Talent and Skills Entry: Hospitality

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. 

Description: some people have a knack at welcoming others. They know what to say and do to make people feel relaxed and comfortable. Making sure another’s needs are taken care of and that they feel appreciated are both key to hospitality. Providing food, drink, shelter and comforts are all aspects of taking care of others, but even more important…

Beneficial Strengths or Abilities: strong intuition and observation skills, being a people person, having knowledge of different…

Character Traits Suited for this Skill or Talent: observant, kind, dedicated, discreet, sincere, professional, resourceful…

Scenarios Where this Skill Might be Useful: being an entertainer; having a job where the well-being and satisfaction of others is one’s primary concern; living during…

Talents and skills not only make our characters stand out, they often help them attain their goals. So choosing them strategically can greatly enhance both the character and the story.

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