#mind and personality

creativichee:

If your character has a trait you consider one of their key features and it is never challenged in anyway, that trait will probably have about as much impact as their “tiny mole on their left buttcheek” trait. 

For that trait NOT to fall totally flat, one or more of these things need to happen:

• The trait exacerbates a situation in a bad way. (An extremely honest and trusting character reveals an important secret to the Big Bad’s lackey)
  

• The character is given a choice to either act according to their traits or to subvert them. Often the subversion has the better outcome. They either maintain their trait and take a risk, or character development ensues. (A greedy character must escape. Leaving behind their riches goes against their very being, but it would allow them to escape easier. If they try to take some of their treasure with them, they do so at massive risk.)
  

•  The character is put in an environment or must work with a person that opposes their trait. (An extremely tidy person must live in their slob cousin’s filthy apartment for a week. / The character has a debilitating fear of being alone and they are stranded on their own on an island.)
  

• The character is put in a situation that requires them to suppress their trait (A hotheaded character needs to have polite discourse with someone they hate)
  

writing-with-morgan:

It helps to know everything possible about your Character. Everyone’s car is different, but it says a lot about a person without “telling” the audience.

• What kind of car is it- make, model, year, color, condition
• How messy is it- always messy, never messy, only in the back seats, only in the front seats, do they have a trash bag and never use it
  
• Do they have preparations- a spare, tools, blankets, pillow, clothes, extra sunglasses, extra chargers, maps
  
• What mementos have passengers left behind- grandma’s blanket when it was her car, a lucky penny, a kid’s meal toy, a tie left behind from a date
  
• How often do they have passengers
  
• What are the “house rules”- no fast food, riders pay for gas, driver picks the music
  

Just some things to think about to describe your Character (main or secondary) by showing the reader instead of telling them.