Quirks : How to create characters?

Verbal – What does she say?

• Speech
• What is her Pace?
• How does it define here?
• How much does her pace change?
• Is she slow?
• Is she smooth?
• Is she steadfast?
• Is she in a hurry?
• Is she singing?
• Is she counting her words?
• Is she smiling with her voice?

• Do they use specific Words?
• Which words?
• In which situation?
• In front of who?
• Is the word in their language?
• Is it a foreign word?
• Did they grow attached to this word?
• When?
• Who taught them the word?
• What’s the meaning of the word?
• What’s their definition of the word?
• What’s the connotation attached to this word in different parts of the word?
• Is the Word feared?
• Is the Word revered?
• Is is a Name?

• Do they have a Saying?
• What does this saying mean?
• Is it a common saying?
• Is is a well known/Universal saying?
• Did they develop it?
• Through which experiences?
• Did someone taught them?
• Is is used during Rituals?
• Is is used during Ceremonies?

• What Language Levels does she use?
• How does it characterize her?
• Is she Formal?
  • Because she pay attention to her appearance?
  • Because she willing to make efforts?
  • Because she is reserved?
  • Why?
  • In every context?
• Is she Informal?
  • Is she friendly?
  • Is she indifferent?
  • Is she interested?
• Casual.
  • Is she childish?
  • Is she jaded?
  • Is she redundant?
• Vulgar.
  • Is she neglected?
  • Is she kempt?
  • Is she agressive?
  • Does she express contempt?
  • Is she petulant?
• Language levels create contrast between characters.
• They often evoke status or behavior.
• Create a dialogue between 4 characters.
• Each of them using a different Language Level.
• Observe the contrast.
• Reiterate by altering other verbal dimensions.

• How is her Voice?
• What is the Intensity of her voice?
• What is the Color of her voice?
• Is her voice recognizable?
• How recognizable is it?
• Does her voice focus the Public?
• What feeling does it create?
• What emotion does it compel?
• Does it bring warmth?
• Does it convey solitude?
• What’s is her Pitch?
• Is she attempting any vocal exploration?
• Is she trying do change her voice?
• Does she enjoy her voice?

• Does she have an Accent?
• Is she noticeable?
• How noticeable is it?
• From which part of the world is she?
• How’s the view of other characters on this world’s part?
• Is it her real accent?
• Is she trying to imitate someone?
• Is she admiring this person?
• Is she mocking this person?

• A Towel on the Head.
• “To bear a towel on the Head.”
• What does it mean?
• What’s the towel doing on the head?
• Is it a literal towel?
• Is it a metaphor for a protective cloth?
• What kind of cloth?
• Does it have to do with a ritual?

Accessories – What does she bear?

• What Clothes does she wear?
• What clothes does she wear Usually?
• Does she enjoy them?
• Did she made them?
• From which material?
• Which color are they?
• Does she usually make clothes?
• Are they a gift?
• Is she forced to wear them?
• Are other people forced to wear the same type of clothes?
• Are they part of a homogenous group?

• What clothes does she wear for Ceremonies?
• How do they differ from her regular clothes?
• Are they ampler?
• Are they ornate?
• Are they of a different color?
• What does this color signify in the frame of the ceremony?
• Do different people bear different color?
• Is it linked to their role in the ceremony?

• Does she wear Inappropriate Clothes?
• How inappropriate are they?
• According to who?
• What do these clothes represent?
• Why are they considered inappropriate?
• Since when?
• Is it illegal?
• Is there a fee for those who wear this clothes?
• Is a particular color forbidden in this world?
  • Red?
  • Purple?
  • Is color forbidden?

• Does she bear any Weapons?
• Is she against weapons?
• Does she bear 1 nonetheless?
• Is she forced to bear 1?
• How are weapons perceived in this world?
• When did she decide to bear 1?
• Who give it to her?
• Did she make it herself?
  • Is it reliable?
• What kind of weapons is it?
• Is it a Melee weapon?
• Is it a Range weapon?
• Is it a weapon for defense purpose only?
• Is is a lethal weapon?

• What kind of Tools does she use?
• Are they related to her occupation?
• Do they define her function?
• How did she acquire them?
• Are they Cutting tools?
• Are they Measure tools?
• Are they Building tools?
• Does she keep them even if she doesn’t use them?
• Why does she need them?

• “A Towel on the Head…“
• Does the character have a towel on their head constantly?
• How does she use this towel?
• Does she use the towel?
• Why is it on her head if it is useless?
• Is it hiding something?
• Is there something growing on the top of her head?
• Does this thing need warmth?
• Does it need to be protected from air?

Body – How is she?

• What’s her body type?
• Is she slender?
• Is she slim?
• Is she petite?
• Is she curvaceous?
• Is she plump?
• Is she thick?
• Is she muscular?

• What’s her body Shape?
• Are her hips larger than her shoulders?
• Are her shoulder larger than her hips?
• How large is her torso?
• How large is her chest?
• How long are is her limbs?
• Are the lower limbs as long as the upper ones?
• How many limbs does she have?
• How thin is she?
• How disproportionate is her body?

• How is her Head?
• What’s her head Form?
• Is it a cube?
• Is it a pyramid?
• Is it a ball?
• Is it a star?
• Is her head symmetrical?
• How many heads does she have?
• Are they similar?

• How is her Skin?
• How thick is it?
• How thin is it?
• Are her muscles & bones defined well?
• Only her bones?
• Are her articulations visible?
• Is she ill?
• Is her skin affected?
• How is the Texture of the skin?
• How is her carnation?

• How is her Hairstyle?
  • Size – Big/Long/Short/Bald/Shaved
  • Aspect – Straight/Wavy/Curly/Frizzy
  • Material – Keratin/Wood/Stone/Bones/Plastic/Metal
  • Shape – Square/Sphere/Oval/Pyramid/Trapezoid/Star/Heart/Mask/8
  • Style – Braids/Updo/Cocoon…
  • Headwear – Cap/Beanie/Cloche/Top/Helmet/Hood/Crown
• Hairstyle may be the most impactant accessory.
• It transforms the character’s silhouette.
  • Imagine your character’s silhouette only, as a shadow.
  • Change the Hairstyle : You’ve created a new character!
• It is immediately visible.
• It is always on the body.
• It is changeable (involuntary).
• It is malleable (voluntary).

• A Towel on the Head?
• Is she hiding her hair?
• Is she hiding her scalp?
• Does she have any hair?
• Is it simply a Hat?
• Maybe its common in the place she comes from?
• After all it contours her gorgeous face…
• But what is it?
• In which matter is it made?
• Why does it seem to be moving?

Interests – What does she want?

• What is her Goal?
• What are her Obsessions?
• What’s her Mission?
• Does she state it?
• When?
• With who does she share this information?
• What is she willing to abandon to reach this goal?
• How does it transcribe into her behavior?
• Are there incongruences?
• Are there inconsistencies?

• What does she react to?
• What disgusts her?
• What frightens her?
• What enchants her?
• What entrances her?
• What excites her?
• What leaves her indifferent?
• How does she display it?
• Does she hide it?
• Does she deny it?

• What’s a Crisis according to her?
• What crisis has she been through?
• What scared her the most?
• What scares her the most?
• Who is responsible for it?

• When is she in a state of Relief?
• When is she Calm?
• When can she rest?
• Where does she rest?
• With whom is she sufficiently confident?
• How does it display?

• Habits & Manners.
• What are her most common habits?
• Does she groom herself?
• Does she check she hasn’t forgot something?
• Does she sing?
• Does she whistle?
• Does she bear her accessories in a certain manner?
• Habits define your character’s progression.
  • Habits define the role, the archetype & the goals of the character
  • Habits are long-term & rigid
• Manners allow you to introduce your character easily.
  • Manners define the role, the class & the beliefs of the character
  • Manners are short-term & flexible

• A Towel on the Head!
• She touches the towel.
• The towel reacts…
• Ever so slightly that I seem to be the only one to realize.
• Her lips move.
• Is she talking to it?
• Her hand moves affectionately.
• Is she patting the towel?