We are back again for another entry in the Character Under A Microscope series where we dig into the small details of character development. Today, I want to talk about character tags. These are distinguishing details about characters that make them memorable. We will first look at why character tags are important, and then I’ll jump into different types of character tags.
Why Use Character Tags
Character tags are a way for your readers to quickly get to know and then recall a character throughout the book. If you think about the people you know, there is always something about them that comes to mind first. It could be that they are always smiling or they talk really quietly. It’s what distinguishes them from everyone else.
In books, we introduce a lot of new characters all at once in the beginning, and assigning memorable traits allows readers to keep them straight. It also helps jog their memories when you mention later in the book the character who’s clumsy, and they can recall it was the character who dumped a glass of orange juice on the protagonist a few scenes back.
Now, character tags aren’t necessary for every person in your book. If you have someone in one scene as an extra, you don’t have to spend the time describing what makes them unique. They are supposed to be forgettable.
But the characters who are important to your plot need something distinguishing about them. The smaller the character’s role, the less specific you have to be about their tag but the more you need to repeat it. For instance, a barista who shows up in only four scenes may have the tag of being aloof. It’s a vague tag but still a distinguishing detail, but every time she shows up you need to make sure you are presenting her demeanor and dialogue as standoffish.
The more important the character’s role though, the more detailed you should be about the character tag. Perhaps the antagonist has a habit of smacking his lips while he waits. This is something specific and will take more words to explain, but it will give the reader a clearer image of him. However, unlike the barista, the antagonist will have several scenes, and his tag shouldn’t be mentioned in every single one. If you do that, it will get annoying for the reader, and you’ll end up like Robert Jordan whose fans comment constantly about how often Nynaeve tugs on her braids.
Types Of Character Tags
Character tags can be anything unique and distinguishing about a character, but I’ve found they all fall into six categories, which I have listed below. Try to vary the type of tags you give each character so not everyone has something like a hair color for their tags.
Physical Feature
The first and most obvious character tag is a physical feature. It could be a unique hair or eye color, the shape of their nose, a tattoo, or even their height. It’s anything about their body that makes them stand out from the crowd. Think of this as the feature your reader would notice first if looking at the character. Would it be her wild curly hair, her birthmark on her neck, or the extreme arch of her eyebrows? Pick whatever you want, but just make sure it’s memorable.
Image
The next most noticeable character tag would be her image. This is how your character chooses to present herself to others in regards to her attire and accessories. Does she only wear specific colors? Are her nails always done? Does she only wear dresses? Maybe she only wears hoop earrings or a hat. In the image category, I also include anything physical your character always has that becomes part of her image. She could always have her Yorkshire Terrier in her purse or tote around a violin case wherever she goes. Think of the image character tag like you would a brand. How does your character present themselves physically to the world?
Demeanor
Demeanor is how your character treats others. It’s about their attitude and disposition. Are they friendly or curt? Maybe she comes across as a know-it-all. Our example earlier about the barista being aloof is a demeanor tag. This type of character tag isn’t something physical but internal. It’s more about her personality and how she interacts with the world.
Gesture
Next we have a gesture character tag, which is any distinguishing physical mannerisms. She could pick at her clothes, twirl her hair, or shuffle her feet when she walks. Maybe she talks with her hands, waving them about whenever she tells a story. This could also include things like always playing with fidget spinners or stretching a rubber band between her fingers. Most of these things can be considered nervous tics, but it could also just be a sign of a character with a high energy level.
Vocal Trait
Vocal traits refer to anything unique about the character’s voice or speech. She could hum to herself, have a gravelly tone, talk with a Scottish accent, or have a boisterous voice. In regards to speech, she might have favorite words or phrases that she repeats often. Or, if she is not a native speaker, she could get common metaphors wrong. Even a stutter or a specific laugh would be considered vocal character tags. Get creative and think about what features of your friends’ voices make them unique enough you could pick them out in a crowd.
Scent
The last type of character tag is scent. This can be a natural scent, a cologne or perfume, or something they are just around too much. Maybe your character wears too much perfume. If she’s a smoker, she’ll smell like cigarette smoke. If she works in a fast food restaurant, she may always smell like the grease from the fryer. Maybe she is homeless and never showers. There are a million scents to choose from, and a good description of the smell will leave a lasting impression on the readers.
Final Thoughts
When writing character tags, make sure you don’t make it so formulaic that every person you introduce is immediately followed by her tag. Try to work the tags into the narration in a natural way so your readers get a clear idea of the character without losing sight of the plot unfolding. Otherwise, just have fun with it and come up with some crazy yet memorable character tags.
Thanks for reading!
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