150+ Useful Character Quirks (Plus a Few Clichés to Avoid)

150+ Useful Character Quirks (Plus a Few Clichà ©s to Avoid) 150+ Useful Character Quirks (Plus a Few Clichà ©s to Avoid) Writing great characters is a constant balancing act - you want each one to have certain quirks and flaws, but you don’t want them to be SO zany that they’re off-putting to readers. So how can you come up with realistic traits that humanize your characters, without falling into clichà ©?Luckily, this post offers a list of over 150 unique character quirks and traits that avoid clichà © and can help make the people in your story much more relatable! But before we get into that, here are a few notes on what character quirks are in stories and how to use them. Check out this list of over 150 character quirks (that you can steal for your book). What are character quirks? Making sourdough - so quirky! (Photo by  Nathan Dumlao)This section contains suggestions for unique strengths and talents, as well as weaknesses or negative traits one might possess.Strengths/talents:Fantastic cook or bakerSkilled musician (piano, guitar, violin, etc.)Artistic talent (drawing, painting, sculpting, etc.)Model athlete (football, hockey, swimming, etc.)Great at voices/ventriloquyCan do sleight-of-hand - may be a pickpocketSpeaks multiple languages, even obscure onesKnows everything about historyMathematical or scientific geniusBrilliant coder and can hack into any databaseSkilled mechanical inventorCan build or put together anythingSuper-quick logical reasoningExceptional memory/genius IQ (several of the above might fall under this one)Special connection with animalsSuper empathetic and understanding of other peopleExtremely fast runnerContortionist (can twist their body into any shape)Psychic talent (can predict the future)Amazing mechanicSuper strength, flying, in visibility or other superpowersUnusually high tolerance for painSurvival skills like hunting and fishingQuick reflexes, acts fast in a crisisBrave and fearless, not scared of anythingAble to talk their way out of any trouble/invent stories on the flyWeaknesses/negative traits:Awful driverAlways running lateIllegible handwritingTerrible at public speakingSocially awkward - hard for them to make friendsHas tons of credit card debt from online shoppingSelf-destructive and always wants what’s worst for themGets blackout drunk every time they go outExtremely conceited or arrogantCompulsive liarManipulative of friendsGets jealous over nothingOften mean for no reasonUnbelievably self-centeredExtremely passive-aggressiveArachnophobia (irrational fear of spiders)Coulrophobia (irrational fear of clowns)Agoraphobia (irrational fear of leaving the house)Pantophobia (fear of everything)Be careful how you incorporate these strengths and weaknesses, as you don’t want their inclusion to seem unnatural. After all, personality traits tend to reveal themselves on a daily basis, but this may not be true for their special talents and fears.Indeed, sometimes the best way to use quirks like these is to surprise your reader with it at the right moment. Maybe it’s the eleventh hour, and your MC has nowhere else to turn, only for their friend’s special skill to save the day!Also, as you can tell from both lists, there’s quite a range of strengths and weaknesses you can give your characters. Some of those talents require more practice than others, and some of the weaknesses are greater flaws than others - for instance, being a mean or manipulative person is obviously much worse than having bad handwriting. However, it’s good to be familiar with a wide range of both major and minor quirks so you can create more well-rounded characters.MiscellaneousThese are idiosyncrasies that don’t really fit into any of the above categories, but could still be of good use in your story.Dresses all in one colorBedroom is decorated exactly like a Pinterest pictureWon’t drink still water, only sparklingRefuses to use headphones and blasts their music in publicAlways dresses too nicely for the occasionWalks around barefoot, even in stores and other public placesHates being inside, sleeps and goes to the bathroom outdoorsCan’t help but look in every mirror they passWears a small plastic backpack everywherePreps their meals three weeks in advanceDrinks shots of espresso all day longSings opera in the showerMakes their own (terrible) abstract art and hangs it on their wallsGets super excited about Christmas and then really depressed in JanuaryRefuses to wear glasses even though they need themCarries around a secret teddy bearHas been wearing the same friendship bracelet for three yearsFastidiously lint-rolls all their clothingWill a shop or restaurant if someone walks in with a babyExtremely superstitious (knocks on wood, avoids the number 13, etc.)Drops everything other people ask them to holdLikes to go out dancing by themselvesPrefers to have the lights off or dimmed at all timesOnly reads books written before 1900Only watches movies that get really bad reviewsAlways wears multiple sweaters on top of each otherWon’t eat anything that doesn’t have bread (at least on the side)Thinks they’re a time-traveler from the medieval eraGives friends and family excellent homemade presentsLeaves the office last every day so they can push all the chairs inHates jagged numbers (always fills their gas tank to the dollar, sends emails on the hour, etc.)Has an imaginary friend they still talk to, even in adulthoodOwns a lizard that they try and use as a guard dogListens exclusively to Britney SpearsLeaves little notes in library books for future readersUses tissues to hold onto poles on public transportationWears their hair in Princess Leia bunsNever goes a day without talking to their momHums â€Å"In the Hall of the Mountain King† when they get stressedClucks their tongue while walking, so they sound like a horseQuotes Pulp Fiction all the timeLoves hanging out in completely empty placesConvinced they’re going to die in a freak accidentGrows all their own food in their vegetable gardenNever pays for train or bus ticketsCan recite Shakespearean sonnetsRecycles and eats vegetarian, but only out of guiltHas a â€Å"vision board† posted on their ceilingLoves the beach but hates swimmingFlicks people in the forehead when they get annoyedLaughs at everything, even bad jokesCurates a great Instagram feed of street art Sings opera, owns a lizard, plus 50 more original quirks to use in your story 🎠¶Ã°Å¸ ¦Å½ Clichà ©d â€Å"quirks† to avoidGiving your characters interesting tics can cross-over into ham-fisted writing if your quirks are used way too much, like the following:Pale skinCrooked smileâ€Å"Intense† stareRelentless clumsinessArtificial hair colors that are supposedly naturalCharacters thinking they’re unattractive when everyone else thinks they’re beautifulBasically, any archetype that hasn’t been developed enoughWhen readers see these traits on the page, they roll their eyes and think, â€Å"Ugh, not again.† Many of these aren’t even quirks, but fairly common traits that the writer attempts to romanticize. Traits like these signify to the reader that the author has barely put any thought into developing their characters - they’ve just chosen ostensibly quirky features that are actually overused and ineffective. So stay away from them at all costs!As we said, the business of selecting and integrating quirks is more compl icated than it seems. But after reading through this guide, you should have a much better understanding of what they are and how to use them†¦ not to mention a tremendous variety of quirks from which to choose! So will your character be a gum-chewing code genius or a short-tempered contortionist? From here on out, it’s all up to you.What are some of your characters' quirks? Tell us in the comments below!

Which States Require the SAT Complete List

Which States Require the SAT Complete List SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The College Board offers a program calledSAT School Day, which, as the name suggests, allows schools to offer the SAT to students during the week, generally for free. In some states, all high school juniors are required to take the SAT under this program, while in others only some are. Read on to learn more about this program and what it means for you. Why Do Some States Require the SAT? When statewide testing started, Colorado and Illinoisdecided to partner with ACT, Inc., to use the ACT as theassessment for 11th graders.This plan was meant to eliminate an extra test for students who were already planning to apply to college whilealso encouraging those who weren't planning for college to consider it.Over the nextdecade and a half, the two states became 20, and the ACT replaced the SAT as the most popular college admissions test in the US. In 2010, the College Board introduced a similar program (calledSAT School Day) that was meant to increase access to the SAT for low-incomestudents. Although the program caught on in a few places (most notably Delaware),the SAT wasn't as widely accepted as an assessment test because it'sgenerally considered totest aptitude rather than knowledge.For the 2014-15 school year, only threestates offeredthe SAT free to all juniors, though certaindistricts orschools did so in a handful more. However,the redesigned SAT (released in 2016) seems to be shifting the momentum.One of the primary goals of the overhaul was to align the SAT with Common Core standards,making it far more appealing as an assessment test than the older version of the test. Which States Require the SAT? In total, 20states (plus Washington, DC) are contracted with the College Board to administer the SAT to some or all juniors for free. Let's go through the exact situation for each state, one at a time. (Note that these statements only apply to public school students.) Colorado As ofthe 2016-17 school year, all Colorado juniors in public schools will take the SAT. Connecticut As ofthe 2015-16 school year, all Connecticut juniors will take the SAT. Delaware In 2016, the SAT replaced Delaware's Smarter Assessment state test for 11th graders. District of Columbia Although it's not required, the SAT is offered for free to all juniors and seniors in Washington, DC. Idaho Each year, Idaho offers a free administration of the SAT, though it is not required. Illinois Beginning with the 2016-17 school year, all Illinois juniors must take the SAT. Maine Historically, Maine has required the SAT of all juniors, but in 2015the Department of Education made the testoptional (though still free). Michigan Michigan administered the SAT to juniors statewide for the first time in the 2015-16 school year. Previously, students were given the ACT. New Hampshire As of spring 2016, all New Hampshire juniors must take the SAT. Ohio To graduate high school in Ohio, students must meet threshold scores on the SAT or ACT. Oklahoma Students in Oklahoma must take either the SAT or ACT, with the choice of test being determined by each individual school district. Rhode Island Since the 2017-18 school year, all Rhode Island 11th graders must take the SAT. South Carolina Students in South Carolina must take either the SAT or ACT. Which test you take will be determined by your school district. Tennessee Students must take either the SAT or ACT. West Virginia All juniors must take the SAT unless taking the West Virginia Alternative Summer Assessment. Other States There are a number of other states where some schools or districts can administer the SAT to their students (either as an option or a requirement). These states include Arizona, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, and Texas. What Does Statewide Testing Mean for Your SATPrep? The SATisthe same whether you take it on a regular test date or on a state-administered date.Nonetheless, there are afew things to keep in mind if you're required to take the exam. #1: AFree Test Because the state foots the bill for its own administration of the exam,you won't have to pay any fees to take the SATon that date.This discount might or might not be important for you, but if it is, make sure to study for the statewide testing date.This free SAT also comes with four free score reports. There are other resources for low-income families as well. You might be eligible for twoSAT fee waivers, soyou'd be able to take the test a total of three times if you don't get the score you want the first time. #2: Free Study Materials The College Board has partnered with Khan Academy to providefree official SAT study materials to everyone(you'll just need to sign up for a free account). Be sure to do some practice with these materials if you're planning to take the SAT. In addition, your schoolmight have teachers includesome SAT prep in their classesor offer extra prep opportunities to students who want them. #3: No Effect on the Curve Contrary to popular belief,when you take the SAT will have no effect on your score. The SAT isn't really curved- at least not in the same way your math test in class might be curved. Instead, your raw score (the number of questions you get right) for each SAT section isequated into a scaled score (between 200 and 800) using a somewhat mysterious process based on the College Board's data and analysis.As a result,you're never directly measured against other students who take the same SAT as you. What's Next? If you're definitelyplanning to take the SAT,check outthis full breakdown of the test, learnhow to study for the SAT,andget tips on how to find the best official practice materials. If you're stillnot sure whether you want to take the SAT or not,try this quizto see if you might be better at the ACT instead! What states require the ACT? Check out our full list to learn whether you'll need to take the ACT. Want to learn more about the SAT but tired of reading blog articles? Then you'll love our free, SAT prep livestreams. Designed and led by PrepScholar SAT experts, these live video events are a great resource for students and parents looking to learn more about the SAT and SAT prep. Click on the button below to register for one of our livestreams today!