3 answers
Zoe
Student
6
Questions
Asked
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Whats a good way to input your characters personalities into your story?
Whats a good way to input your characters personalities into your story without actively describing their personality types?
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3 answers
Sikawayi Williams
Counselor
227
Answers
Hampton, Virginia
Updated
Sikawayi’s Answer
Hello Zoe,
If you really want your personality to come out in these character's first, I suggest that you decide what you want your reader to take away from your character. Next if you are not the writer of the story, I would suggest you speak with him/her, be as specific as possible when you're describing what you want from the character's you're portraying One of the suggestions you could make is to describe the character's wardrobe or facial expressions.
If you really want your personality to come out in these character's first, I suggest that you decide what you want your reader to take away from your character. Next if you are not the writer of the story, I would suggest you speak with him/her, be as specific as possible when you're describing what you want from the character's you're portraying One of the suggestions you could make is to describe the character's wardrobe or facial expressions.
Say that I am the writer of the story?
Zoe
Frivita Dsouza
Instructional designer and change management professional
6
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Frivita’s Answer
Show it through what they do, not what you say about them. Don't write "she was generous." Show her giving up her seat without thinking twice.
Let dialogue carry personality. Short and blunt, rambling and nervous, always joking at the wrong time — that tells us who they are.
Watch how they react under pressure. A calm person and an anxious person handle the same problem differently. A small crisis, like missing a bus, reveals a lot.
Use small habits. Double-checking locks, never finishing sentences, always sitting facing the door — these details say more than any adjective.
Let other characters react to them. If the room goes quiet when someone walks in, that tells us something too.
Don't tell the reader who someone is. Let them watch and figure it out. That's when a character feels real.
For all this to work, build your observation skills first. Go to a busy market or bus stop and just watch. Watch how people walk, talk, and react when something goes wrong.
Observation feeds everything else. You can't write real reactions if you've never noticed real ones. The pauses, the habits, the tone — you only know to include these because you've seen them happen.
The more you observe, the more real your characters feel. That's the whole secret. Good character writing isn't about clever technique. It's about paying attention, then bringing that attention into your story.
Let dialogue carry personality. Short and blunt, rambling and nervous, always joking at the wrong time — that tells us who they are.
Watch how they react under pressure. A calm person and an anxious person handle the same problem differently. A small crisis, like missing a bus, reveals a lot.
Use small habits. Double-checking locks, never finishing sentences, always sitting facing the door — these details say more than any adjective.
Let other characters react to them. If the room goes quiet when someone walks in, that tells us something too.
Don't tell the reader who someone is. Let them watch and figure it out. That's when a character feels real.
For all this to work, build your observation skills first. Go to a busy market or bus stop and just watch. Watch how people walk, talk, and react when something goes wrong.
Observation feeds everything else. You can't write real reactions if you've never noticed real ones. The pauses, the habits, the tone — you only know to include these because you've seen them happen.
The more you observe, the more real your characters feel. That's the whole secret. Good character writing isn't about clever technique. It's about paying attention, then bringing that attention into your story.
Stephanie Carmichael
UX Content Strategist II
3
Answers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Updated
Stephanie’s Answer
One thing I really like is how a character's culture is reflected in their sayings and expressions. The TV show "The Rings of Power" has been doing this pretty well. :) For example, dwarves will use metaphors and analogies that show they "see the world" through their everyday experiences with mining and rocks and fire. The Harfoots see things through the lens of their physical appearance and stature (ex: their smallness). You could extend this to your character's individual backstory as well.