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.

Show Don't TELL IV

Each of your characters should have a distinct manner of speech. The obvious example is proficiency with language.

For instance, Bob is ESL (English as a 2nd Language) speaker, Diana speaks very cultured Queen’s English, and Miss Lily is a southerner—their way of expressing the same thing will be entirely different.

Bob: What is it that you do for the work?
Diana: In what area are you employed?
Miss Lily: Whatch y'all do for a living?

Does your character punctuate her dialogue with “um” or “like”? Or, perhaps they use a lot of slang. Here again is where the tv and your writer’s notebook comes into play.

Be careful with transliterations of people's speech. You don't want to over do it and importantly you don't want to offend someone.

Show DON'T Tell III

Last tip described how to find mannerisms to describe a character. Tip III piggybacks on the mannerism theme and will provide you with a unique way to describe what a character's looks.

Describing a main character's physical attributes is important but a long list of descriptors will put a reader to sleep, if they do more than scan through, that is.

Make use of mannerisms and habits of your character to describe physical attributes (if they are important).

For instance, one main character is bald or balding. Don’t give us a point by point description of the man, show it: Lex ran a hand over his bald head before he answered the question.

Smoothly included in the narrative, this statement not only shows action, it gives a crucial piece of the character's description and let's us know that he paused and considered before answering.

Show Don't Tell II

Writers ask me how I am able to think of creative ways in which to show my characters' emotions and actions. An easy answer: I conduct research. Oh, and add it to my on-going list in my writer's notebook behind the tab: Mannerisms.

Study people’s mannerisms. You can do this while watching tv or sitting on a park bench—a visit to the local shopping mall is a prime location. Some people are very animated with hand gestures while others use facial expressions that show emotion without uttering a word.

Make sure you always have your writer’s notebook close at hand, whether it be a small pad of paper or an actual notebook, to be able to jot these mannerisms down before you forget them. I always keep a pad of paper in my pocket at work, in a compartment of my car, and by the television for this purpose.

Remember to match the mannerism to the character. You won't see Horatio Caine stick thumbs in his ears, wiggle his fingers and say "Nah, nah, nah, nah-nah" to the bad guy leaving on the prison bus. In one smooth movement he'll settle sunglasses on his nose then stand hands on hips to watch as the bus pulls away. Calamity Kid, on the other hand . . .