by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I belong to a group that gathers several times a year. The group is filled with moms like me.
During these gatherings, everyone works very hard to be very pleasant. They’re friendly and seem to work very hard to fit in with the other moms there.
Unfortunately, for someone like me (and my horrid memory), this makes it very difficult to remember who’s who. I decided to keep a secret notebook that I refer to before going to the next event. After each event, I sit in the car, list all the names I remember, and jot down descriptive notes after each name. I do like to remember names and use them when I’m speaking with someone, so I have to work hard at it.
My husband came across my notebook and glanced through it. “You are so dead if this ever comes to light,” he chortled.
That’s because I had to resort to describing their various physical traits to tell them apart. They all act so mom-like that I couldn’t find any other distinguishing characteristics. If they had jobs, they didn’t mention them. I certainly never mentioned my writing, so who knows? Maybe they had secret notebooks mentioning a tall woman with long, straight hair who didn’t talk much. We never seem to get below that superficial small talk to show who we really were.
Obviously, this isn’t what we want in our stories. We want our characters’ personalities to be different enough so we don’t need the physical crutch as much. Or, we might still need the crutch, but not as much.
Other ways of making our characters stand out from each other:
Diction. Word choice is one way to help a character stand out in dialogue. Mystery writer Margot Kinberg had a great post on character catch-phrases in her post, She’s Got a Way of Talkin’. It also could be how they say what they say. Some characters might be very precise. Some characters might be impatient with others and the impatience comes through.
Mannerisms. Biting nails, slouching, fond of hand gestures, etc.
Quirks.
Hobbies, interests, jobs.
Gifts/skills.
Their motives. What do they want? What’s important to them? How does this impact the story?
And yes, a distinguishing physical trait. Looks do play into distinctive characters. Dimples, moustache, bald head.
You can show a character’s distinguishing characteristics through his actions, his reactions to events, through dialogue (either by what he’s saying or by what others are saying about him), by his manner…and even by his name.
What are your favorite ways to help readers tell your characters apart? 
Image: MorgueFile by ManicMorFF
Knot What it Seams, book two of the Southern quilting mysteries, released Tuesday, February 5.
Available in mass-market paperback and digital versions.
17 Comments
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Elizabeth – First, thanks for the mention – I appreciate it :-). And your overall point is really well-taken. It really is important to keep characters distinct. I do little things that I hope help. For instance, in one of my stories, one of the characters is a Philadelphia Phillies fan. So he has a Phillies hat, he goes to games, and so on. Even little things like having a nose ring, wearing thick glasses or something else like that can help.
Great advice, Elizabeth :) I like to use dialogue and those physical actions to distinguish my characters.
I like to use dialogue and action to describe my characters. Sometimes characters help characters in this.
I keep notebooks of characters and I might even name the real person I got the traits from just to remind me. But the other day, I thought what if a tornado (because we have them sailing over our town constantly) hit my house and my notebooks were scatter amongst the people. I’m just saying, it might not be pretty. I need to rethink.
Margot–Oh, good idea. So you’re showing something the character is passionate about and it’s reflected even in his clothing.
Jemi–Physical actions is a good one!
Teresa–Yes, I think we need to lock those notebooks up, Teresa. I keep thinking that if my notebooks got out that I would make a very good victim in one of my murder mysteries. :) There would be lots of motive.
I like using quirks and mannerisms to distinguish my characters as well as physical attributes.
The ‘secret’ book sounds like a great idea for building characters, as well. Something I could go back and reference if I get stuck for a descriptor or reaction.
Excellent post!
When I’m reading physical stuff wears on me a little. At least if I’m reminded too often. Ways of talking or personality quirks on the other hand can be applied several times in the same book.
I’m cracking up about you keeping your notes… I think it’s probably good I was the working parent. I would have been in trouble.
Nice analogy and useful hints on making characters stand out from each other. I don’t remember names easily but I never forget a face. Either way it can be embarrassing. I think I’d like to distinguish my characters from the way they look, a unique physical trait as you mention. A lame would work better than a name.
You hit on most of the main ways of building characterization. I tend to use an organic method (like method acting). First, I’ll cast the character with an interesting actor. This will get those word choices and mannerisms going.
The other thing I do is try to use an observant (and maybe judgemental) point of view character. Hard-boiled writers do this a lot, because it’s a reporting technique. The viewpoint character doesn’t just see the other person as a visual, but makes a judgement or guess about them.
So all the moms fit in and are perfect but the one in question seems in a rush, like she can’t quite keep up with the others. Or one doesn’t talk much, but has a look of concentration, like she’s trying to keep track of who is who….
Interpretation and opinion can add a LOT to a story.
I give my characters goals beyond what’s pertinent for the story—and I make sure their motives differ from each other.
For example, in one epic fantasy novel, I have two servants who are prompt, efficient, and good at their jobs. At different points, they dislike the prince’s behavior. The first one finds another job. The second one manipulates his job so he can be in position to interfere.
And not all the servants are as industrious or good-natured as those two. I’ll also think about overall style and coloring of clothes, because people often have a style. Sometimes it can be odd—I have a friend who mixes bohemian, punk, and goth, with surprising success—and even the way the clothes fit can be referenced.
Of the two aforementioned servants, the first one (in that first book, anyway), modifies her clothes so the browns are dyed black or charcoal, and she often dyes the rest bright berry colors. (In part because when folks expect to see her in such modified coloring, they won’t recognize her when she wears more normal clothing.) The second one isn’t ever really described, which in itself is a hint that his choice in garb is precisely what the narrator would expect on someone of his position.
Readers say they like my cast of characters, so I must be doing something right. ^_^
The trick, for me, is to think “Who is this person when they aren’t on-stage in my story?”
A room full of moms trying to be socially pleasant and agreeable?
Elizabeth, I have to chide you here that if you are going to continue to post tales of terror and horror such as this then you must – must – place a disclaimer on the essay for those of us gentle souls who are better suited to the comforting worlds of lies, deceit, mayhem and murder.
Oh, and you think I jest? I know the evil of “mother’s groups.” I’d rather a bent politician or crooked cop any day.
A mother’s group ? Well.
Good checklist. (I can see me making one of those notebooks, too.) Vanilla is a great flavor, but not in our characters.
Mark –A good idea! I’ll have to pull out my secret book the next time I create some new characters. Except I’ll have to add personalities to my characters since my secret book comes up short when it comes to these women’s personalities…lol. :)
Hart–I sort of like the diction and quirks, myself.
Oh Hart, I’m constantly in trouble. :)
Prashant–Ha! Yes, the physical traits do tend to work better. And, yes, I’m frequently embarrassed by my inability to remember names…*or* faces. Honestly, if I hadn’t been this way since childhood, I’d be worried about myself….
Carradee–Great idea! So the characters are working at cross-purposes and readers learn more about them by seeing these motives.
I also like the way you’re making clothing choices (even fit) work to help readers learn more about your characters. Have you ever seen the blog http://clothesinbooks.blogspot.com/ ? It’s very interesting.
I like the way you figure out your characters by thinking about what they do when they’re “off-stage”. :)
Diane–Definitely don’t need any vanilla characters!
Hope your release is going well!
I’m trying to get better at this! More so with the really minor characters. I tend to focus so much on the main ones that everyone else just fades into the background.
The Daring Novelist–Good stuff!
I use gossipy characters in much the same way. Of course, then the reader has to decide if what they’re reporting is true. A judgemental character sounds like a nice change from my gossipy one.
I like your way of finding differences, even in these rather Stepford-esque moms. :)
Very good point about interpretation! And interpretation is fun in a mystery…who thinks they saw what? What different impressions of people do characters have?
Alex–I know–the secondary characters are tough, aren’t they?
j welling–Ha! I always said I’d have to write a book about a murder based around the PTA….but then Laura Alden beat me to it! But yes…I’ve seen some amazing things at mom groups. Not, perhaps, the group that I mentioned above, but some of the squabbles over being Room Mom in my kids’ elementary school were sights to behold. :)
The problem is that I never fit in well with these groups, but I always seem to be invited to them! I need to learn to say no. :)
I didn’t know you were releasing a book. I really should stop by more often. I’ll have to have you as Author Of The Week soon!
I’m thinking I’ll create one of those notebooks about people I know. Not to use them as characters, but because I am so bad about names.
I’m certainly hoping my characters are distinguishable. I try to set them apart through mannerisms or the way they talk or the way they look or behave.
Stephen–Thanks! I haven’t talked much about the book here, so that might be why. I appreciate it!
Helen–Glad I’m not the only one! :)
Mannerisms are a great way of helping readers tell characters apart.