Memorable characters and those that enhance our enjoyment of a story are often over-the-top characters.  They don't speak like any other character and they don't behave like any other character. They have unique personalities and an unusual habit or two.

Great characters are created when you give them unique . . .

1. Personalities and behaviors

           Great characters have an unusual personality trait, a special look, or a set of behaviors that make them standout. They look, dress, and behave differently. Think Miss Marple, Hercules Poirot, or Jesse Stone. Think Columbo, Sherlock Holmes, Captain Ahab, Scrooge, and Scarlet O'hara.

2. Identifiable quirks: 

            Miss Marple is an intelligent, nondescript, seemingly modest old woman who unassertively leads police to solve a crime.  

            Poirot is a Belgian, penguin-looking detective who never takes off his tie, vest or jacket even in the Egyptian desert. He is easily irritated by anything nontraditional or energy exerting.  

           Jesse Stone is an alcoholic, cap-wearing police chief who ends each night with a drink and fails to stop emotionally agonizing phone calls from his ex-wife. 

 3. Specific dialogue patterns:

         Marple is quiet, deliberate, and unassuming in her speech. She always speaks as though she doesn't want to step on the toes of the investigating police but all the while she is telling them what conclusions to make.  

          Poirot believes he is more intelligent than anyone else and often speaks of his "little grey cells," in a very Belgian accent.  

          Stone's refrain to many a question is often,  "I'm the police chief, I know everything."

          Build a memorable main character of your own and tell us about it on our blog.   Here's an example:  

         A 90-year-old criminal-law attorney; short wiry hair pulled into a bun; dresses in orange print dresses and suits; never answers a question without repeating the question first; always wins her cases.

        An over-weight male detective; a word lover (logophile); wears black hospital shoes; chomps down antacids by the dozens. 

       Now you try. 

       To really make things interesting, try writing a 4-line plot description for one of the characters here or one that will be posted on the blog.