Show Don't Tell V

Have you tried doing some type of character sketch for each of your main characters? It needn’t be formal. Mine is a rough list that contains possible situations and mannerisms.

For example, the reader can tell a lot about Calamity Kid by the way he approaches the ever-present Winterfresh Extra Gum.

Legacy approaches serious situations with humor and a certain lightness—the reader recognizes that the more light-hearted Legacy is, the more dire the circumstance.

e-girl responds to Calamity Kid in a different manner than she does when interacting with the rest of the body: she does the sister-thing.


Make a list of possible situations or emotions for your characters and then list some distinctive mannerisms—whether physical or speech—that identify their personalities, appearance, attitude, etc.

As you get further along in your story or novel, a quick reference to this list will ensure character continuity.