In a new post, Janice Hardy says a few small details can help you understand your character and reveal them to your reader. “What does your character feel is important enough to carry around with them?” Hardy asks. “What items give a sense of the plot?”
Your characters might carry things in their purse, pocket, or backpack. Much of it is useless or utilitarian, but you can express your characters’ individuality by having them carry something sentimental or unique. Hardy suggests an exercise:
List three to five items your character would carry or keep with them.
Don’t pick common items, like a handkerchief or car keys. Think carefully about what your character might have. Keep items that say something about your character and relate to the plot, conflict, or theme of your novel. Characters in a zombie novel will each have some type of survival gear, but only one will have a photo of a woman in his pocket. If that woman isn’t his wife, you’ve expressed character and created conflict and intrigue, with one small detail.
When you make your list, pick items that reveal something about who your character is when no one’s looking. “Little details often make the difference between good and awesome,” Hardy says. “It’s the extra thought that pulls the greatness from a character and fleshes them out for a reader.”
