What is a realistic character?

When I read I love to get inside the head of realistic characters. Even when watching movies I sort of have a habit of wanting the main character to mess up, or even get hurt while trying. Yeah, I know. I'm messed up, but if the character can achieve their goal without problem or setback, then they are really dull to watch. This is probably why I prefer superheroes that are trying to hide from the cops rather than working with them.

So what makes a real character?

• Faults
  Everyone has faults, no one is perfect (even if perfectionism is their fault). Whether it's being a slob to having a phobia, if the character has something that people can relate to, then it's easier for the reader to believe the character and get close to the character.
• Quirks
  Everyone has some habit, trait or movement that they do (don't shake your head, you know you do). This could be a nervous habit such as biting their lip or cracking their knuckles. One of my quirks is I have a habit of pacing when speaking on the phone. Any phone call, not just upsetting or nervous calls. Sometimes these quirks aren't even noticeable to the character and they are done by the subconscious.
• Likes/Dislikes
  Everyone has likes and dislikes, whether it's food or music or even teachers at school. Showing the character hates something or is obsessed with a band is just showing they have a personality.
• Secrets
  Yeah, also something everyone has. Secrets can be little like the $5.00 you stole from your mother's purse when you were 13 to big as in, my father is a serial killer big. Secrets are just a part of life, and sometimes those secrets can cause problems and hurt the character when they are trying to achieve their goal.
• Lies
  Don't tell me you've never lied. Even if it's a white lie by telling your best friend they don't look fat in that extremely tight top, that's still a lie. If the character never says anything but the truth, then they are either very, very, very honest, or just dull. 

Realistic characters portray traits that everyone has. If they don't, then what will make the reader believe they could be real or even want to follow the story with them.

What makes a realistic character to you?

When Characters Scream

Don't you just hate it when the voices in your head just won't shut up. I've been busy lately with trying to keep up with uni work as well as family commitments and writing, but still I'm trying to start a new writing project.

Usually I have several ideas brewing at a time, but this time, the character that was developing in my head just wouldn't shut up. She really, really, really wanted me to start her story.

How can I say no to that.

So, meet Seraphine (or Sera for short). She is a modern day Cassandra who has visions of death, which is a very useful gift to the underworld. That is why her and her brother are on the run from the paranormal creatures that killed their parents. But, where can they hide when there's a bounty on their head and all the paranormal creatures out there are out to collect?

So, have you ever had characters that scream to be written? How vocal are your characters?

Don't say it's only a minor role...

Yesterday I listed the common types of minor characters that populates stories. Today, I'm asking which minor characters do you find memorable?

To read a novel or watch a movie/show I've got to love the leads, but if I'm able to fall in love with one of those on the side lines it makes the experience so much better. So, here's a few of my favourites (well, those that I can remember at the moment):

1. Castiel
I'm a huge Supernatural fan and this has to be one of the best minor/major characters that have appeared on the show. He's actually the 3rd major character, but he is still in the sidelines compared to the Winchesters. Castiel is a Fallen Angel, and the more he has Human experiences the funnier and more lovable he becomes.

Supernatural has a lot of minor characters that can rank up the top. One of them I wouldn't have even counted as a minor character until it became the talk of the forums when the final was coming close, boy the fans didn't want to even think about the writers killing it. What is is? It's the beloved car that the brothers travel around in... minor characters can come in different shapes and sizes.

2. Maggie Simpson
Well, technically not a minor character, but definitely one that has remained on the sidelines and is underused. I reckon she is one of the best characters on the show. So sweet and innocent and mischievous (without anyone even knowing).

The Simpsons is another show that is chock-block full of interesting and different minor characters, and that pretty much what makes the episodes interesting.

3. Spike
Who doesn't love a minor character that was supposed to last a couple of episodes and ends up lasting till the end of the series, appearing in the spinoff as a regular (and this is after he has actually died) and getting a comic. The fans loved him so much that Whedon couldn't kill him off... and I'm glad he didn't, now this is the vampire that I like.

He was a bad boy from the start, and I don't know if it was just that English accent, or his attitude, but he was definitely worth remembering. I guess there would of been some sort of protest if they got rid of him.

4. Alice Cullins
I admit, I've read the stories and appreciate them, but am not a real fan (mainly because I like my heroine's to be the one doing the butt kicking). But, what really stood out in the Twilight saga was the minor characters. I ended up really liking Alice, I guess it was her perky attitude (and the future seeing thing didn't hurt either).



So, which characters do you remember the most?

Just a reminder that it's not too late to sign up for my "Tales from the Sideline" blogfest which is taking place on Thursday. Let those minor characters shine.

The Crowded Pages

Last week I spoke about the heroes and villains that brings the stories alive, but they're not the only characters that populate the novel. It's not just enough to only think about the main players in stories. In fact, some of the most interesting characters emerge from the sidelines, sometimes these characters do unexpected and interesting things that wasn't even planned for.

What are some of the side characters that need to exist to make the story complete?

1. Mentor
A character that exists to pass on knowledge to the main character. They can be helping the antagonist or protagonist and helps push the story along. Usually without a mentor, the character will just be sitting around waiting for something to happen. 

 

  2. Comic
Who doesn't like a comic relief? They are the light-hearted character who doesn't really take themselves seriously. These characters exist to release some tension from the novel.

 3. Best Friend
All heroes need characters that will support them and encourage them to succeed in their missions, especially when the hero feels like everything is falling apart around them. A lot of the time the best friend(s) gets into trouble along the way and this gives the hero an opportunity to step up and overcome the obstacle.  

4. Guardian
Sometimes a parental figure, or a character who's main purpose in the story is to go out of their way to protect the hero.
 

5. Nemesis
A nemesis can be a main antagonist, but sometimes if the actual villain is someone/something else the nemesis exists to stand in the road and block the hero from succeeding in their quest.
 

 

6. The Messenger
When the hero comes across an obstacle and they don't know which way to go this is when the messenger comes into the story. They have some vital information that the hero requires in order to proceed with the quest.

 

7. Trickster
These characters can be one of the most interesting to develop. They exist purely to deceive the main character. Sometimes they can be a friend or helper of the hero who is actually working for the villain, or they can give out misleading information that sends the hero in another direction.



  So, what sorts of characters do you love writing into the sidelines of your novel? Which ones do you like reading?

Just a reminder that it's not too late to sign up for my "Tales from the Sideline" blogfest which is taking place on Thursday. Let those minor characters shine.

They're more than just stereotypes

We see them everywhere. On the television, on movies and they're always the same. Every movie that features teenagers and high schools have some kind of representation of them. There's always the jock, who is more often than not, dating the popular cheerleader (most probably the captain). Then, you've got the bad boy, the goth/freak who's a total loner. There's daddy's princess and the quiet nerd who just wants to fit in with the popular crowd.

No matter what movie/show you're watching, aren't they all the same? Okay, change the name and story they're involved in, but other than that they are all the same. Now, is this because this is the way teens act? Are they actually that easy to classify them? Or, is it easier to just place stereotypical characters into the story, even if they're just in the background?

I have no idea what it's like at a majority of other schools and my high school could have been the exception to the normal 'clique' rule, but the brainy top of the school was among the most popular (she could have been captain if she liked being the centre of attention). Half of the music and drama students were also heavily into sports (me included).

From observing teens in the playground I've noticed that they do tend to group, but mainly the ones that can't stay seated, to the loud and rambunctious and then the quiet and self-contained. I've just never seen a school here in Australia that is as highly classified as the ones portrayed in American high schools in movies.

Just like how everyone in real life is unique and doesn't really fit into any instant mould, so should the characters that fill the fictional world be. Even if they're minor characters that plays a very, very small part, they still need to look and act more than a cardboard cut out would. Giving some of the characters a little bit of role reversal like making one jock also one of the brightest kids in the class (hey, I actually knew a state rep for hockey who was in the top class for every subject), or a computer geek who is failing every other subject (hey what would you know, he was one of my good friends from high school, and thanks to him I topped the school in advanced computers in year 12... mainly because he failed everything else and had to repeat).

Giving characters unique personalities makes them spring to life and creates a new dimension to the world that is slowly forming throughout the story. Anything goes, as long as it still is realistic and believable.

As a lasting question why do stereotypes exist? Are they there because most of the personality traits are common among the majority of the same type of people? Or, did one person create a character a long, long, long.... long time ago and people are just trying to mimic it with no success?

What is it about them that you like?

I remember when I was a kid, I used to fall in love with a book by falling in love with the character first. If I didn't like the character, then the chances of me liking the story was practically nothing. So, what is it about these characters that the reader likes?

Here are some characters that I absolutely adore (and not just from novels) and why I think they make good characters.

The Bad Boy
Okay, this was a toss up between two. As you can see, I'm a sucker for dark, brooding boys that have a bit of bite.

Damon Salvatore
Okay, I admit it, I haven't read the L J Smith Vampire Diaries (yet). But, I've seen every episode and I absolutely adore the character of Damon, and the actor who plays him.

From the get go, Damon was clearly the evil brother. But he kept hanging around, always looking out for his younger brother, Stephan (even if he didn't want anyone to see that). A character with his own motives, the main reason why I totally love him, apart from his killer looks, is that he doesn't play around... he always says what he's thinking, and he has a tragic story which allows the reader/viewer to sympathise with him.

Spike
 Who can't say they didn't love Buffy's bad boy. For a character that was supposed to be killed off after three episodes, he ended up lasting till the end of Buffy and then coming back to do a couple of seasons on Angel.

A character that spends most of his time trying to kill the slayer, but ends up in a twisted relationship with her.



The Character You Love to Hate

Severus Snap
What is it about Snape that Readers just love? He was the one character throughout the Harry Potter Series that had readers guessing about what he was going to do. One thing the readers were always certain with was that Snape was always going to be around to make life a living hell for the hero.

Readers love characters like Snape because they create a bit of conflict for the main character and they are characters that would be sorely missed if they were no longer a part of the story. Lets face it, what where would Harry be if there wasn't a teacher who always seemed out to get him?

Simon Cowell Well, technically not a character, but he's one of the only reasons I keep tuning in to American Idol (hey, I'm not even American and I couldn't even stand Australian Idol). His blunt and honest (even sometimes hilarious) comments may appear harsh and get a lot of boos from the crowd... a lot, but this Idol judge is one of the reasons why people keep tuning in each week.



The Underdog

Harry Potter
Who can forget about the little orphan, raised by evil relatives who made him sleep under the stairs, who was destined to save the wizarding world from the greatest, evil wizard ever to exist? Harry Potter was definitely an underdog. He started with nothing, and it was only with the help of his friends and a bit of courage that helped him overcome the obstacles he met along the series.

Readers absolutely loved Harry because he was just a regular kid who became an exceptional wizard. It is easy to relate to Harry, and even when he learns that he's a wizard and is learning neat tricks that come in handy when battling evil wizards he's still going through things that everyone can identify with (school, relationships, self-discovery).


Comic Relief Sidekick

Donkey
I just absolutely love the adorable sidekick of the angry green ogre. Besides the fact that he's voiced by funny-man Eddie Murphy, Donkey is honest and caring, and most of the times he doesn't really think about what he's saying.

I don't know about others, but I adore characters that sets up some of the humour and also plays a role in breaking some of the tension in the story. A story that's been building up... up... up... until the reader is sitting on the edge of the seats is all well and good, but if it's tense all the way through then the reader will feel exhausted by the end. That's when the loveable sidekick comes in... the only downside with such characters is that if someone is needed to get hurt or kidnapped, then they're usually the first ones in line. But, I'm sure the hero will save them in the end.

These are only a few of the memorable characters that are out there. So, what sorts of characters do you love to read about? As writers, do you find yourself making subliminal notes as to what works and what doesn't in characters (or is that one just me)?

Don't call me your Mary Sue

The definition of a Mary Sue, as written in Wikipedia (since Wikipedia is never wrong) is:

A fictional female character with overly idealized and hackneyed mannerisms, lacking noteworthy flaws, and primarily functioning as a wish-fulfillment fantasy for the author or reader.

Let's face it, nobody is perfect. Yes, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but everyone has flaws (even if that flaw is believing you're perfect) and humanistic behaviour. And when trying to create a character the writer must think of such flaws to help create a realistic and believable character.

So, how do humans behave?

• Humans are curious:
  Last night at work out the front looked like a crime scene (seriously with police tape that blocked half of our outside seating, about a dozen cops, security and ambulance, even forensic guys wearing masks and taking pictures), and we still had to continue working... surprisingly we were really busy during this time, mainly from people ordering one drink and having their eyes fixed on the action unfolding behind us. Everytime I walked past someone they grabbed my arm, litterally, whether I was carrying a heavy stack of plates or not, they asked what had happened. When I couldn't answer them they said they would ask the cops (you know, the ones doing their job).
  
  Humans just have a "need to know" attitude, the can't help themselves. And, don't worry, no one died... it turned out to be a fight.
  
  
• Humans are liars:
  I hear you say, I don't lie. Well then, answer me this, is someone says "does my bum look big in this?" or "how does my new hideous hair cut look?" or even "how are you?", you can't tell me that you don't tell exactly what they want to hear. That, in my dictionary, is still called lying even if it is for a good cause.
  
  
• Humans need a feeling of self-importance:
  Everyone needs a purpose, they need to feel like what they're doing is important. Count how many times you use the word "I" in your day. Every time we think, it's mainly about ourselves, even if it's helping others "I'm going to help with...", "Do you want me to..."  This is all in effort of making ourselves feel more important. And, that ego inflates as soon as someone acknowledges it.
  
  
• Humans laugh at pain:
  Ever heard of the Gladiators who were in fierce battles while people looked on and cheered, especially if they were being slaughtered, that hasn't changed (well, except for the slaughtered part). Football games, car races, etc, people go to cheer on their teams don't they? But, you can't tell me that people would rather a clean game where they just played with little contact, or one where there were fierce tackles, big crashes in car races and a lot of blood.
  
  Sometimes they even laugh at their own pain... well, I do. The other day I slipped on the stairs and slid (more like crashed) to the bottom. I got up, looks of horror from my brother and mother who were looking on, and my first reaction was geez, that hurt. Then, after about five seconds I burst out laughing (don't ask me why... seeing as I was in pain). I have seen people get back up and laugh at themselves after a fall. I still don't have a rational excuse as to why they do, I guess it's just another mystery in human behaviour.
  
  
• Humans don't like to lose:
  Nobody does. If you lose, there's mixed emotions of hurt, anger and rejection. But, do you give up? If an obstacle appears, most people will find a way to knock it down and triumph over adversity, even if that means being constantly hit in the face until that one solemn chance comes along to win.

 So, why do writers write characters that appear perfect? Is it a secret desire of being that character? But, it's not that simple. How can any reader really relate to that character when there's no identifiable trait? I love characters who are underdogs or the ones whose flaws are really getting in the way of accomplishing their task. I love writing those sort of characters as well. Where's the fun of writing a character who is always winning or can defeat any challenge and is picture perfect?

How do you handle your characters flaws? And, do you like reading Mary Sue stories?

Where is your Character Going?

 A good quote that I picked up over the weekend came from Jennifer Fallon who is an Australian Fantasy author. She said that:

Writers block is veering out into the wilderness and not knowing where you're going and finding yourself running face first into a wall.

Whether you're a writer who plots out the novel completely before even writing a word or one who writes by the seat of the pants, you need to know the main destination. This is extremely important for the character. You don't want to get to the end of the story and realise your character's moved in a straight line, not learning anything  or making any developments during the entire journey.

Let's face it, no reader likes to read a character (especially an annoying one) who is the same from beginning to end, just stepping aside casually for every obstacle you throw at them.

When I write I like to keep track of how my character's developing, well mainly because mine have a tendancy to run amuck if I don't keep an eye on them.

One way to make sure the character does develop along the way is to create a timeline or chart that states what the character's like (personality and traits) at the beginning of the story and where you want them to be at the end (how are they different? how have they changed?).

To make sure you're on track with a character's development is to play the role of the psychiatrist. Every time you finish writing, or have a major plot point occur, make a small note on how the character's feeling/are they actually making any developments.

Just by keeping note of if/when/how the character's developing it's going to assure that you're not going to find yourself with a story where the character exists because they need to.

So, how do you make sure your characters develop over the course of the story?

Give them Flaws

There's no such thing as a perfect person, even though many would like to think they are, so characters should not be as well.

I have a habit of observing people (and working in a cafe gives me a lot of people to observe) and forming characters from snippets of what I see, whether it's the way someone does their hair, hair colour, way they walk, etc. I noticed the other day that the first thing I actually look for when I gather information for my characters is a flaw or a little quirk that would make my character unique.

Isn't it true that when you first see someone that you first notice any flaw or absurdity that they have? Whether it's in the way they walk, look or talk, some little trait that makes them stand out from the crowd always attracts my eyes.

After all, no one likes reading about someone who looks absolutely gorgeous from the moment they wake up until they go to sleep and never does anything wrong. No one would be able to relate to a character like that.

When making observations for characters, or even if someone catches your eye, take notice of what exactly draws your attention. It's probably going to be, more often than not, a flaw or some little quirk that the person has.

So, where do your characters come from and do you set about to give them traits or quirks to make them stand out?

Getting to know the character

The best way to get to know a character is by interviewing them. Dig up a bit of dirt on them so you'll get to know the motivations they have when they do whatever they need to do in your story.

Let me introduce you to one of the MC of my Heroes/Villains novel.

Let me welcome you here, Jaccinta, thanks for taking the time to answer some long anticipated questions.
Oh, no probs, and just call me Jace, everyone does.

So, lets start off with a simple question, how old are you?
That is easy, I'm 16.
 
If you had to describe yourself as though you were talking about someone else, what would you say?
Now, let me think. Jace has long black hair that is unbearably straight with two purple streaks running down each side. She has flawless creamy skin and dark green eyes.

Do you sometimes lie?
Well, that depends on what is classified as a lie. I would rather say I'm an actor just playing my part, that can't be considered a lie now, can it?

How do you handle anger? Are people afraid of you, and if so is this justified?
It's not my fault if people are afraid of me, I just sort of have a short fuse. When I do get angry I like to go for a run, it's a great way to let any steam off.

How do you react to confrontation? Would you give anything for a quiet life or do you enjoy winning an argument or a fight?
I love winning arguments, especially against my brother. If anyone wants to challenge me then let them, but I should warn them that I don't back down from anything.
 
What (in your opinion) would be the first impression most people get when they meet you?
That I don't lack any confidence.


In your case, is ‘what you see is what you get’, or do people sometimes make the wrong judgement about you? If so, why would this be?
 I don't like to hide who I am, so pretty much I'll say or do anything that I want to. I'm just me and I'm not ashamed to be me.


Where do you live?
I live on the sunny Gold Coast in Australia. What more could I ask for? Sun and Surf.

You mentioned you had a brother. How old is he, and are you two close?
Jett, he's also 16. I'm 16 minutes older than him, which I think makes him jealous of me. I can't say that we're exactly close. He's a freak that's always tinkering away in his locked room. He never comes out.

How would you describe your personality?
I'm confident and determined. I never back down from any challenge.

If there was one thing about your PERSONALITY that you could change, what would it be?
I guess I can be a bit arrogant and can say things without thinking, that could probably be something I could change, but why would I want to?


Has your life changed in any way recently? If so, what brought on this change? Is it a change for the better or for worse?
I don't know whether I should be telling you this, but boy has life changed, and it all started with a video game. When people say that it's only a game, well they have it all wrong. What can be wrong with it, I've now got the power.

What particular talents or traits do you possess that will help you to get what you want? How might you influence others to help you?
Can you keep a secret? Well, that game I told you about somehow gave me the power to control portals that can help transport me or any item to different places. I now want all the attention those other wanna-be heroes are getting.
 
What are you about to do right now – today? How is this relevant to what is important to you?I guess I'm going to school. Yeah, even superheroes need to get an education. Afterwards I hope I'm going to get to see some action, you never know what villain will crop up and cause some trouble. I might check the wanted ads when I get home.

And finally, finish these sentences:
“The most important thing in life is…” winning
“If there’s one thing that makes me mad it’s…” Jett
“I would lose interest in life if…” there wasn't any challenges to take on
“I can usually get myself out of trouble by…” blaming Jett
“If I encounter a problem in life I work through it by…” just jumping in, I'm sure I'll come up with the sollution at some point
“I don’t like people who…”  think they're better than others, especially me
“I like people who…” aren't afraid to be themselves
“My most pressing need right now is…” figuring out how to fit school and crime fighting into a single day
“One thing I’m determined to achieve in the next month is…” master my powers
“One thing I’m determined to achieve in the next year is…” take on one of the big villains
“My motto in life is: …” life is just a game worth winning

Thanks Jace for joining us today. I'll let you get back to your super busy life, good luck with the whole superhero thing.

 Interviewing characters is a good way to get to know how they think and feel. So, how do you get to know your characters? Also, stay tuned for the next interview of my other MC, and see what Jett has to say about his sister.

Is it what you think it is?

Wow, I feel a lot better today. I've just finished a presentation where I got to teach a 10-minute lesson to the class (last presentation and I feel like a weight has been taken off my back). I decided to do an activity on characterisation, and I gave the students a set of four cards which I created myself that depicted four entirely different characters. The reason for these cards were to get the students to give the characters a role (hero, villain, sidekick or love interest).

I got a lot of great feedback saying that it was a great activity (not that I'm bragging). My aim was that it helped the people think about twisting character roles. So, when creating a story do you always know who the hero will be?

Every story has two different perspectives, but most are only told from the good guy's POV. Wouldn't a story be very different if the story was told from the villain's side, would they actually get the reader to sympathise with them?

By giving the villain a motive and purpose it's helping to create a new depth to the character and story, afterall aren't we, as writers, always trying to come up with new twists and create 3d characters.

So, when working on a novel try to tell the story from the bad guys POV, even if it's only a paragraph. Try and see why he's doing what he's doing (unless he is 100% evil) and I'm sure you'll see the story in a different light.

Where does inspiration come from?

I'm hard at work trying to plot out my next story "Jacked In", my YA dystopian (and here I was swearing that I would stay away from sci-fi). Inspiration for the character seems to be flying in, but when it comes to the story it feels like I'm standing in a giant hole with a shovel, trying to get out but only finding that hole's getting bigger.

Where am I getting inspiration for my characters? The answer: all around me. Isn't that where all inspiration comes from?

My main sources are from two places:
http://www.dannychoo.com/post/en/25126/Akiba+F.html - which is a hospital in Japan who uses an anime character to help recruit blood donors. This just intrigued me with the use of someone using a character to sell medicine.

and

Vocaloid-Sonika - which is a programm that creates a virtual singer.

And voila... I have my character. Now, I just need to figure out a story to go with it... I have a bare bones thing that could be stuck together and resemble something, but I guess it will take a little bit longer to work out what's going to happen.

So, where does everyone come up with their story ideas? And do you often start with a plot or a character?

And, on a final note, I would like to introduce Lexi (well, at least the voice) behind my new story Jacked In.

When characters are too lifelike...

To be considered realistic.

Here I am again (I never learn, do I?) trying to type up a blog post at the same internet cafe in the middle of a busy shopping centre (or a mall, if you can count what we have in Australia as malls). I know I really should wait until I get home but where would the fun be in that? I got the sudden urge to create a post after a lot of people caught my eye.

When writing a story (whether long or short) people keep saying that you have to flesh out the characters, make them realistic or the reader won't believe the story. What about going from one extreme to the other, from flat 2d characters to characters that have very unique personalities that people cannot believe - because, nothing like that ever happens in reality.

But, what if real life unbelievable to begin with?

After seeing a woman trying to cope with five kids all under the age of five as they scream and cry and trying not to gawk at a grandma with short spiky hair that is coloured blue, purple and green, it made me think (oh no, here I go "thinking" again... no wonder my head hurts) that characters people can be boring, almost 2d in some aspects, or they can be outgoing and adventurous with little tidbits that most normal people would think were not possible or realistic.

How do you create boring characters without them seeming like they don't have a life, and what about characters that seem too extraordinary to be real, what do you do to tone them down?

Breaking Stereotypes

What makes a character interesting? While I was out yesterday I ran into a scene where someone skateboarded in front of my car (luckily I was already stopped at the lights). What made this person interesting? It had nothing to do with the skateboard, or the fact that he passed by my car, what made him unique was the fact he was in his early 50s.

Interesting characters are unpredictable, relateable... human. Just like the elderly skater, you can't really predict what someone will do or how they will behave. Sometimes they just jump out at you.

If a character doesn't have its own unique quality, they will lose focus and become uninteresting. Unoriginal characters tend to be little more than placeholders in a story. You can still move them, but there's no real depth. Just like in real life, sometimes you just need to let the character choose where to go and make their own mistakes.

Creating characters they don't follow the norm (aren't stereotypes) can be as simple as observing the world around you, looking at each quirk and trait that people will help to create some interesting characters (or just crazy if the person you observe is just plain loopy).

Character quirks, or a quirky character

Tonight I was informed of a little habit I have when it comes to addressing people, for some reason (and I didn't know I was doing this) I always address people in the third person.

Who'd have thought, little old me actually has a trait that some can find annoying while others call it psychotic, but this is just being human.

How does one place such little quirks ("traits") into a characters behaviour in a novel without making that character appear overly quirky? What is it about some characters that you absolutely love? They all have these little traits, habits, quirks... psychotic tendencies... that the reader can identify with and grow to love.

So, me with my third person address, is something you just have to love... as long as I don't start addressing myself in the third person.