!ses to entertain -hat an. I17. Al-ays omplains abo!t something at a resta!rant hotel et. and then al-ays says he doesn6t -ant to be a pain b!t... I1. T!rned on by any -oman6s name 8or man6s9 -ith a ertain so!nd in it. I1. Al-ays needs to be told e&act#y -hat to do or else he an6t ,ig!re it o!t. I20. "lays ;onopoly et. by himsel, i, no one -ants to play -ith him. I21. Tal&s abo!t his hemorrhoids yeast in,etion et. ,reely to his ,riends. I22. )ever thin&s o, repaying others ,or their generosity. I25. >elieves T!pper-are parties AA meetings et. are at!ally planning meetings ,or a seret !ndergro!nd onspiray. I2D. >elieves 8he ndromeda Strain is based on a tr!e story bea!se it says so in the intro. 8Or that War of the Wor#ds really happened.9 I2. Ashamed o, a sar 8or other blemish9 on his ,ae. I2I. Bas never gone on vaation in his -hole li,e and is pro!d o, it. I27. Treats his at dog et. as a hild honored g!est et. I2. Al-ays harters private ,lights bea!se he6s terri,ied o, the T+A. I2. Very s!perstitio!s. I50. Admires Tyler #!rden. 8Or some other ,itional antihero.9 I51. Al-ays &no&ing things leaving things on the ,loor. I52. Goes by thro!gh lengths to prove that all his e3/employers6 problems a,ter he le,t -ere all a!sed his notgreat being there anymore. The Quirks
57
I55. >elieves nothing !ntil it6s been tested on "ythbusters. I5D. Al-ays ,eels so m!h better -hen his spo!se babies him. I5. Terri,ied o, dotors dentists et. I5I. ?e,ers to any ,ood he doesn6t li&e by alling it the name o, something similar b!t patently disg!sting e.g. alling rie a&es !rinal a&es. I57. ?e,!ses to order the alone bea!se he doesn6t &no- -hether to prono!ne the ,inal e. I5. Al-ays p!nishes 8or re-ards9 the messenger. I5. Eill say -hat he thin&s yo! -ant to hear even i, he &no-s it6s -rong. ID0. @n any heated arg!ment -ith his spo!se re,!ses to hit belo- the belt. ID1. Cannot pretend inanimate ob'ets have li,eH an6t play -ith dolls. ID2. )ever e3plains himsel,H simply ans-ers %!estions and instr!ts. ID5. <3tremely pi&y eater. 8elieves anything that ma&es sense 8to him9 ,rom nat!re is ordained by God. 8Or believes the opposite.9 I2. Barps on -hat he alls ,atal story errors in every movie he sees. I5. Al-ays arg!ing passionately that no one spea&s Latin orretly. ID. Cannot -or& !nless there6s m!si playing in the ba&gro!nd. I. Al-ays has a sarasti or sardoni omment ready to sho- disapproval. II. >rags abo!t a ne- game he made !p !sing a see/sa-. I7. Ashamed o, his epilepsy aner et. I. +ees every transation as a non/ero/s!m game a -in/-in senario. I. @, someone stops short and says )ever mind an6t let it go. II0. Ehen a!sed o, atering to plebeian tastes -onders -hat6s -rong -ith plebeian tastes. II1. As has been said o, Ch!rhill thin&s that b!n&ers represent o-ardie. II2. Al-ays b!ys the ar -ith the most sa,ety ,eat!res or the one that is the biggest or the one that ,eels the ,astest et. II5. >elieves he is entitled to anything he -ants. IID. @t6ll never ma&e any di,,erene only strengthens his resolve. II. Cannot aept that he -as told !ntr!e things in elementary shool. III. +till !ses an old/,ashioned type-riter even in the omp!ter age. II7. Eo!ld t!rn in his o-n mother i, she -ere !sing dr!gs et. 5
1001 Character Quirks
II. +!spiio!s o, anyone -ho !ses the -ord ins'ect. 8Or some other -ord.9 II. Thin&s he -o!ld be -orthless inompetent et. -itho!t a ertain other. I70. Bas psoriasis on his salp !nderarms private areas et. and srathes. I71. )eeds the -orld to ma&e sense -ith no inonsistenies. I72. >eomes angry sad et. -henever things don6t go the -ay he e3pets. I75. Bis problem -ith mystery novels: too many people and ,ats. I7D. (antasies abo!t heating on his spo!se b!t never at!ally o!ld. I7. Ehen a loved one doesn6t ans-er the phone al-ays ass!mes the -orst. I7I. Al-ays get over-helmed and needs to ta&e a moment to lear his head. I77. Ehen someone gives something even i, !n-anted ,eels a need to reiproate the ,avor. I7. >elieves everyone else o-e him and al-ays gets them to pay. I7. )ot a,raid to as& ,or help i, it gets him loser to his target espeially i, that target is the person he6s as&ing help ,rom. I0. Al-ays ,olds !p an important paper to !se as a boo&mar&. I1. Al-ays does things that don6t ma&e sense b!t de,ends them as tho!gh they did. I2. Al-ays r!bbing the stress o!t o, his o-n ne& ba& sho!lders et. I5. )ever gives intervie-s. ID. Al-ays as&s ,or help -ith his pro'ets b!t never gets any. I. @n the ,ae o, a sho& reverts to his normal ro!tine ,or om,ort. II. Al-ays ats nervo!s -hen he6s e3ited and energied. I7. >elieves that everyone has a story to tell and -ants to hear them all. I. +!spiio!s o, any -oman 8or man9 he is attrated to. I. Loathes to be photographed. I0. Al-ays ta&es redit ,or others6 aomplishments. I1. #riving the tr!& thin&s 8hat bicyc#ist !on,t risk getting run over. I2. ?iding the biyle thin&s 8hat truck driver !on,t risk hitting a bike. I5. >elieves the only -ay to attrat a -oman 8or man9 is to bribe her bla&mail her et. ID. Can %!ote enormo!s ,ees ,or his servies -ith a straight ,ae. I. Ehenever he &no&s on a door al-ays &no&s 7 times or -ith a ertain rhythm et. II. Al-ays treats everyone -ith respet no matter their lass or station. I7. Tenaio!s in p!rs!ing his passion alling et. I. Bas never had an srcinal idea b!t is good at stealing them. I. Goes ,rom angry yelling to happy la!ghter in 2 seonds. 700. Al-ays says he6ll do s!h/and/s!h b!t then never does. 701. Al-ays eats brea&,ast l!nh or s!pper at a ertain resta!rant. 702. Al-ays ass!mes everyone else is di,,erent than he and is !s!ally right. 705. Thin&s that the last good novel movie video game et. ame o!t years ago. 8And the years stays the same year a,ter year a,ter year.9 70D. Cannot !nderstand all!sions metaphors et. The Quirks
5
70. Al-ays states the obvio!s as tho!gh it -ere pro,o!nd. 70I. Al-ays thro-ing another party. 8>!t no one ever omes.9 707. )ever reads !nless he has to bea!se he hates it an6t read on priniple et. 70. Cannot say the -ord bu##y father marriage et. -itho!t stammering. 70. >eomes mired in grie, -hen his ,avorite ,itional harater dies. 710. Bas never had a best ,riend. 711. Thin&s @vana Tr!mp so!nds ,!nny. 8Or "a!l >!nyan et.9 712. Al-ays !ses alliteration. 715. Loo&s do-n on everyone -ho6s not in the same b!siness as he. 71D. Gets r!shes on manne%!ins. 71. Al-ays spreads the pean!t b!tter et. evenly to the edge o, the bread. 71I. *ses the same br!sh to sr!b the dirty dishes and the ,resh vegetables. 717. Al-ays omplaining abo!t the sponge being le,t in the sin&. 71. As&s ,or e3atly the same thing over and over even a,ter being told repeatedly that it6s in,easible impossible !navailable et. 71. )ever drin&s reheated o,,ee bea!se it tastes b!rntH i, need be drin&s old o,,ee instead. 720. Eears glasses that have been taped gl!ed or other-ise repaired. 721. Al-ays prattles on and on b!t never reveals his serets. 722. Al-ays ,orgets -hih door is the e3it and -hih is the loset. 725. Kno-s that i, he an get alone -ith someone ,or an ho!r or t-o he an get anything he -ants ,rom him. 72D. Agrees %!i&ly 8by silene9 b!t later omes to a di,,erent onl!sion. 72. Ambide3tro!s. 72I. Cares more abo!t en'oying li,e and doing the right thing than ma&ing money. 8Or vie/ versa.9 727. Al-ays passes the old/style eye tests bea!se he memories the hart. 72. #eals reg!larly -ith organied rime -ith its ris&s and bene,its. 72. <3ellent eyesightH an read in lo- lightH an see long distanes. 750. Can6t ,ind another synonym ,or /erk scum s#ug s#ime et. 751. Bas ban&r!pted b!sinesses b!t an6t help b!t start another. 752. +pends an inordinate amo!nt o, time s-imming s!nbathing et. 755. +ees all art as -hatever yo! interpret it as inl!ding ,amily photos. 75D. Good manager setting goals and e3petations motivating et. 75. Can loo& at a -oman and instantly tell her dress sie. 75I. Ehen he thin&s he6s being ta&en says Ehat do @ loo& li&e dog ,oodF 757. #oesn6t are -hether he gets beat !p as long as he -ins big in the end. 75. Al-ays has a bodyg!ard nearby. 75. Can6t en'oy a story that has !ne3plained logial inonsistenies. D0
1001 Character Quirks
7D0. Thin&s any great story an be r!ined by a sad ending. 7D1. rilliant strategistH al-ays seems to have planned ,or any ontingeny. 7I. Eill snea& in to visit the -oman 8or man9 o, his dreams. 77. (orever loo&ing ,or the -oman 8or man9 that reminds him o, his mother. 7. An e3pert mar&sman s-ordsman arher martial artist et. 7. Al-ays p!rs!ing his biggest dreams -ith single/minded enth!siasm. 7I0. elieves in aliens onspiraies et. and has dediated his li,e to proving that his belie, is orret. 771. A sel,/prolaimed elebrity ha&er mighty pirate et. 772. Al-ays thin&s he has to tri& a -oman 8or man9 to get her to li&e him. 775. Bis plans al-ays blo- !p and he al-ays tries the same plan again. The Quirks
D1
77D. Al-ays ,inds an e3!se not to tell a -oman ho- he ,eels abo!t her. 77. Li&es people 8or disli&es them9 bea!se o, -hat6s happened to them. 77I. Al-ays gives a th!mbs/!p sign or o&ay et. -hen he6s happy. 777. Al-ays embraes hange on,lit et. 8or tries to stop it9. 77. )ever tal&sH b!t eats his hair et.. 77. )ever !ses prono!ns. 8;aybe only -hen -riting.9 70.
1001 Character Quirks
0. Aomplished ill!sionist. 8>!t !ses this s&ill only s!bversively.9 10. Abo!t e3ploiting anient graves arhaeologial sites et. ,or pro,it thin&s Why notA 11. Ta&es great pride in the ontrol he maintains over his temper. 12. Al-ays ma&es ,!n by imitating or ariat!ring his antagonist. 15. Al-ays assoiates images o, ,ood hardship et. -ith oo&ing hi&ing et. and says so even -hen it is inappropriate. 1D. Loves 8or hates9 reality TV m!si videos ation ,ilms et. 1. Al-ays playing a video game 8and al-ays o, a given genre9. 1I. Al-ays loo&s and ats st!pid b!t is a passionate master pers!ader. 17. A lonerH never partners -ith anyone elseH only transats at arms/length. 1. Thin&s degrees diplomas et. are !seless. 1. Al-ays ries rages et. abo!t things he an6t ontrol. 20. Eon6t get mad at someone -ho h!rts him i, he &no-s the other person doesn6t !nderstand -hat he6s doing that6s h!rt,!l. 21. #oesn6t !nderstand basi astronomy ao!nting et. 22. Al-ays ,inds a -ay to sabotage any b!siness s!ess long/term relationship et. !s!ally -hen he6s '!st on the verge. o, ,inding happiness. 25. Al-ays pl!&ing his nose hairs -ith his ,ingernails. 2D. Bis online persona is o, a di,,erent age se3 et. 2. Al-ays dresses behaves et. li&e his ,avorite elebrity. 2I. Loo&s do-n on anyone ,rom @o-a Chiago Cali,ornia et. 27. ?espets anyone -ho attended an ivy/leag!e !niversity. 2. Al-ays omplaining that there are no good -omen o!t there. 2. Bome/shools his hildren bea!se he6s a,raid o, the p!bli shools. 50. Loo&s do-n on anyone -ho doesn6t send his hildren to boarding shool. 51. Can ,ind happiness -ith any lover. 52. Al-ays learning something ne- bea!se other-ise he6d get bored. 55. >elieves no one is entitled to an opinion he thin&s is -rong. 5D. Al-ays loo&ing at -hat others do and then does it better. 5. Very open to strange ideas ,or others b!t onservative in his o-n li,e. 5I. Ehen meeting a ne- person immediately omments on the bea!ty desirability et. o, their lothes ar et. 57. Al-ays as&ing a di,,erent -oman on a date 8tho!gh o,ten re'eted9. 5.
D5
DD. An orphan. 8And al-ays !sing the ,at to garner sympathy.9 D. "re,ers omp!ter se3 to the real thing. DI. Keeps saying 8or doing9 the same thing even tho!gh his ,riend al-ays &i&s him 8or pinhes him et.9 -hen he says it. D7. Al-ays gets !pset -hen someone gets his age 8or -eight9 -rong. 8And e3pets everyone else to drop everything to de,end him.9 D. Tr!sts others 8and ,orgives them9 '!st bea!se they as& him to. D. Loves to -ath >/movies -ith ,riends and ma&e ,!n o, them. 0. Thin&s it6s ,!n to be nasty even i, he doesn6t get a-ay -ith it. 1. Ehatever bad happens blames it on his mother ,ather sibling et. 2. Loves to -ear ost!me 'e-elry tri&ed o!t lothing et. 5. Gets a headahe ,rom lo!d noises interr!ptions distrations et. D. )ever says -hen he6s !pset b!t al-ays sh!ns -hoever he6s !pset -ith gets angry abo!t something insigni,iant et. . Al-ays ,inds an e3!se not to go o!t -ith ,riends b!t al-ays en'oys himsel, -hen he does. I. Al-ays dithes his ,riends i, something more interesting omes along. 7. )ever tal&s to anyone bea!se people annoy him. . Al-ays ,lies ,irst lass or doesn6t ,ly at all. . )ever ,eels a-&-ard i, he did nothing -rong no matter ho- it loo&s. I0. #oesn6t ,eel embarrassed -hen people see him na&ed only i, he sees someone else na&ed. I1. )ames his many omp!ters 8or pets et.9 all a,ter haraters ,rom a single movie TV sho- novel et. I2. Ehen his mother nemesis et. li&es something al-ays deides that6s a good eno!gh reason to hate it. I5. @, a -oman alls him over to her plae on a pretense doesn6t get it. ID. (!rnishes his home -ith old ,!rnit!re e3pensive ,!rnit!re et. I. Al-ays tries to be Eard or J!ne Cleaver James >ond et. II. Loves animals b!t al-ays manages to &ill them lose them et. I7. ?aises hi&ens pigs et. I. *sed to entertain in Vegas or )e- 4or& or in ,ilm et. I. Al-ays ,eels li&e rying 8or sreaming et.9 -hen he sees someone he6s in love -ith 8b!t is not dating9. 70. Can never deide -hih o, t-o options he -ants to ta&e. 71. Al-ays e3pets e3atly -hat he -ants tho!gh he doesn6t as& ,or it. 72. Bas poor peripheral vision 8on his right side9. 75. Threatens to have a brea&do-n i, his demands aren6t met. 8
1001 Character Quirks
7I. (re%!ently emotional beyond -hat the sit!ation deserves. 77. Bas a r!sh on *nderdog +!perman Eonder Eoman et. 7. +!,,ers ,rom hroni ba& pain migraines et. 7. O-ns his o-n one/man b!siness. 0. Can6t p!t his ,eelings into -ords. 1. Thin&s it6s shame,!l to -rite eroti notes to one6s lover. 2. Al-ays gives sinere advie b!t rarely is it any good. 5. Can6t stand to do the same thing day a,ter day. D. Ambitio!sH al-ays loo&ing ,or a promotion. . )ever an ,ind the e3at prod!t or tool he6s loo&ing ,or bea!se no one else has tho!ght o, it yet. I. Obsessed -ith minor details that don6t a,,et the big pit!re. 7. Jealo!s o, his relationship -ith his bartender hairdresser et. . +olves every problem by ,irst ignoring -hat everyone else thin&s the ans-er is. . Al-ays ta&ing a moment to thin& interr!pting others i, neessary. 0. )ever ares abo!t others6 ,eelings !nless they6re logial to him. 1. Al-ays tal&s in s!int ,at!al statements and -ants others to as -ell. 2. )ever ,eels he &no-s a person !ntil he thin&s he an identi,y the person6s personality type. 5. )ever tr!sts anyone -ho6s not doing things the -ay he -o!ld do them. D. Can tal& his -ay into or o!t o, anything. . @ntensely passionate in -hat he p!rs!es and believesH ,re%!ently blo-ing !p or sreaming bea!se o, this passion. I. Al-ays g!shes aolades 8sometimes insinerely9 bea!se he -ants to be li&ed. 7. Al-ays searhing ,or a ne- relationship that ,eels magial. . Bates to be l!mped in -ith the rest o, a gro!pH val!es his !ni%!eness. . Can6t imagine that anyone -o!ld at!ally en'oy having a /to/ 'ob. 00. )ever ares -ho is right or -rong only that everyone gets along. 01. Very easy/going !ntil someone hallenges -hat he believes in. 02. Ehen angry bombards his antagonist -ith 8sometimes -rong9 ,ats. 05. Al-ays spea&s a-&-ardly b!t -rites elo%!ently. 0D. Eill aept almost anything as normal one it is e3plained to him. 0. )ever lies abo!t -hat he thin&s or ,eels even to spare others6 ,eelings. 0I. Al-ays ,eels mis!nderstood even tho!gh everyone appreiates him. 07. Ehen tired has tro!ble p!tting together a oherent sentene. 0. )either !nderstands nor omm!niates -ith people and doesn6t are to learn ho- to !nderstand or omm!niate -ith people. 0. Bas no personality o, his o-n b!t an mimi any personality re%!ired. 10. Al-ays brags abo!t his hard dirty 'ob ,!ll o, man!al labor. The Quirks
D
11. Al-ays e3perimenting -ith a ne- reipe. 12. Al-ays -ants someone to help him even -ith the simplest tas&s. 15. La!ghs at any 'o&e b!t not -hen he6s trying to ,ig!re something o!t. 1D. Tired stressed et. i, someone s!ggests he ta&e a brea& he sho!ts )oR @6m ,ineR 1. @, someone else brags abo!t something he -ants he6s ,ine -ith that. 1I. Al-ays ,lirting -ith members o, the opposite se3 8or the same se39. 17. Cannot tell the di,,erene bet-een emotion and val!e '!dgments. 1. 4ells at anyone he ,eels is being !n,air or isn6t listening to him. 1. #oesn6t thin& he sho!ld be p!nished ,or an aident. 20. Al-ays in the o!tdoors hi&ing bi&ing boating et. 21. (eels '!sti,ied in h!rting anyone -ho h!rts him or those he loves. 22. Can tell immediately ho- many letters in any -ord or phrase or say any -ord or phrase ba&-ards et. 25. Commonly reverses gender roles in relationships. 8(or e3ample i, a man en'oys e3pensive gi,ts ,rom his rih girl,riend. Or vie/versa.9 2D. )ever eats or drin&s anything bro-n red or p!rple. 2. Al-ays '!dges others. 8Or giggles b!t never '!dges.9 2I. Al-ays ares 8and easily embarrassed by9 -hat others thin&. 8Or never.9 27. )ever sleeps -ith someone !ntil he &no-s he loves her. 8Or al-ays.9 2. Al-ays ,orms an emotional attahment to ,ine ars olletibles et. even i, o-ned by someone else and ,eels slighted i, the they are mistreated. 2. Carried a an o, Lysol disin,etant every-here to ombat the germs. 50. )ever loo&s a person in the eye and al-ays tal&s in a monotone voie. 51. )ever reports anyone to the ta3 olletor hild/protetion servies dr!g/en,orement et. bea!se he doesn6t tr!st them to do the right thing. 52. Eill do anything yo! as& him to and gets !pset i, yo! don6t as&. 55. As&s ,or diretions b!t too ashamed to admit he an6t !nderstand them. 5D. Al-ays pre,ers to hire someone else rather than do anything himsel,. 5. Al-ays tal&s in r!n/on sentenes. 5I. Al-ays embraes ompromise even i, he doesn6t get -hat he -ants. 57. Can only love someone -ho ma&es him miserable. 5. Kno-s e3atly -hat he -ants in a lover and as&s ,or it. 5. (eels no press!re to remain onsistentH hanges his mind and does not apologie ,or it. D0. Al-ays tries to smooth over on,lits bet-een others. D1. Al-ays re,!ses to de,ine himsel, by his areer. D2.
1001 Character Quirks
DI. Al-ays loo&ing ,or a -ay to belittle those he doesn6t li&e. D7. Eill stand !p ,or his ,amily even the bla& sheep. D. Al-ays ,ollo-s proper soial proed!re. 8Or never.9 D. Al-ays e3pets simple ans-ers to omple3 %!estions. 0. )ever gives a yes/or/no ans-er bea!se the %!estions are more ompliated than that. 1. Al-ays venting abo!t something that6s bothering him. 2. Al-ays st!,,s his ash into his po&et or p!rse -itho!t a -allet and sometimes it sti&s o!t or sho-s. 5. Can solve omple3 math problems in his head. D. Li&es his gingerbread men in the shape o, ants ,lo-ers -omen et. . Bas a vast library o, anedotes ,rom his o-n past. I. Bas a passion ,or lassi literat!re lassial m!si silent movies et. 7. Can6t oo& se- va!!m et. . Loves to ins!lt belittle irritate et. others bea!se o, their reation. . Al-ays gets others to agree ,irst to something he doesn6t -ant &no-ing it -ill ma&e it easier to get them to agree later to -hat he does -ant. I0. Jealo!s o, his image and goes to e3traordinary lengths to protet it. I1. Al-ays does the !nonventional thing even i, it gets him into tro!ble. I2. Al-ays ans-ers %!estions he as&s ,or the person he as&ed. I5. Can6t daneH al-ays steps on his partner6s ,eet gets o!t o, syn et. ID. Loves sailing motorboating yahting -aters&iing et. I. Al-ays disting!ishes ators ,rom the haraters they play and gets !pset at people -ho re,er to an ator by a harater6s name. II. Al-ays spea&s in a sing/song voie -ith a giggle. I7. Very hattyH e3ept aro!nd hatty people he6s all b!siness. I. "retends that his ,avorite ,ig!rines dolls et. tal& to him. I. Al-ays ,lirting -ith and &issing his girl,riend or -i,e. 70. Al-ays '!ggling dates 8i.e. romanti engagements9. 71. Al-ays stands !p to his boss b!t al-ays end !p giving in. 72. Keeps bandages in the ,reeerH they ,eel better -hen theySre old. 75. )ever does man!al labor o, any sort. 7D. Bas a ,any toast handsha&e et. that he !ses -ith his ,riends. 7. Al-ays plans ,or the -orst b!t never gets bogged do-n e3peting it. 7I. #rives li&e a 'er&H treats stop signs and red lights as only advisoryH passes everyone else -henever he anH et. 77. "!ts maple syr!p salt b!tter et. on everything. 7. Al-ays rosses at right angles to the street to be onsiderate to drivers. 7. Thin&s t-o things that loo& the same 8or so!nd et.9 are the same thing. 8+o t-o stores -ith the same a-ning are the same loation.9 0. #istr!sts all government agenies even la-/en,orement on priniple. The Quirks
D7
1. Al-ays arping that early episodes o, "ythbusters -ere so m!h better. 2. Bas to ,old a to-el 5 times be,ore he gets it right. 5. (reely advoates e3perimenting 8playing God9 -ith h!man li,e the -eather et. bea!se other-ise ho- an -e learn ho- to do it sa,elyF D. +h!ns h!rh bea!se pipe organs are made -ith animal gl!e. . Al-ays o,,ended -hen he disovers that someone listened to him '!st to sh!t him !p 8and then didn6t ,ollo- his advie9. I. As pets &eeps a spider platyp!s giant o&roah et. 7. Bates ;;6s ie ream r!m a&e et bea!se... <--R . Bas a seret dream -orld -here he beomes the real person no one sees. . Al-ays as&s a %!estion instead o, ma&ing a statement. 0. +ings his o-n on/the/spot lyris to the t!ne o, a pop!lar song. 1. Thin&s -hat he sees on Cinema& -#ayboy et. is real. 2. ;iriam +to&ley6s song "er,et #ay ma&es him ry ,eel happy et. 5.
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1001 Character Quirks
