As writers, we want to make our characters as unique and interesting as possible. One way to do this is to give your character a special skill or talent that sets him apart from other people. This might be something small, like having a green thumb or being good with animals, to a larger and more competitive talent like stock car racing or being an award-winning film producer.
When choosing a talent or skill, think about the personality of your character, his range of experiences and who his role models might have been. Some talents might be genetically imparted while others are created through exposure (such as a character talented at fixing watches from growing up in his father’s watch shop) or grow out of interest (archery, wakeboarding, or magic). Don’t be afraid to be creative and make sure the skill or talent is something that works with the scope of the story.
Hot-Wiring a Car
Description: To start an engine (of an automobile, for example) without a key, as by short-circuiting the ignition system. Most people associate hot-wiring with car theft, but in the US, it’s a legal activity if…
Beneficial Strengths or Abilities: manual dexterity, knowledge of basic wiring or electronics
Character Traits Suited for this Skill or Talent: a calm, unflustered demeanor; ingenuity (thinking outside the box); confidence; boldness
Associated Stereotypes and Perceptions: car thieves, hoodlum-type teens
Scenarios Where this Skill Might be Useful: When you’ve lost your keys; when you need to steal a car; a post-apocalyptic scenario where…
TIP: Choose a talent or skill that makes your character memorable and helps them achieve their goals.
If this is something you’d like to learn more about, you might find these resources helpful. You can also see the full collection of talent and skill entries in their entirety at One Stop For Writers, where all our thesauruses are cross-referenced and linked for easy navigation. If you’re interested in seeing a free sampling of the Talent and Skill Thesaurus and our other descriptive collections, head on over and register at One Stop!
Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.
This is fabulous, and I am changing a scene. Instead of my heroine observing my hero helping an elderly woman when her grocery bag breaks in the parking lot, she’ll have lost her keys and he will hot wire her car. Not only will the heroine discover that he is not the snob other people say he is, this is more unusual than picking up oranges!
Thanks!
This sounds like a great idea. Definitely more interesting than retrieving oranges. And the reason behind him knowing how to hot-wire a can make him more interesting, too 😉
ROFL. Maybeeeee
You come up with the most interesting talents to help us round out our characters. Thanks for another thought-provoking post.
So glad this collection is helping you Rosi! 🙂
Thanks, Rosi!
A necessary skill when zombies are after you!! Lol. Or, well, an emergency of any sort like that. Great post!!
Haha, no kidding, Traci!
I would add spook to this list of folks who might need to hot wire a car. I notice you don’t detail the mechanics of it. 🙂
I can’t tell you how much I love your collections. You make me a better writer. Thank you.
That’s a good add, Piper! And lol, if Becca did detail how it’s done, I would start to worry…
Great addition! And as far as the mechanics of hot-wiring, I can’t divulge all of my secrets 😉
If I check out those links, am I going to get on some police watch list? (Just kidding).
I am glad I am not the only person who worries about this! The things we search up as writers…