Because sometimes writers need help in fleshing out characters. I know I do, and having somewhere to start and a basic reference list that will spark ideas is going to help.

Basically, post any quirks, hobbies, preferences, or other features (not physical) that a character could have. These could be yours, those of somebody you know, or just made up out of the blue. You can post as many or as few as you like, but try not to post the same quirk. Please keep all non-list stuff in hidden text, kthx?

I'll start.

- shooting guns
- only listening to Broadway show tunes
- doesn't like chocolate
- prefers team sports to other sorts
- likes spicy food
- won't eat fish
- sings in the shower
- randomly speaks in rhyme sometimes
- cooking
- wants to have a kid once they've graduated highschool
- gardening
- automatically assumes in dreams that they have superpowers
- prefers driving automatic cars to manuals



EDIT: This is not a 'making up characters by collecting random traits together' thing. It's just a 'collecting random traits' thing. So that you can come here and look at quirks and wonder if any of these would fit the characters you already have.

Here are a few:

-always carries a small first-aid kit around
-tends to do complicated calculations on post-its or little bits of paper rather than full sheets, resulting in a desk covered with piles of disordered notes
-enjoys accordion music
-used to sing in a boys’ choir
-has a slight obsession with Arthurian legend
-colours his/her hair
-only knows friends through the internet/through online games
-speaks fluent Welsh
-practices calligraphy
-hardly knows any songs by heart
-is a good sprinter, but burns out fast
-collects shells and pretty rocks from the beach

-sarcastic whenever someone irritates them
-adopts a hunter-position when forced to share favourite food (As in, glare at person taking favourite food and watch food being passed around with a hawk expression and intense stare)

Fear of heights, stairs and an uncle.

-loves to fight. – things coming out of their mouth tends to be either very depressing or unintentionally hilarious

This is a quirk that has been shared by at least three characters in three different stories I’ve written:

- is a caffeine junkie

Maybe it’s Author Appeal combined with Write Who You Know, because I know a couple of caffeine junkies in real life, the guy in the mirror included. Sorry – I’m struggling with the hidden text-thing.

some more quirks:

- likes reptiles more than he/she likes mammals – eats eight times a day – instinctively bursts out laughing when in shock, even if whatever happened is not remotely funny