Trying to make your character stand out? Or maybe they’re coming across a little flat? If so, adding a few quirks might be the missing piece.
Quirks are those small but specific traits that help turn an ordinary character into someone readers remember.
In this article, you’ll find almost 400 character quirks to help bring your characters to life.
Table of contents
What Are Character Quirks?
A character quirk is a small, specific detail that sets your character apart.
It’s not a big personality trait or a major plot point. It’s the subtle stuff. The way they hum while thinking. The way they avoid eye contact in crowds. The way they always sit with their back to the wall.
These details can show up in appearance, behavior, habits, or speech. But no matter where they show up, they tell us something deeper about the person behind the quirk.
Famous examples? Think Harry Potter’s lightning scar. Katniss Everdeen’s instinct with a bow. Spider-Man cracking jokes while dodging punches. Superheroes, by the way, are full of quirks if you’re ever looking for inspiration.
Why Are Character Quirks Important?
Quirks add texture. They give your character edges, angles, and depth.
Without them, characters can start to blend together. But add just one memorable trait, and suddenly that character becomes someone the reader can picture and remember.
They also help your story feel more grounded. Even the most outlandish plots work better when the characters feel real. And nothing feels more real than the tiny habits, tics, or tells that make us human.
How to Use Character Quirks in Your Novel
You can develop quirks when you first create the character, or you can let them show up naturally as the story unfolds. Either way, the key is to make sure they feel organic. If a quirk feels forced or random, it can distract from the story instead of adding to it.
Here are a few strategies for weaving quirks into your writing:
- Make them matter. A quirk shouldn’t just be extra fluff. Ideally, it should reveal something about the character or influence how they act. You can even use quirks to move the plot forward or highlight character growth.
- Use contrast to your advantage. Instead of choosing a quirk that fits the character perfectly, try something that feels unexpected. A tough warrior who’s terrified of frogs. A detective who never remembers names. These combinations can create tension, humor, or insight.
- Avoid cliches. The more common a quirk is, the less likely it is to stand out. Try mixing traits or coming up with something new. That said, don’t be weird for the sake of being weird. Even the most unusual quirk should still say something meaningful about your character.
Once you’ve identified a character’s quirk, include it in your character profile. You can also explore it through writing exercises or character interviews. Sometimes the best quirks emerge when you let your character speak in their own voice.
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Check It OutHow NOT to Use Character Quirks
The biggest mistake you can make with character quirks is leaning on clichés or stereotypes. Not only do they make characters feel flat and predictable, but in some cases, they can veer into territory that’s insensitive or offensive.
Here are a few examples of quirks that are either overused or best avoided:
- Talking to themselves constantly
- Staring off into space while thinking
- Always assuming others are wrong or beneath them
- Describing a character solely by pale skin
- Smirking or using a crooked smile as a default
- Being clumsy to the point of caricature
- Always putting themselves down
Quirks are meant to make a character feel real. But if they’re too obvious, too repetitive, or too disconnected from the character’s personality, they’ll do more harm than good. Focus on quirks that deepen the character or support the story, and always steer clear of anything that feels lazy or overdone.
The Ultimate List of Character Quirks
All right, so now that we understand how to use character quirks in your novel, let's get into our ultimate list of character habits.
You can use these to brainstorm ideas for your characters, or combine them in specific ways to make original quirks.
However you do it, I hope you enjoy this list:
Physical Quirks
Many character quirks show up in a person’s physical traits or behaviors. These details might be obvious to others, or something the character tries to hide. Here are some examples you can draw from:
- Has a lot of freckles
- Has a lot of tattoos, or an unusual tattoo
- Is always too cold or hot
- Has asymmetrical features
- Has an athletic build
- Has two eyes of different colors
- A distinguishing feature like a mole or noticeable scar
- Wears strange glasses
- Is extremely tall or short
- Is very thin or fat
- Wears braces
- Has messy, disheveled hair
- Has perfect here
- The shape of the nose
- Has acne, eczema or other skin problems
- A lazy eye
- A specific birthmark
- An unusual eye color
- An unusual hair color or style
- Has very long fingernails
- Bad breath
- A unique allergy
- A fidget or
- Large feet
- Very hairy arms or legs
- Left-Handed or ambidextrous
- Has a physical tic
- Talks loudly or whispers a lot
- Has an accent
- Is extremely ticklish, especially in certain places
- Shows hygiene issues such as not showering regularly; smelling bad; always having greasy hair etc.
- Always wears a hat, even indoors
- Has a noticeable limp or uneven gait
- Constantly cracks their knuckles
- Has unusually long limbs or fingers
- Blinks more than average
- Wears gloves in all seasons
- Wears a signature color all the time
- Has trouble sitting still
- Has unusually expressive eyebrows
- Always wears socks that don’t match
- Keeps their nails painted at all times, even chipped
- Rarely makes eye contact
- Wears excessive cologne or perfume
- Avoids mirrors at all costs
- Has a nervous habit like chewing on their sleeve or tapping their teeth with a pen
Clothing/Accessories Quirks
Clothing often says more about a character’s personality than their physical appearance. It’s one of the easiest ways to signal something unique, eccentric, or consistent about who they are:
- Always wears makeup
- Wears a specific article of clothing or jewelry
- Clothes always look perfectly pressed
- Likes to wear boots or any other type of shoes
- Always looks professional
- Always looks disheveled
- Clothing is mismatched
- Dresses in a flashy style
- Dresses in a dull style
- Is always wearing activewear
- Dresses in very revealing clothing
- Tends to overdress or underdress for any occasion
- Is bigger than the clothing he/she wears
- Only wears knockoffs or designer wear
- Likes to dress in styles for much younger people
- Wears oversized clothes
- Wears shorts even when it's cold outside
- Wears socks with their sandals
- Wears heels all the time
- Keeps up with the latest styles
- Always wears the same color
- Always wears the exact same type of clothing
- Always wears clothes that are way outdated
- Never irons their clothes
- Dresses in ethnic clothing
- Has a very unusual hair style or color when compared to the character's culture
- Spends an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.
- Makes up silly names for all of their outfits (ie: Pj's)
- Is always wearing pajamas or underclothes out in public.
- Always has a scarf on, regardless of season
- Refuses to wear shoes indoors or out
- Collects novelty T-shirts and wears them daily
- Has a signature accessory they’re never seen without
- Wears too many layers, even in warm weather
- Only shops at thrift stores and refuses new clothes
- Has a collection of hats for every occasion
- Is obsessed with a single brand or logo
- Pins buttons or patches to every outfit
- Always has ink or paint stains on their clothes
- Keeps sunglasses on even indoors
- Wears gloves all the time, even when impractical
- Mixes formal and casual wear in strange combinations
- Dresses in cosplay or costume pieces on regular days
- Always tucks in their shirt, no matter what they’re wearing
Personality Quirks
Some of the most rewarding quirks come from a character’s personality. These little traits can create tension, humor, or insight, and make your character feel like a real person.
- Is an adrenaline junkie
- Loves to talk about what they've accomplished
- Is extremely enthusiastic
- Is extroverted or introverted
- Makes snap decisions
- Judges other people too quickly
- Needs the approval of others
- Is obsessed with their own personal hygiene
- Trusts people too often
- Is a perfectionist
- Over plans
- Always looking for new adventures
- Doesn't like change
- Is suspicious of other people
- Takes credit for other people's work
- Likes to one-up people
- Roots for the underdog
- Very reactive and emotional
- Take things too personally
- Is a lovable teddy bear
- Argues a lot for no reason
- Prefers to go without a plan
- Doesn't like to touch people
- Control freak
- Never admit when they're wrong
- Can't tell a lie even to save their own life
- Is always patient
- Has a unique sense of humor
- Is stoic and it's hard to make them laugh
- Frequently complains
- Will do anything for friends or family
- Always cautious and careful
- Sleeps all the time
- Has a horrible or perfect sense of direction
- Loves to be the best at everything
- Overly humble
- Overly emotional in many situations
- Is always dating new people
- Is obsessed with the latest in pop culture
- Doesn't like to talk about their past
- Is obsessed with one particular thing or hobby
- Keeps to themselves for the most part.
- Is very forgetful and doesn't like to be reminded of things from the past
- Believes in aliens and UFOs
- Talks to animals as if they understand
- Always finds the silver lining, even in awful situations
- Avoids eye contact in conversations
- Over-apologizes for everything
- Holds grudges for way too long
- Laughs at inappropriate moments
- Recites movie lines to make a point
- Believes strongly in luck or superstitions
- Craves chaos or unpredictability
- Has strong opinions about minor topics
- Writes everything down in a journal, even while things are happening
- Avoids confrontation at all costs
- Refuses to follow trends or popular ideas
- Gets overwhelmed when making decisions
- Always plays devil’s advocate in arguments
Behavioral Quirks
Next, let's explore behavioral quirks. These are similar to personality quirks, but they tend to be more visible. Think of them as outward habits or repeated actions (things a reader might “see” a character doing again and again).
- Likes to sit facing or turned away from the door
- Bites their lip a lot
- Is a chain smoker
- Likes to chew gum
- Clears their throat frequently
- Uses a specific filler word often
- Likes to flip their hair
- Jingles keys
- Has a loud laugh
- Licks Their Lips A Lot
- Likes to hum
- Likes to move when talking
- Makes a lot of hand gestures when talking
- Paces a lot when thinking
- Prefers to sit at the end of a row
- Sniffs or scoffs a lot
- Snorts when laughing
- Taps or strokes their chin or nose when thinking
- Taps their fingernails on a hard surface
- Giggles frequently
- Uses air quotes when talking
- Has a distinctive laugh
- Whistles a lot
- Rolls their eyes a lot.
- Has made up words for common items
- Twitches often, particularly when nervous
- Fidgets with a ring or bracelet constantly
- Drums their fingers when impatient
- Nods excessively during conversation
- Bounces one leg when seated
- Pulls at their sleeves or collar
- Always needs to be holding something (pen, coin, etc.)
- Avoids stepping on cracks or specific tiles
- Has to knock on wood when making a bold statement
- Sticks out their tongue slightly when concentrating
- Rechecks door locks multiple times
- Tilts their head when listening
- Always bites the end of a pen or pencil
- Talks with their hands even when alone
- Fidgets with zippers, strings, or loose threads
- Carries a lucky object and touches it often
Food-related quirks
Everyone eats, but not everyone eats the same way. Giving your character a unique food-related habit can add depth, create contrast with other characters, or spark interesting dialogue and tension.
- Always orders the same thing
- Scarfs down the food
- Always brings a snack wherever they go
- Belches loudly after eating
- Is constantly talking about diet
- Drinks a lot of coffee or tea
- Eats while driving
- Is a very delicate eater
- Comments on other people's food
- Lets everyone know that they are vegan
- Is a messy eater
- Only eats organic food
- Will eat off of other people's plates
- Prefers junk food or home-cooked meals
- Overeats in private
- Is a picky eater
- Takes huge bites of food
- Tucks a napkin into their shirt before eating
- Doesn't like to eat in front of other people
- Only eats after they see other people eat first
- Only eats after everyone else has finished eating
- Gulps down their drink or beer
- Is frequently talking about food.
- Prefers only healthy snacks and drinks, but will eat junk food in private
- Will try anything once when it comes to new foods/drinks
- Likes to cook for others more than themselves
- Cuts all food into tiny pieces before eating
- Hates sharing food, even with close friends
- Always asks for extra sauce, no matter the dish
- Eats dessert first
- Refuses to eat leftovers
- Counts the number of chews per bite
- Always brings homemade hot sauce
- Sneaks snacks into places where food isn't allowed
- Refuses to eat food that touches other food on the plate
- Talks with their mouth full
- Has themed days (e.g., “Taco Tuesday” every week, without fail)
- Prefers eating with their hands, even when utensils are expected
- Smells food before every bite
- Tries to guess ingredients out loud while chewing
- Always volunteers to be the taste-tester when cooking is involved
Body Quirks
Body quirks aren’t about how a character looks but about how they move. These small, often unconscious behaviors can reveal a lot about a person’s energy, confidence, or nervous habits.
- Frequently adjusts their sleeves
- Bounces their legs when sitting
- Has a peppy, bouncy walk
- Walks with purpose
- Cracks knuckles a lot
- Enters a room timidly
- Swings their arms a lot or not at all when walking
- Walks without purpose
- Bites nails or picks at nail polish
- Often pulls down their jacket or skirt
- Scratches their head
- Scratches their face
- Bobs their foot when sitting with crossed legs
- Takes large or tiny steps
- Pushes past people
- Likes to pop their back
- Walks with a limp
- Holds their weight on one side when standing
- Leans back in the chair
- Leans toward people when they are speaking
- Leans against the wall and standing
- Props her feet up on furniture
- Text there hands behind her head when seated
- Often squirms when sitting
- Stands or sits extremely still
- Hangs her hands straight at their side
- Leans away from people
- Tends to slouch
- Likes to stretch a lot
- There head facing down most of the time
- Rubs their neck when thinking
- Shifts from foot to foot when waiting
- Tends to cross their arms, even in casual settings
- Flails a little when excited
- Carries themselves with a rigid posture
- Tends to pace when deep in thought
- Taps their foot when impatient
- Cracks their neck habitually
- Walks on their toes rather than heels
- Hugs themselves when nervous
- Constantly fixes their posture after slouching
- Always stands at an angle, never facing others directly
- Keeps hands in pockets almost all the time
- Often clasps their hands behind their back
- Sits with one leg folded under them, even in formal settings
Competency Quirks
Some quirks come from what a character is unusually good at… or hilariously bad at. These skills (or lack thereof) can be great tools for adding realism, humor, or plot twists to your story.
Strength-based Quirks:
- Great at cooking
- Plays a musical instrument
- Has an artistic talent (i.e. drawing, painting, or sculpting)
- Great at impressions
- A ventriloquist
- Can do magic tricks
- Speaks many languages
- Knows a lot of useless trivia
- An expert hacker
- Can build anything
- Great at logical reasoning
- Great at debate
- A photographic memory
- Connects with animals
- Empathetic and good at understanding people
- A fast runner
- A contortionist
- Has a superpower
- Isn't afraid of anything
- Skilled in lockpicking
- Memorizes full books or movie scripts for fun
- Exceptionally good at mimicking handwriting
- Can guess someone’s drink order just by looking at them
- Excellent whistler
- Always knows which way is north
- Can recite long poems or speeches from memory
- Great at calming people down in a crisis
- Can throw their voice
- Fixes broken electronics with improvised tools
Weakness-based Quirks
- Can't drive/drive well
- Never punctual
- You can't read their handwriting
- Terrified of public speaking
- Socially awkward
- Shops too often
- An alcoholic
- A kleptomaniac
- A pathological liar
- Manipulative of their friends
- Gets jealous easily
- Passive agressive
- Has a strong phobia or irrational fear
- Has an unhealthy obsession
- Burnt everything they’ve ever tried to cook
- Can’t follow instructions — even simple ones
- Awkward silence filler who always says the wrong thing
- Gets motion sickness in the weirdest situations
- Freezes when given a compliment
Communication Quirks
Some of the most memorable character quirks come out when they talk. Dialogue is a natural place to show what makes your character different, whether it's how they speak, what they say, or what they avoid.
Here are some examples:
- Can't stand silence when chatting
- Speaks slowly and deliberately, thinking through each word
- Over-describes things
- Doesn't speak unless addressed directly
- Exaggerates everything
- Enunciates
- Uses their arms a lot when speaking
- Avoids eye contact
- Doesn't say what they want directly
- Must have the last word
- Has nicknames for everyone
- Pauses for a long time when speaking
- Restates what other people say
- Talks to themself
- Talks very fast
- Talks with a sing-songy cadence
- Has over-exaggerated expressions
- Has a specific dialect
- Winks a lot when communicating
- Has a unique speech pattern
- Answers questions with unrelated stories
- Uses outdated slang or idioms no one else understands
- Speaks in rhymes when nervous
- Whispers even in normal conversation
- Overuses formal titles (e.g., always says “Mr.” or “Ma’am”)
- Gives long-winded metaphors nobody asks for
- Spells out words in conversation (e.g., “That was R-U-D-E”)
- Finishes other people’s sentences
- Interrupts often without realizing it
- Uses air quotes excessively
Random Quirks
Some character quirks don’t fit neatly into a specific category — but that doesn’t make them any less useful. These oddball details can hint at personality, backstory, or hidden contradictions that make a character more human.
Here are some examples:
- Gets hiccups often
- Is highly politically active
- Is easy to influence
- Snores at night
- Takes in stray animals
- Looks at the bright side in every situation
- Only drinks sparkling water
- Walks around barefoot
- Sings opera in the shower
- Does meal prep
- Looks in every mirror
- Is superstitious (won't walk under a ladder, etc.)
- Prefers the dark
- Doesn't read old/new books
- Prefers to go out on the town by themselves
- Loves watching “bad” movies
- Is a thoughtful gift-giver
- Leaves notes in library books for future readers
- Uses a tissue to touch surfaces in public spaces
- Calls their mom every day
- Clucks their tongue a lot
- Quotes movies all the time
- Claims to know how they will die
- Grows all their own food
- Can recite poetry
- Has a vision board
- Recycles regularly
- Loves the beach but hates swimming
- Has a strong Instagram feed and following
- Has an imaginary friend
- Names their car, laptop, or houseplants
- Sleeps with a night light
- Carries a good luck charm
- Keeps score of everything (even conversations)
- Obsessed with horoscopes
- Writes Yelp reviews for everything
- Keeps candy in every pocket or bag
- Refuses to use public restrooms
- Constantly corrects grammar, even in text messages
- Thinks every dream has a deeper meaning
Choose Character Quirks Wisely
With hundreds of quirks to choose from, it can be tempting to load your characters up with a dozen. But a little goes a long way. Pick one or two that truly fit, and let them grow naturally as you write.
Feel free to invent your own as well. The quirks that work best are often the ones you won’t find on any list.
And if you have ideas we didn’t include, we’d love to hear them. Send them through our contact page, and we just might add them in a future update.
The more you layer in personality flaws, irrational fears, or odd little habits, the more real your characters will feel, and the more likely they’ll stick with your readers long after the story ends.
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