In a guest post on the Killzone blog, Becca Puglisi says that giving your character a unique talent is key to developing a well-rounded personality on the page. “One of the markers that can really boost individuality and memorability for a character is their particular talents or skills,” she says. “Many times, a character’s talent says something about who they are: it may tie into their belief system, meet a missing need, honor an influential person in their life, or reveal associated personality traits.”
But how do you pick one that helps your character stand out? Puglisi shares some advice for choosing an original talent.
- Go for Something Unusual. “Instead of being a strong runner or artist, maybe your character could have a talent that’s a little less mainstream, like sleight of hand, lip-reading, or a knack for languages,” she suggests. “Your skilled forager could be urban rather than rural, fishing goodies out storm drains or dumpsters.”
- Encourage Your Character to Specialize. Take a popular skill and make it more specific, Puglisi advices. Maybe your mechanic specializes in machines from a certain era or your assassin only uses a very particular weapon. “Breathe new life into a ho-hum strength by narrowing the focus,” Puglisi says.
- Give a Common Talent a Twist. “A character’s photographic memory may only be reliable for a few hours after events have happened,” Puglisi writes. “A person who blows off steam by knitting might use their talent to create blankets for preemies or hats for the homeless.” These kinds of talents can also reveal personality traits or other passions.
- Pair It with an Unexpected Personality Trait. A mathematician may be analytical, but could also be passionate or highly emotional. A gifted orator might be painfully shy in one-on-one conversations. If your character’s talent is ordinary or common, use personality traits to help them stand out.
