Ursula Nicol is guest blogger of Perky Writing Tips and Tricks. At the time of writing this post, Ursula Nicol was a University of the Sunshine Coast student completing a Bachelor of Creative Industries, majoring in Publishing & Creative Writing. In early 2021, Ursula undertook a 208-hour internship with Gail Tagarro

From ghost stories to the Halloween holiday, the unnatural is a magic charm in literature. Our minds go bonkers for the things that trigger our imagination to go beyond the mundane! Here are some perky writing tips and tricks to avoid the mundane.

Partake in Intimacy with Details but Not with Clichés

Clichés can hinder your originality. Steering clear of clichés and avoiding the overuse of adjectives and adverbs can make your writing more believable, interesting, and clear.

Intimate details are the secret treasure chest to enriching the quality of your writing.

Being specific with your characterisation and descriptions of setting is what makes it all real in the brain of the beholder. The tiniest actions – your antagonist rubbing his temples, your hero chipping at their nails – can help build the mood of your piece and highlight the turmoil, happiness, anxiety, or fear experienced by your characters.

The subtlest of setting descriptions – flocks of birds fleeing the forest, mosquitoes nibbling at flesh – can give insight into a character’s experience and foreshadow the next event in your story.

Peculiar Characters

Strong characters are driven and sincere. Characters that stand out from the mundane are quirky. Character quirks make them like a rose in a field of daisies; charming, lovable, or even bizarre.

There are some points to bear in mind when considering the quirks of your protagonist or other characters.

1. There needs to be a reason for the quirk. Does a quirk make a character more likeable compared to other characters, or does it invoke conflict and antagonism? Is this quirk unveiled only under certain circumstances? Does this quirk come from a particular upbringing or trauma? What does this idiosyncrasy mean for your character’s behaviour? Does your character refuse to touch or do certain things because they’re a germaphobe? Do they sing to their cats at breakfast? Quirks can be verbal, like an accent or stutter. What does it mean for their development? A character’s backstory as to why they are the way they are is vital to the story.
2. If you use experiences as a springboard, you’ll make a bigger splash. Behaviour drawn from real life can create a natural depth in your characters’ personalities. Replicating how real-world people function helps create realistic, memorable characters.
3. Use character quirks carefully. Too many quirks can make a character feel fake, unrelatable, and disliked by your audience.

Point of View with a Twist

Did you know that you can write from the perspective of a town?

Of course, everyone knows about writing in first person, second person, and third person but what about an entity larger than life?