You've likely heard the expression, "show, don't tell" when it comes to how to create a story and characters that readers will love. Unique traits, mannerisms, and characteristics play a large role in the process of showing who a character is and giving your reader clues about the character's personality without breaking the narration with writing that "tells" too much. So how do you use traits, mannerisms, and characteristics effectively? A lot of it has to do with simple observation.
The next time you are in a public place and can watch people without being noticed, try to find some traits, mannerisms, and characteristics that set them apart from each other. For example, if you see a couple talking and their arms are around each other lovingly, that immediately tells you about their relationship (that it's close). Alternately, if you see a couple and one has his/her arms crossed and won't make eye contact, that is a show of discomfort in the relationship. You can read all of these things simply by watching someone.
In the same sense, if you want to create a character who has social anxiety, instead of telling your readers about the issue, show them instead. Have your character stand in a corner at a party and look uncomfortable. Have him/her imbibing alcohol at a social event to try to feel more relaxed and comfortable around so many people. There are so many traits, mannerisms, and characteristics you can use to relay intimate details about your character without telling your reader more than you should.
With that in mind, here is a list of over 100 character traits and quirks to help you build characterization in your novel. Need more inspiration for your character? Try taking some of the mannerisms listed below and entering them into HubSpot's AI Paragraph Rewriter to generate even more ideas. It is definitely worth a try.
Someone who is lying or not telling the whole truth
- Blinks often
- Looks to the left often
- Changes tone of voice at odd points
- Pauses while speaking a lot
- Offers unnecessary details
- Rubbing nose
- Pointing a finger
- Body language doesn't match words spoken
- Sweats excessively
- Touches nose a lot
Someone who is scared, angry, nervous and/or has social anxiety
- Clenches jaw
- Swallows constantly
- Compulsively scratches nose
- Compulsively scratches nape of neck
- Arms crossed defensively
- Crosses arms while holding elbows
- Chain smokes
- Wear a sweater/jacket/coat at all times
- Chews on lips
- Chews on fingernails
- Can't eat around a stranger
- Always carries a gun
- Locked ankles
- Hands clasped behind back
- Constantly swallowing
- Nostrils flare
- Eyes that dart around a lot
- Flexing fingers
- Knees knocking
- Picks at cuticles and skin around the fingernails
- Paces back and forth
- Breathes heavily
Someone who is in love
- Whistles while walking
- Smiles a lot
- Holds significant other close
- Displays physical affection often with another
- Blushes a lot
- Fluttering eyelids
- Whispers into another's ear often
- Prolonged eye contact
- Wipes clammy hands
- Oblivious to everyone except one person
- Twirls hair absentmindedly while speaking to their beloved
- Is sleepless
- Loses appetite
- Enjoys sappy love songs played on the radio
- Wants to meet friends and family
- Calls their beloved first when there's bad news
- Constantly checks phone
Someone who is a musician
- Beats on surfaces with hands and/or fingers
- Talks about obscure music artists
- Seems to "zone out" when music is playing
- Points out when a song is off-key
- Closes eyes briefly when music is heard
- Hums/sings to self often
- Stops to listen to all street musicians
Someone who is confident
- Holds eye contact when interacting
- Walks with erect posture
- Walks with purpose while looking forward
- Keeps shoulders back and down
- Stands with feet apart
- Stands too close to others
- Has a hero complex
- Talks loudly
- Wears bright red lipstick
- Wears vivid, loud colors
- Hands clasped behind head
- Cracking knuckles
- Interrupts others when passionate about the topic
- Stands out among a crowd
- Remains sober at parties
Someone who is shy and/or lacking confidence
- Looks down when walking
- Wears hats consistently
- Wears headphones or hats often
- Cannot maintain eye contact
- Stands with feet together
- Hugs arms around himself/herself
- Avoids looking at self in the mirror
- Keeps hands in pockets while walking/sitting
- Hates sitting near a stranger
- Apologizes often
- Wears sleeves long with thumb holes to cover lower part of palm
- Wears a scarf often
- Pats/fixes hair constantly
- Clears throat a lot
- Mumbles
- Speaks softly
- Apologizes a lot
- Wears dark or muted colors
- Laughs to fill uncomfortable silences
Someone who is bored
- Yawns a lot
- Rests head in hands
- Stares in the distance
- Taps fingernails on surface
- Rolls eyes
- Clasps and unclasps fingers together
- Plays with index finger
- Toys with rings
- Picks at nails
- Foot kicking slightly
- Doodles absentmindedly
- Twiddling thumbs
Someone who enjoys humor
- Wears multiple pins with odd sayings
- Laughs a lot
- Tells jokes to anyone who will listen
- Has oddball sayings
- Never dresses to fit the occasion
- Wears clothing with cartoon figures
- Wears clothing with sarcastic sayings
- Grins sideways
- Punches people in their arm (jokingly) to get them to lighten up
Someone who is narcissistic, elitist, and/or materialistic
- Looks at self in mirror often
- Refuses to eat non-gourmet food
- Always has perfectly manicured nails
- Wears expensive name-brand clothing/shoes
- Shows off expensive jewelry
- Tells everyone how much he/she paid for something
- Loudly points out faults in others
- Never says "please" or "thank you"
- Is disrespectful to waiters/waitresses
- Waits for someone else to do simple tasks instead of doing it himself/herself
- Raises eyebrow often while others are talking
- Tosses hair
- Takes a lot of selfies
Someone who is uptight and/or stern
- Wears hair in a tight bun
- Pinches lips together tightly
- Looks down nose at everyone
- Crosses legs while sitting
- Rarely smiles
- Only drinks gourmet tea for a caffeine fix
- Stands with hands on hips
Someone who is erudite
- Quotes famous people
- Quotes well-known literary works
- Over enunciates
- Smokes a pipe
- Uses phrases like "did you know that?"
- Drinks brandy out of a snifter
- Wears a cravat
- Takes glasses off and cleans them
- Speaks multiple languages
- Scoffs under breath about things taking place
Someone who is organized and/or focused
- Tilts head to the side when listening
- Is wide-eyed and intense
- Moves quickly from one task to another
- Makes multiple to-do lists
- Wears perfectly coordinated clothing
- Looks at watch often
- Steeples hands
- Rocking back and forth on heels
Someone who is disorganized and/or unfocused
- Has unkempt hair
- Is always late
- Wears mismatched clothing
- Wears clothing with stains
- Always loses track of time
- Scrambles around frantically
- Stares into the distance often
Someone who is frustrated
- Shakes head while looking upward
- Makes a "tsk" noise
- Rolls eyes
- Clenches fist
- Rolls eyes
- Exhales sharply
- Puts fingers to forehead while shaking head
- Draws in a deep breath and exhales slowly
- Says "ha!" in a sarcastic tone