This week: Building a Fun Character Edited by: Lornda~Thoughts with Bikerider More Newsletters By This Editor
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"I think having funny characters is just one way of having three dimensional characters"
~ Ti West/American film director
"I’ve always enjoyed watching characters that aren’t aware that they’re doing anything funny. And I think that inherently it makes them funnier."
~ Steve Carell/Actor
"More eccentric characters can push pretty far, but if you stay on the side of reality, it’s always funnier."
~ Melissa McCarthy/Actress
With a little research, you can write a fun character.
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In order to have a memorable character and for a story to have impact, the character should have a quirk or two. How entertaining these quirks or flaws are is up to the author. With the addition of a comical element, the reader will remember the character throughout the story or novel.
Research can be the building blocks to writing a fun character. Do a search on the country or town where the character lives. It’s surprising what it generates. To put this into practice, try searching Canada. The results are comical. Granted, who has read about a Canadian character? It could make for an entertaining read. For inspiration, here’s what the search found for some interesting Canadian quirks and fun facts.
Weird Laws:
Each province has its own rules and regulations. Here are some standouts:
If you have more than 3.5 inches of water in your tub, you could receive jail time.
It’s illegal to drive your cows around after 8:00 a.m.
You can’t paint a ladder.
You’ll be fined if you have a mouthy Parrott.
You could have a court date if you paint your garage door purple.
If you see a Sasquatch, don’t hurt it. Just run and hide.
Inventions
The Pacemaker
Garbage bags
The Telephone
Basketball
IMAX
Insulin
Paint Roller
Hockey Goalie Mask
And because Canadians believe that safety comes first — the best invention ever: Road Lines.
Slang Words and Phrases (Speak Canadian, eh?)
Eh has a three way meaning. It indicates waiting for a response, something you do not understand, or you don’t believe something is true.
Kerfuffle is used to show disagreement or a difference of opinion.
Timmies is a popular donut shop. Nowhere else in the world can you order a double/double and receive a coffee with two parts cream and two parts sugar.
Washroom is a bathroom
The Mounties (The Royal Canadian Mounted Police) are like the FBI
A chesterfield is a couch
A Loonie coin equals one dollar, and a Toonie equals two dollars.
Running shoes are sneakers
Touque (Too-uk) is a hat that is known in the U.S. as a beanie. They look exactly the same but the names are different. Welcome to Canada, eh?
Don’t get a Canadian angry. You’ll be called a Hoser. Its definition has made it into the dictionary. Read about it here: Hoser Definition
There's nothing wrong with a fun character telling a funny joke or two.
Q: What are the two seasons in Canada? A: Winter and July!
Q: What do Canadians get on their tests? A: Eh's
Q: How did Canada get it’s name?
A: Their founders put a bunch of letters in a hat and pulled them out:
“C” eh, “N” eh, “D” eh.
If you need inspiration to add quirks or flaws to a character, consider doing research for some weird facts on where your character lives. It will make them more realistic and add depth to their personality. With the list above, there should be a lot of funny Canadian characters to read soon, eh?
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Have you written a fun character? What quirks or characteristics made them funny?
Comedy Newsletter Challenge: Look at the above list. Choose whatever you want but at least three, and write a small story, flash fiction, a dialog snippet or poem to showcase a fun Canadian character. Make me laugh, and you'll win a Queen of Comedy merit badge. Winners will be announced in the February 24th newsletter. You can send it in via this newsletter in the comment box below, or email it to me. Deadline: February 21st, 2021
Feedback from my last newsletter, "A Word About 2020" .
eyestar~*: I love it! What a great word to use for both the wonderful and the "I don't know what to say!" Brilliant of you to think of it. Your theme was so relevant for an end of the year newsletter...looking back and forward. Thanks for the humour that kept me entertained this year. And all the best in 2021. I am sure you will have more laughs to share.
Thanks for the comments, and Happy 2021 to you!
Mastiff: Thank you for highlighting my work! I have another encounter already written, and well over a dozen more I can write. I may one day try and make a little collection! Not sure why I'm such a cop magnet, but most of them turn out well!
You're welcome! Nice to hear there's more in your collection.
Quick-Quill: I joined Wdc Aug of 2007. I too had no idea the technicalities of writing. I just wrote stories. What I learned from the reviewers and critiquers helped me grow as a writer and reviewer. Happy New Year.
Nice! Happy 2021 to you.
If you have topic for the Comedy newsletter, fill out the survey below. If I use it for a newsletter, you'll win a 'Queen of Comedy' MB! "Invalid Item"
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