Character traits help the reader learn more about your characters and connect with them on a personal level. Traits can also help a reader understand why the character does certain things throughout the book.
Cues work the same way, except they help let the reader know what is going on inside the characters head and can actually work in with the traits by showing the traits in action. for example, your character trait may be shy and you have put your character in a situation where they have to ask someone a question. They can show they are shy by rubbing the back of their neck.
In this blog post, I am going to list the different categories of character traits, talk about the different cues and what they can signal and then finish it off with a list of Character traits. There are thousands out there so I will only list a few.
Types of character traits
- Values, morals and beliefs
- Phyical and emotional
- Personality
Some cues and what they could indicate
- Being tired, Restless, Breathing rapidly, Sweating, Trouble concentrating (Anxiety)
- Pacing, Fidgetting, Swaying, Wandering (Nervous)
- Avoidance, Changes in mood, (PTSD)
- Unable to concentrate, Tired, Unhappy, Lacking confidence, Loss of appetite (Depression)
Different character traits. (Rember characters need good and bad traits)
- Humble
- Leader
- Loyal
- Selfish
- Hard-working
- Independent
- Honest
- Poor
- Neat
- Messy
- Mischievous
- Tireless
- Patriotic
- Dreamer
- Quiet
- Shy
- Bright
- Respectful
- Mature
- Untrustworthy
- Calm
- Rough
- Neglectful
