List of Words to Describe Someone Voice

adenoidal: if someone’s voice is adenoidal, some of the sound seems to come through their nose
appealing: an appealing look, voice etc shows that you want help, approval, or agreement
breathy: with loud breathing noises
brittle: if you speak in a brittle voice, you sound as if you are about to cry
croaky: if someone’s voice sounds croaky, they speak in a low rough voice that sounds as if they have a sore throat
dead: if someone’s eyes are dead, or if their voice is dead, they feel or show no emotion
disembodied: a disembodied voice comes from someone who you cannot see
flat: spoken in a voice that does not go up and down. This word is often used for describing the speech of people from a particular region.
fruity: a fruity voice or laugh is deep and strong in a pleasant way
grating: a grating voice, laugh, or sound is unpleasant and annoying
gravelly: a gravelly voice sounds low and rough
gruff: a gruff voice has a rough low sound
guttural: a guttural sound is deep and made at the back of your throat
high-pitched: a high-pitched voice or sound is very high
hoarse: someone who is hoarse or has a hoarse voice speaks in a low rough voice, usually because their throat is sore
honeyed: honeyed words or a honeyed voice sound very nice but you cannot trust the person who is speaking
husky: a husky voice is deep and sounds hoarse (=as if you have a sore throat), often in an attractive way
low adjective: a low voice or sound is quiet and difficult to hear
low adverb: in a deep voice, or with a deep sound
matter-of-fact: used about someone’s behaviour or voice
modulated: a modulated voice is controlled and pleasant to listen to
monotonous: a monotonous sound or voice is boring and unpleasant because it does not change in loudness or become higher or lower
nasal: someone with a nasal voice sounds as if they are speaking through their nose
orotund: an orotund voice is loud and clear
penetrating: a penetrating voice or sound is so high or loud that it makes you slightly uncomfortable
plummy: a plummy voice or way of speaking is considered to be typical of an English person of a high social class. This word shows that you dislike people who speak like this.
quietly: in a quiet voice
raucous: a raucous voice or noise is loud and sounds rough
ringing: a ringing sound or voice is very loud and clear
rough: a rough voice is not soft and is unpleasant to listen to
shrill: a shrill noise or voice is very loud, high, and unpleasant
silvery: a silvery voice or sound is clear, light, and pleasant
singsong: if you speak in a singsong voice, your voice rises and falls in a musical way
small: a small voice or sound is quiet
smoky: a smoky voice or smoky eyes are sexually attractive in a slightly mysterious way
softly spoken: someone who is softly spoken has a quiet gentle voice
sotto voce adjective, adverb: in a very quiet voice
stentorian: a stentorian voice sounds very loud and severe
strangled: a strangled sound is one that someone stops before they finish making it
strangulated: strangled
strident: a strident voice or sound is loud and unpleasant
taut: used about something such as a voice or expression that shows someone is nervous or angry
thick: if your voice is thick with an emotion, it sounds less clear than usual because of the emotion
thickly: with a low voice that comes mostly from your throat
thin: a thin voice or sound is high and unpleasant to listen to
throaty: a throaty sound is low and seems to come from deep in your throat
tight: a tight voice or expression shows that you are nervous or annoyed
toneless: a toneless voice does not express any emotion
tremulous: if something such as your voice or smile is tremulous, it is not steady, for example because you are afraid or excited
wheezy: a wheezy noise sounds as if it is made by someone who has difficulty breathing
wobbly: if your voice is wobbly, it goes up and down, usually because you are frightened, not confident, or are going to cry

List of Character’s Flaws

Absent-minded – Preoccupied to the extent of being unaware of one’s immediate surroundings. Abstracted, daydreaming, inattentive, oblivious, forgetful.
Abusive – Characterized by improper infliction of physical or psychological maltreatment towards another.
Addict – One who is addicted to a compulsive activity. Examples: gambling, drugs, sex.
Aimless – Devoid of direction or purpose.
Alcoholic – A person who drinks alcoholic substances habitually and to excess.
Anxious – Full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried; solicitous.
Arrogant – Having or displaying a sense of overbearing self-worth or self-importance. Inclined to social exclusiveness and who rebuff the advances of people considered inferior. Snobbish.
Audacious – Recklessly bold in defiance of convention, propriety, law, or the like; insolent; braze, disobedient.
Bad Habit – A revolting personal habit. Examples: picks nose, spits tobacco, drools, bad body odour.
Bigmouth – A loud-mouthed or gossipy person.
Bigot – One who is strongly partial to one’s own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.
Blunt – Characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion. Frank, callous, insensitive, brusque.
Bold – In a bad sense, too forward; taking undue liberties; over assuming or confident; lacking proper modesty or restraint; rude; impudent. Abrupt, brazen, cheeky, brassy, audacious.
Callous – They are hardened to emotions, rarely showing any form of it in expression. Unfeeling. Cold.
Childish – Marked by or indicating a lack of maturity; puerile.
Complex – An exaggerated or obsessive concern or fear. (List specific complex.)
Cruel – Mean to anyone or anything, without care or regard to consequences and feelings.
Cursed – A person who has befallen a prayer for evil or misfortune, placed under a spell, or borne into an evil circumstance, and suffers for it. Damned.
Dependent – Unable to exist, sustain oneself, or act appropriately or normally without the assistance or direction of another.
Deranged – Mentally decayed. Insane. Crazy. Mad. Psychotic.
Dishonest – Given to or using fraud, cheating; deceitful, deceptive, crooked, underhanded.
Disloyal – Lacking loyalty. Unfaithful, perfidious, traitorous, treasonable
Disorder – An ailment that affects the function of mind or body. (List the disorders name if they have one.) See the Mental Disorder List.
Disturbed – Showing some or a few signs or symptoms of mental or emotional illness. Confused, disordered, neurotic, troubled.
Dubious – Fraught with uncertainty or doubt. Undecided, doubtful, unsure.
Dyslexic – Affected by dyslexia, a learning disorder marked by impairment of the ability to recognize and comprehend written words.
Egotistical – Characteristic of those having an inflated idea of their own importance. Boastful, pompous.
Envious – Showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another’s advantages; covetous, jealous.
Erratic – Deviating from the customary course in conduct or opinion; eccentric: erratic behaviour. Eccentric, bizarre, outlandish, strange.
Fanatical – Fanatic outlook or behaviour especially as exhibited by excessive enthusiasm, unreasoning zeal, or wild and extravagant notions on some subject.
Fickle – Erratic, changeable, unstable – especially with regard to affections or attachments; capricious.
Fierce – Marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions; inclined to react violently; fervid.
Finicky – Excessively particular or fastidious; difficult to please; fussy. Too much concerned with detail. Meticulous, fastidious, choosy, critical, picky, prissy, pernickety.
Fixated – In psychoanalytic theory, a strong attachment to a person or thing, especially such an attachment formed in childhood or infancy and manifested in immature or neurotic behaviour that persists throughout life. Fetish, quirk, obsession, infatuation.
Flirt -To make playfully romantic or sexual overtures; behaviour intended to arouse sexual interest. Minx. Tease.
Gluttonous – Given to excess in consumption of especially food or drink. Voracious, ravenous, wolfish, piggish, insatiable.
Gruff – Brusque or stern in manner or appearance. Crusty, rough, surly.
Gullible – Will believe any information given, regardless of how valid or truthful it is, easily deceived or duped.
Hard – A person who is difficult to deal with, manage, control, overcome, or understand. Hard emotions, hard hearted.
Hedonistic – Pursuit of or devotion to pleasure, especially to the pleasures of the senses.
Hoity-toity- Given to flights of fancy; capricious; frivolous. Prone to giddy behaviour, flighty.
Humourless – The inability to find humour in things, and most certainly in themselves.
Hypocritical – One who is always contradicting their own beliefs, actions or sayings. A person who professes beliefs and opinions for others that he does not hold. Being a hypocrite.
Idealist – One whose conduct is influenced by ideals that often conflict with practical considerations. One who is unrealistic and impractical, guided more by ideals than by practical considerations.
Idiotic – Marked by a lack of intelligence or care; foolish or careless.
Ignorant – Lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact. Showing or arising from a lack of education or knowledge.
Illiterate – Unable to read and write.
Immature – Emotionally undeveloped; juvenile; childish.
Impatient – Unable to wait patiently or tolerate delay; restless. Unable to endure irritation or opposition; intolerant.
Impious – Lacking piety and reverence for a god/gods and their followers.
Impish – Naughtily or annoyingly playful.
Incompetent – Unable to execute tasks, no matter how the size or difficulty.
Indecisive – Characterized by lack of decision and firmness, especially under pressure.
Indifferent – The trait of lacking enthusiasm for or interest in things generally, remaining calm and seeming not to care; a casual lack of concern. Having or showing little or no interest in anything; languid; spiritless.
Infamy – Having an extremely bad reputation, public reproach, or strong condemnation as the result of a shameful, criminal, or outrageous act that affects how others view them.
Intolerant – Unwilling to tolerate difference of opinion and narrow-minded about cherished opinions.
Judgemental – Inclined to make and form judgements, especially moral or personal ones, based on one’s own opinions or impressions towards others/practices/groups/religions based on appearance, reputation, occupation, etc.
Klutz – Clumsy. Blunderer.
Lazy – Resistant to work or exertion; disposed to idleness.
Lewd – Inclined to, characterized by, or inciting to lust or lechery; lascivious. Obscene or indecent, as language or songs; salacious.
Liar – Compulsively and purposefully tells false truths more often than not. A person who has lied or who lies repeatedly.
Lustful – Driven by lust; preoccupied with or exhibiting lustful desires.
Masochist – The deriving of sexual gratification, or the tendency to derive sexual gratification, from being physically or emotionally abused. A willingness or tendency to subject oneself to unpleasant or trying experiences.
Meddlesome – Intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner, given to meddling; interfering.
Meek – Evidencing little spirit or courage; overly submissive or compliant; humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness.
Megalomaniac – A psycho pathological condition characterized by delusional fantasies of wealth, power, or omnipotence.
Naïve – Lacking worldly experience and understanding, simple and guileless; showing or characterized by a lack of sophistication and critical judgement.
Nervous – Easily agitated or distressed; high-strung or jumpy.
Non-violent – Abstaining from the use of violence. 
Nosey – Given to prying into the affairs of others; snoopy. Offensively curious or inquisitive.
Obsessive – An unhealthy and compulsive preoccupation with something or someone.
Oppressor – A person of authority who subjects others to undue pressures, to keep down by severe and unjust use of force or authority.
Overambitious – Having a strong excessive desire for success or achievement.
Overconfident – Excessively confident; presumptuous.
Overemotional – Excessively or abnormally emotional. Sensitive about themselves and others, more so than the average person.
Overprotective – To protect too much; coddle.
Overzealous – Marked by excessive enthusiasm for and intense devotion to a cause or idea.
Pacifist – Opposition to war or violence as a means of resolving disputes. (Can double as a merit in certain cases)
Paranoid – Exhibiting or characterized by extreme and irrational fear or distrust of others.
Peevish – Expressing fretfulness and discontent, or unjustifiable dissatisfaction. Cantankerous, cross, ill-tempered, testy, captious, discontented, crotchety, cranky, ornery.
Perfectionist – A propensity for being displeased with anything that is not perfect or does not meet extremely high standards.
Pessimist – A tendency to stress the negative or unfavourable or to take the gloomiest possible view.
Pest – One that pesters or annoys, with or without realizing it. Nuisance. Annoying. Nag.
Phobic – They have a severe form of fear when it comes to this one thing. Examples: Dark, Spiders, Cats 
Practical – Level-headed, efficient, and unspeculative. No-nonsense. 
Predictable – Easily seen through and assessable, where almost anyone can predict reactions and actions of said person by having met or known them even for a short time.
Proud – Filled with or showing excessive self-esteem and will often shirk help from others for the sake of pride.
Rebellious – Defying or resisting some established authority, government, or tradition; insubordinate; inclined to rebel.
Reckless – Heedless. Headstrong. Foolhardy. Unthinking boldness, wild carelessness and disregard for consequences.
Remorseless – Without remorse; merciless; pitiless; relentless.
Rigorous – Rigidly accurate; allowing no deviation from a standard; demanding strict attention to rules and procedures.
Sadist – The deriving of sexual gratification or the tendency to derive sexual gratification from inflicting pain or emotional abuse on others. Deriving of pleasure, or the tendency to derive pleasure, from cruelty.
Sadomasochist – Both sadist and masochist combined.
Sarcastic – A subtle form of mockery in which an intended meaning is conveyed obliquely.
Sceptic – One who instinctively or habitually doubts, questions, or disagrees with assertions or generally accepted conclusions.
Seducer – To lead others astray, as from duty, rectitude, or the like; corrupt. To attempt to lead or draw someone away, as from principles, faith, or allegiance.
Selfish – Concerned chiefly or only with oneself.
Self-Martyr – One who purposely makes a great show of suffering in order to arouse sympathy from others, as a form of manipulation, and always for a selfish cause or reason.
Self-righteous – Piously sure of one’s own righteousness; moralistic. Exhibiting pious self-assurance. Holier-than-thou, sanctimonious.
Senile – Showing a decline or deterioration of physical strength or mental functioning, esp. short-term memory and alertness, as a result of old age or disease.
Shallow – Lacking depth of intellect or knowledge; concerned only with what is obvious.
Smart Ass – Thinks they know it all, and in some ways they may, but they can be greatly annoying and difficult to deal with at times, especially in arguments.
Soft-hearted – Having softness or tenderness of heart that can lead them into trouble; susceptible of pity or other kindly affection. They cannot resist helping someone they see in trouble, suffering or in need, and often don’t think of the repercussions or situation before doing so.
Solemn – Deeply earnest, serious, and sober.
Spineless – Lacking courage. Cowardly, wimp, lily-livered, gutless.
Spiteful – Showing malicious ill will and a desire to hurt; motivated by spite; vindictive person who will look for occasions for resentment. Vengeful.
Spoiled – Treated with excessive indulgence and pampering from earliest childhood, and has no notion of hard work, self-care or money management; coddled, pampered. Having the character or disposition harmed by pampering or over-solicitous attention.
Squeamish – Excessively fastidious and easily disgusted.
Stubborn – Unreasonably, often perversely unyielding; bull-headed. Firmly resolved or determined; resolute.
Superstitious – An irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear from an irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome.
Tactless – Lacking or showing a lack of what is fitting and considerate in dealing with others.
Temperamental – Moody, irritable, or sensitive. Excitable, volatile, emotional.
Theatrical – Having a flair for over dramatizing situations, doing things in a ‘big way’ and love to be ‘centre stage’.
Timid -Tends to be shy and/or quiet, shrinking away from offering opinions or from strangers and newcomers, fearing confrontations and violence.
Tongue-tied – Speechless or confused in expression, as from shyness, embarrassment, or astonishment.
Troublemaker – Someone who deliberately stirs up trouble, intentionally or unintentionally.
Unlucky – Marked by or causing misfortune; ill-fated. Destined for misfortune; doomed.
Unpredictable – Difficult to foretell or foresee, their actions are so chaotic it’s impossible to know what they are going to do next.
Untrustworthy – Not worthy of trust or belief. Backstabber.
Vain – Holding or characterized by an unduly high opinion of their physical appearance. Lovers of themselves. Conceited, egotistic, narcissistic.
Weak-willed – Lacking willpower, strength of will to carry out one’s decisions, wishes, or plans. Easily swayed.
Withdrawn – Not friendly or Sociable. Aloof.
Zealous – A fanatic.

List of Beautiful & Ugly Words

Beautiful Words

Amorphous: indefinite, shapeless
Beguile: deceive
Caprice: impulse
Cascade: steep waterfall
Cashmere: fine, delicate wool
Chrysalis: protective covering
Cinnamon: an aromatic spice; its soft brown color
Coalesce: unite, or fuse
Crepuscular: dim, or twilit
Crystalline: clear, or sparkling
Desultory: half-hearted, meandering
Diaphanous: gauzy
Dulcet: sweet
Ebullient: enthusiastic
Effervescent: bubbly
Elision: omission
Enchanted: charmed
Encompass: surround
Enrapture: delighted
Ephemeral: fleeting
Epiphany: revelation
Epitome: embodiment of the ideal
Ethereal: celestial, unworldly, immaterial
Etiquette: proper conduct
Evanescent: fleeting
Evocative: suggestive
Exuberant: abundant, unrestrained, outsize
Felicity: happiness, pleasantness
Filament: thread, strand
Halcyon: care-free
Idyllic: contentedly pleasing
Incorporeal: without form
Incandescent: glowing, radiant, brilliant, zealous
Ineffable: indescribable, unspeakable
Inexorable: relentless
Insouciance: nonchalance
Iridescent: luster
Languid: slow, listless
Lassitude: fatigue
Lilt: cheerful or buoyant song or movement
Lithe: flexible, graceful
Lullaby: soothing song
Luminescence: dim chemical or organic light
Mellifluous: smooth, sweet
Mist: cloudy moisture, or similar literal or virtual obstacle
Murmur: soothing sound
Myriad: great number
Nebulous: indistinct
Opulent: ostentatious
Penumbra: shade, shroud, fringe
Plethora: abundance
Quiescent: peaceful
Quintessential: most purely representative or typical
Radiant: glowing
Redolent: aromatic, evocative
Resonant: echoing, evocative
Resplendent: shining
Rhapsodic: intensely emotional
Sapphire: rich, deep bluish purple
Scintilla: trace
Serendipitous: chance
Serene: peaceful
Somnolent: drowsy, sleep inducing
Sonorous: loud, impressive, imposing
Spherical: ball-like, globular
Sublime: exalted, transcendent
Succulent: juicy, tasty, rich
Suffuse: flushed, full
Susurration: whispering
Symphony: harmonious assemblage
Talisman: charm, magical device
Tessellated: checkered in pattern
Tranquility: peacefulness
Vestige: trace
Zenith: highest point

Ugly Words

Cacophony: confused noise
Cataclysm: flood, catastrophe, upheaval
Chafe: irritate, abrade
Coarse: common, crude, rough, harsh
Cynical: distrustful, self-interested
Decrepit: worn-out, run-down
Disgust: aversion, distaste
Grimace: expression of disgust or pain
Grotesque: distorted, bizarre
Harangue: rant
Hirsute: hairy
Hoarse: harsh, grating
Leech: parasite,
Maladroit: clumsy
Mediocre: ordinary, of low quality
Obstreperous: noisy, unruly
Rancid: offensive, smelly
Repugnant: distasteful
Repulsive: disgusting
Shriek: sharp, screeching sound
Shrill: high-pitched sound
Shun: avoid, ostracize
Slaughter: butcher, carnage
Unctuous: smug, ingratiating
Visceral: crude, anatomically graphic

How to Describe a Character’s Neighborhood

Does a dog make the neighborhood?A character’s neighborhood provides the opportunity to tell us about him/her without narrative. People live where they’re comfortable, so how you describe the protagonist or antagonist’s home town will reflect his values, beliefs, passions.

When your character is out and about, take the opportunity to describe his neighbors, what he notices around him, the traffic–vehicles and foot, the flora and fauna, the rhythm of his world. Does he live amidst spreading estates or in a cluttered old apartment complex? Are homes stately and old or nouveau riche?

The descriptions I’ve included below are from novels I’ve read. I hope you like them:

  • Buildings were tan stucco and wood slat, built around grassy knolls
  • It thrived as people went about their daily business, some walking or packing loads, others pounding corn in hollow mortars. The sound of shrieking children mingled with flute music. The slanted morning light gave everything a hazy…

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Types of Characters Traits

The old expression that actions speak louder than words is very true when it comes to character traits. You learn about who people are and what their character traits are by watching how they interact with the world and paying attention to how they treat you and interact with you. 

There are literally countless character traits that you can identify in others, and that you can identify in yourself. 

Some character traits have to do with your underlying values or beliefs. Some examples of these types of character traits include:

•Religious
•Honest
•Loyal
•Devoted
•Loving
•Kind
•Sincere
•Devoted
•Ambitious
•Satisfied
•Happy
•Faithful
•Patient
•Determined
•Persistent
•Adventurous
•Homebody
•Considerate
•Cooperative
•Cheerful
•Optimistic
•Pessimistic
•Funny
Some character traits can be bad, and you may not want these traits associated with you. Some examples of these types of character traits include:

•Dishonest
•Disloyal
•Unkind
•Mean
•Rude
•Disrespectful
•Impatient
•Greedy
•Angry
•Pessimistic
•Repugnant
•Cruel
•Unmerciful
•Wicked
•Obnoxious
•Malicious
•Grumpy
•Quarrelsome
•Caustic
•Selfish
•Unforgiving 
A leader or person who likes to be in charge may have the following character traits:

•Domineering 
•Boorish 
•Persuasive 
•Ambitious 
•Bossy 
•Disparaging 
•Picky 
•Sly 
•Cold-hearted 
•Rude 
•Self-centered
•Conceited  
Some character traits can be consciously developed, learned or acquired. For example, character traits that you may consciously choose to learn or adopt include:

•Educated
•Informed
Some character traits for children include:

•Playful 
•Zany 
•Active 
•Wild 
•Silly 
•Affectionate 
•Funny 
•Rough 
•Talkative
•Rowdy 
•Smart 
•Fidgety 
•Shy 
•Lively 
•Submissive
•Stubborn 
Character Traits in Literature and Movies
In storybooks and novels and movies, there are often archetypes of characters. For instance, there might be a romantic hero, or a leader or a heroine who needs to be rescued. Often, these characters in books or movies have certain classic traits that help you to identify what role they play in the story.

For example, some character traits that can be used for a main character that is a hero include:  

•Dauntless 
•Strong 
•Courageous 
•Reliable 
•Fearless 
•Daring 
•Tough 
•Brave  
If a hero or story character is a romantic interest, he may have the following character traits:

•Charming 
•Loving 
•Affectionate 
•Lovestruck 
•Charismatic 
•Ugly
•Evil
•Cunning
•Deceptive
•Murderous
•Psychotic
As you can see, there are literally hundreds of character traits that will add depth and dimension to any characters. You simply need to observe people in different settings to get a general idea how certain people behave. This can help you to recognize positive character traits that you want to look for in people. 

Bring Your Characters to Life
By learning more about character traits through observation, you can also develop richer characters in your writing that are more true-to-life. Having well-developed characters in your writing will help the reader identify and/or sympathize with the character. Well-defined character traits will bring your characters to life.

9 Types of Intelligence

•Naturalist Intelligence (Nature Smart)
Designates the human ability to discriminate among living things (plants, animals) as well as sensitivity to other features of the natural world (clouds, rock configurations). This ability was clearly of value in our evolutionary past as hunters, gatherers, and farmers; it continues to be central in such roles as botanist or chef. It is also speculated that much of our consumer society exploits the naturalist intelligence, which can be mobilized in the discrimination among cars, sneakers, kinds of makeup, and the like.

•Musical Intelligence (Musical Smart)
Musical intelligence is the capacity to discern pitch, rhythm, timbre, and tone. This intelligence enables us to recognize, create, reproduce, and reflect on music, as demonstrated by composers, conductors, musicians, vocalist, and sensitive listeners. Interestingly, there is often an affective connection between music and the emotions; and mathematical and musical intelligences may share common thinking processes. Young adults with this kind of intelligence are usually singing or drumming to themselves. They are usually quite aware of sounds others may miss.

•Logical-Mathematical Intelligence (Number/Reasoning Smart)
Logical-mathematical intelligence is the ability to calculate, quantify, consider propositions and hypotheses, and carry out complete mathematical operations. It enables us to perceive relationships and connections and to use abstract, symbolic thought; sequential reasoning skills; and inductive and deductive thinking patterns. Logical intelligence is usually well developed in mathematicians, scientists, and detectives. Young adults with lots of logical intelligence are interested in patterns, categories, and relationships. They are drawn to arithmetic problems, strategy games and experiments.

•Existential Intelligence
Sensitivity and capacity to tackle deep questions about human existence, such as the meaning of life, why do we die, and how did we get here.

•Interpersonal Intelligence (People Smart)
Interpersonal intelligence is the ability to understand and interact effectively with others. It involves effective verbal and nonverbal communication, the ability to note distinctions among others, sensitivity to the moods and temperaments of others, and the ability to entertain multiple perspectives. Teachers, social workers, actors, and politicians all exhibit interpersonal intelligence. Young adults with this kind of intelligence are leaders among their peers, are good at communicating, and seem to understand others’ feelings and motives.

•Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence (Body Smart)
Bodily kinesthetic intelligence is the capacity to manipulate objects and use a variety of physical skills. This intelligence also involves a sense of timing and the perfection of skills through mind–body union. Athletes, dancers, surgeons, and craftspeople exhibit well-developed bodily kinesthetic intelligence.

•Linguistic Intelligence (Word Smart)
Linguistic intelligence is the ability to think in words and to use language to express and appreciate complex meanings. Linguistic intelligence allows us to understand the order and meaning of words and to apply meta-linguistic skills to reflect on our use of language. Linguistic intelligence is the most widely shared human competence and is evident in poets, novelists, journalists, and effective public speakers. Young adults with this kind of intelligence enjoy writing, reading, telling stories or doing crossword puzzles.

•Intra-personal Intelligence (Self Smart)
Intra-personal intelligence is the capacity to understand oneself and one’s thoughts and feelings, and to use such knowledge in planning and directioning one’s life. Intra-personal intelligence involves not only an appreciation of the self, but also of the human condition. It is evident in psychologist, spiritual leaders, and philosophers. These young adults may be shy. They are very aware of their own feelings and are self-motivated.

•Spatial Intelligence (Picture Smart)
Spatial intelligence is the ability to think in three dimensions. Core capacities include mental imagery, spatial reasoning, image manipulation, graphic and artistic skills, and an active imagination. Sailors, pilots, sculptors, painters, and architects all exhibit spatial intelligence. Young adults with this kind of intelligence may be fascinated with mazes or jigsaw puzzles, or spend free time drawing or daydreaming.

6 Types of Courageous Characters

•Heroic Bravery
When we think of heroes these days, we generally think of those who qualify for heroic bravery.

What is it? This is the kind of bravery that makes a character do crazy dangerous stuff, either to protect others or to advance a cause in which he passionately believes. He’s not a fool. He knows what he’s risking, but he believes the danger is worth it.

•Steadfast Bravery
Steadfast bravery isn’t as flashy as heroic bravery (although it exhibits bursts of heroism), but its patient doggedness challenges fate every single day.

What is it? This is the kind of bravery we see from someone who is enduring a bad or dangerous situation day in and day out. A POW, a soldier in the trenches, or an informant in enemy territory will probably exhibit steadfast bravery.

•Quiet Bravery
This one is perhaps the least flashy of any type of bravery. It can even occasionally be confused with cowardice.

What is it? Quiet bravery gives a character the courage needed to endure bad situations with grace and patience. It’s basically an offshoot of steadfast bravery, but it usually surfaces in situations that are less physically dangerous. Cancer patients, overworked single mothers, and trod-upon servants who maintain their sense of self-worth and hope all exhibit quiet bravery.

•Personal Bravery
Not all brave characters are going to face death or save the world. Sometimes the bravest thing a person can do is take a chance to advance his own lot in life.

What is it? Personal bravery demands characters reach for the stars and chase their dreams. Instead of remaining in a bad situation and taking it and taking it, they risk everything for a chance at a better life. Personal bravery is perhaps the most common kind of bravery of all, since it’s something every single one of us chooses to exhibit at one point or another in our lives, whether it’s in dreaming of a better education, a better career, or just a life-changing trip around the world.

•Devil-May-Care Bravery
Here we find the domain of the anti-hero and the fatalist.

What is it? Devil-may-care bravery isn’t bravery so much as a cynical realization that death (or whatever the worst-case scenario may be) will come no matter what we do, ergo let’s meet it with arms stretched wide. Characters who have nothing to live for can often exhibit insane courage, but they’re doing it from a place of negativity.

•Frightened Bravery
Finally, we have the most dichotomous, and often the most compelling, bravery of all.

What is it? Frightened bravery finds the hero a knee-shaking, gut-churning, terrified mess. But he rises above it. He enters the fray in spite of his terror, and, in so doing, becomes the bravest of all characters. Frightened bravery can go hand in hand with any of the other types (save perhaps devil-may-care bravery), since the very act of overcoming fear is what makes a character brave.

None of these categories are exclusive. A character may well exhibit all six types of bravery during the course of your story, and often you’ll find the categories overlapping. In creating a strong character, it’s important not only that he qualify for at least one of these types of bravery, but also that you identify which is the strongest category, so you can further strengthen it on the page. Once you’ve done that, it’s almost a cinch readers will find your character fascinating.

List of Character’s Quirks

Physical Quirks refer to any physical feature that makes a character individualistic. The character might have been born with this trait, or acquired it over the course of his or her life. They are usually the ones other characters notice first. It can be argued that all physical attributes of a character, from the color of his hair to the size of her feet, are quirks.

•always gets a sunburn
•always stands with his or her hands behind their back, sometimes in an “at ease” position, though he/she was never in the military
•can only hear out of one ear
•can only see out of one eye
•can’t stay clean; always dirty
•cracks his/her neck all the time
•drags his or her feet
•drools when hungry/excited
•foams at the mouth when excited/angry
•has a limp
•has a noticeable birthmark
•has a noticeable burn scar
•has a noticeable scar from a weapon
•has a noticeable tattoo
•has a piercing
•has a very, very bushy mustache
•has extremely hairy arms
•has several hidden body piercings or •tattoos that regular clothing conceal
•has several parts of his or her body that are double jointed and bend or flex in an unnatural or uncanny manner
•has vividly blue hair
•he has no beard
•he/she has allergies (to give more depth, give strong allergic reactions to the common nasty ones like nuts, bee stings, strawberries, pollen, cow’s milk, cats, horses, etc.)
•his/her feet are incredibly bad-smelling
•incessantly cracks knuckles
•is bald
•is exclusively left-handed
•is gassy
•looks just like another character, or a famous figure of the day
•profusely sweats even when at rest
•puts hand on someone else’s hand/arm/shoulder/leg as much as possible when talking
•sneezes extra loud
•squints a lot
•thrives in cold weather, hates warm weather
•thrives in hot weather, hates cold weather
•urinates frequently
•walks as if he/she is afraid of being followed
•walks as if he/she is in constant danger of being attacked
•writes with left hand, but does everything else right-handed

Vocal Quirks refers to anything which is communicated by word of mouth. Anything about a character’s voice, the way he or she speaks, or how or why they speak is covered in this section. They are any qualities about a character’s voice that make that character unique. So, arguably, everything.

•has an accent (ex. irish brogue, french, russian)
•sometimes speaks about himself/herself in 3rd person
•mutters poetry under his/her breath
•is susceptible to malapropisms (an act or habit of misusing words ridiculously, especially by the confusion of words that are similar in sound) or spoonerisms (an accidental transposition of initial consonant sounds or parts of words)
excessively uses initials or acronyms for common and uncommon phrases and doesn’t bother to explain them
compulsively interrupts people telling stories to interject facts about the story that he or she only knows because they have been told the story before, not because they were involved with it
makes up random lies about unimportant things for no reason (this could also be a mania.)
•regularly mispronounces a certain word or uses redundant terms
•when stressed or lying, speaks from the corner of his or her mouth
•mutters spells or curses under his/her breath
•corrects people when they use colloquial speech
•whistles
•ends declarative sentences with an interrogative inflection?
•is a mush mouth (ex. boomhauer of “king of the hill”)
•makes noises like “pow!” or “whap!” while doing everyday things
•uses big words to impress listeners
•doesn’t talk much, and uses short simple words when he/she does speak
•talks very softly, especially when involved in major arguments
•never uses contractions
•calls everyone by a pet name (ex. babe, sweetie, doll)
•repeats a common adage constantly (ex. never count your chickens before they’re hatched!)
•often mixes up sayings (ex. never count your chickens until the fat lady sings!)
in conversation, if a word has slipped his/•her mind, he/she will stop to think of it and will not give up until he/she finally recalls the right word
•distracted easily during conversation
puts hand on someone else’s hand/arm/shoulder/leg as much as possible when talking
•often seems to go out of his way to answer the exact question that was asked of him instead what the questioner obviously meant
•tells ”stories” with no point or conclusion
argues points with people who agree with him/her
•is fond of malapropisms, or cannot help making them (ex. psychotic for psychic)
hates quiet pauses in conversations
•taunts foes
•laughs to himself/herself at intervals, for no apparent reason
•affects a consumptive cough
•hesitates before speaking, always considers his/her words first
•always lets out an involuntary nervous laugh before talking
•always laughs at his/her own jokes
•likes to use metaphor in nearly every sentence
•likes to make references to historical examples of a situation as much as possible
•tells dirty jokes, even when not appropriate
•stutters when excited
•poor vocabulary, spelling, and grammar
makes derogatory comments about people who aren’t there
•voice gets higher when he/she drinks
•talks to himself/herself
•talks to inanimate objects
•speaks without an discernible accent
constantly interrupts others
•speaks with poetic flair
•grunts for ”yes”, snarls for ”no”, shrugs for ”maybe”
cackles
•talks about objects as if they were people
•always gives the vaguest possible answer to questions
•always speaks at far too high a volume
conversations always turns to a particular or peculiar topic (ex. cats)
•never speaks unless spoken to
•always answers a question with a question
•always complains
•always talks about his/her lost love
constantly tells jokes that aren’t funny
mispronounces names
•calls all women “mother”
•has difficulty answering a question directly
•uses the word ”weasel” in conversation far too often.
•rhymes peoples’ names: ”well, hello there, arthur-barthur! saw geno-jalapeno the other day, you know.”
•mumbles or mutters instead of speaking clearly
•always talks of ”the good old days”
•always opens conversation on a new subject with the same phrase (ex. ”funny, i don’t know how i got to think of this, but…”)
•swears at the least opportunity

List of Virtues

  • A
    • Ability – a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
    • Acceptance – a disposition to tolerate or accept people or situations
    • Acuity – keenness of hearing, sight, or intellect
    • Affability – good-natured, friendly, and easy to talk to
    • Altruism – the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others
    • Appreciation – understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something
    • Assiduousness – showing persistent and hard-working effort in doing something
    • Assertiveness – aggressive self-assurance; given to making bold assertions
    • Attentiveness – the trait of being observant and paying attention
    • Autonomy – immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority; political independence
    • Awareness – the ability to perceive, to feel, or to be conscious of events, objects or patterns
  • B
    • Balance – the ability to remain poised; to give equal attention to all things; to be fair
    • Beauty – the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
    • Benevolence – an inclination to do kind or charitable acts
  • C
    • Candor – the ability to make judgments free from discrimination or dishonesty
    • Caring – feeling and exhibiting concern and empathy for others
    • Caution – judiciousness in avoiding harm or danger
    • Charity – a kindly and lenient attitude toward people
    • Chastity – abstaining from sexual relations
    • Cleanliness – the habit of keeping free of superficial imperfections
    • Commitment – the trait of sincere and steadfast fixity of purpose
    • Compassion – the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it
    • Confidence – freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
    • Conscientiousness – the trait of being painstaking and careful
    • Consideration – the process of giving careful thought to something
    • Contentment – happiness with one’s situation in life
    • Cooperativeness – amenability: the trait of working well with others
    • Courage – a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
    • Courteousness – exhibiting politeness and gracious good manners
    • Creativity – a mental and social process involving the generation of new ideas or concepts
    • Curiosity – a state in which you want to learn more about something
  • D
    • Daring – courage combined with a willingness to take risks or attempt difficult or unconventional things
    • Dependability – worthy of reliance or trust; consistent in performance or behavior
    • Detachment – cool-headed withdrawal; avoiding emotional involvement
    • Determination – the quality of being driven to do or achieve something; firmness of purpose
    • Diligence – conscientiousness in paying proper attention to a task; giving the degree of care required in a given situation
    • Discernment – understanding; the mental ability to discriminate between like things
    • Discretion – knowing how to avoid embarrassment or distress
    • Dutifulness – piety by virtue of devotion; the willingness to be obedient out of a sense of moral obligation and/or respect
  • E
    • Empathy – understanding and entering into another’s feelings
    • Encouragement – the expression of approval and support
    • Endurance – the power to withstand hardship or stress
    • Enthusiasm – exuberance; overflowing with eager enjoyment or approval
    • Equanimity – composure; steadiness of mind under stress
    • Equity – conformity to rules or standards
    • Excellence – possessing good qualities in high degree
  • F
    • Fairness – ability to make judgments based on predetermined standards with honesty
    • Faithfulness – the quality of being steadfast in affection or allegiance
    • Fastidiousness – the trait of being painstakingly careful about matters of taste or style
    • Fidelity – faithfulness to one’s duties; loyalty
    • Fitness – to be in good physical condition
    • Flexibility – the quality of being adaptable or variable
    • Focus – the concentration of attention or energy on something
    • Foresight – providence by virtue of planning prudently for the future
    • Forgiveness – compassionate feelings that support a willingness to excuse a mistake or offense
    • Fortitude – strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity with courage
    • Friendliness – a feeling of liking for another person; enjoyment in their company; agreeableness
  • G
    • Generosity – the trait of being willing to give your money or time
    • Gentleness – acting in a manner that is mild and even-tempered
    • Goodness – moral excellence or admirableness
    • Graciousness – full of tact, kindness, and politeness
  • H
    • Happiness – state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
    • Health – the state of well-being free from disease
    • Helpfulness – friendliness evidence by a kindly and helpful disposition
    • Heroism – remarkable physical or moral courage
    • Honesty – not disposed to cheat or defraud; dependable; to be frank
    • Honor – an objectification of praiseworthiness, respect
    • Hopefulness – aspirant; to wish for or desire something, regardless of the likelihood of its occurrence
    • Hospitality – cordial reception; kindness in welcoming guests or strangers
    • Humility – a disposition to be humble; a lack of false pride
    • Humor – the use of ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity to evoke laughter
  • I
    • Idealism – the quality of believing that things should be pursued to their most perfect form
    • Imagination – the ability to deal resourcefully with unusual problems; the ability to form a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
    • Impartiality – an inclination to weigh both views or opinions equally
    • Independence – freedom from control or influence of another or others
    • Industriousness – persevering determination to perform a task
    • Ingenuity – the process of applying ideas to solve problems or meet challenges
    • Innocence – the state of being unsullied by sin or moral wrong; lacking a knowledge of evil
    • Insightfulness – shrewdness shown by keen, deep perception
    • Integrity – moral soundness
    • Intuition – instinctive knowing (without the use of rational processes)
    • Inventiveness – the power of creative imagination; the mental faculty to create something new
  • J
    • Judiciousness – showing wisdom, good sense, or discretion, often with the underlying objective of avoiding trouble or waste
    • Justice – using right or fair judgment, especially involved in the determination of rights and the assignment of rewards and punishments
  • K
    • Kindness – the quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic
    • Knowledgeable – thoroughly acquainted through study or experience
  • L
    • Lovingness – the ability to feel or show affection
    • Loyalty – to bind oneself completely; allegiance
  • M
    • Meekness – the feeling of patient, submissive humbleness
    • Mercy – leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
    • Meticulousness – taking extreme care with details
    • Moderation – the quality of avoiding extremes and excesses
    • Modesty – freedom from vanity or conceit; formality and propriety of manner
    • Morality – concern for the distinction between good and evil or right and wrong
  • N
    • Neatness – having an orderly and clean condition; the state of being neat and trim
    • Nonviolence – rejecting the use of physical violence; passive acceptance of oppression amid the struggle against it
    • Nurturing – the quality of desiring another to grow as a person; motherly
  • O
    • Obedience – dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person
    • Openness – an attitude of ready accessibility (especially about one’s actions or purposes); to be without concealment; not secretive
    • Optimism – a general disposition to expect the best in all things
  • P
    • Patience – good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
    • Peacefulness – to be in a state that is calm and tranquil
    • Perceptiveness – possessing or showing keen insight and understanding
    • Preciseness – very careful about small details, especially of correct behavior
    • Perseverance – to be persistent; continuing or repeating behavior
    • Persistence – the quality of continuing steadily despite problems or difficulties
    • Perspicacity – intelligence manifested by being astute (as in business dealings); the capacity to assess situations or circumstances shrewdly and to draw sound conclusions
    • Philanthropy – voluntary promotion of human welfare
    • Philomathy – pocessing a strong love of learning
    • Piety – religious devotion or to spirituality; righteousness
    • Potential – to possess the inherent capacity for coming into being
    • Prudence – discretion in practical affairs
    • Punctiliousness – very careful about the conventions of correct behavior and etiquette
    • Purity – to lack sin or dilution
    • Purposefulness – the quality of having meaning through having an aim
    • Prayerfulness – to be devout; to cultivate a relationship with God
  • R
    • Refinement – to achieve a highly-developed state of perfection; the quality of excellence in thought and manners and taste
    • Reliable – able to be trusted to do what is expected or has been promised
    • Remembrance – the ability to recall past occurrences
    • Respectfulness – courteous regard for people’s feelings; one who feels or manifests veneration
    • Reverence – to have a profound respect for someone or something, almost to the point of fearfulness
    • Resilience – the positive ability to adapt, to rebound, to cope with catastrophic failure or obstacles
    • Responsibility (moral & social) – a form of trustworthiness; the trait of being answerable to someone for something for one’s conduct
    • Restraint – discipline in personal and social activities
    • Righteousness – always behaving according to a religious or moral code
  • S
    • Self-awareness – awareness of your own individuality
    • Self-confidence – belief of one’s own power, judgment, ability, etc.
    • Self-discipline – control of oneself; willpower
    • Self-reliance – the capacity to rely on one’s own capabilities, and to manage one’s own affairs
    • Self-respect – the knowledge of one’s own worth, valuing one’s self
    • Selflessness – the quality of not putting yourself first but being willing to give your time or money or effort etc.
    • Sensitivity – to be aware of an empathetic to the emotions of others
    • Service – an act of help or assistance
    • Sharing – using or enjoying something jointly with others
    • Sincerity – the quality of being open and truthful; not deceitful or hypocritical; earnestness
    • Skillfulness – the learned capacity to carry out pre-determined results often with the minimum outlay of time, energy, or both
    • Spirituality – concern with things of the soul, or of God; reverence
    • Sternness – uncompromising resolution
    • Strength – the property of being physically or mentally strong
    • Sympathy – an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
  • T
    • Tactfulness – the ability to have consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense
    • Temperance – the trait of avoiding excesses
    • Tenacity – to be good at remembering; to be stubbornly unyielding
    • Thankfulness – to be grateful as a positive emotion or attitude toward others in acknowledgment of a benefit on has received or will receive from another
    • Thoroughness – conscientiousness in performing all aspects of a task; attention to detail
    • Thoughtfulness – to possess the ability for calm, lengthy, intent consideration
    • Trustworthiness – someone in whom one can place one’s trust and rest assured that the trust will not be betrayed
    • Truthfulness – honesty, good faith, and sincerity in general; agreement with fact or reality in particular
  • U
    • Understanding – the ability to think about and use concepts to deal adequately with an object
    • Unity – an undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting
  • V
    • Valor – exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger
    • Vivaciousness – exhibiting or characterized by liveliness and high-spiritedness
  • W
    • Welcoming – providing a warm and friendly environment for guests or strangers
    • Wholesomeness – the quality of being beneficial and generally good
    • Wisdom – accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment
    • Work – the ability to exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity