Choosing a talent or skill that fits with your character’s personality, lifestyle, and values can go a long way to helping them break free of the common stereotypes seen so often in fiction. This thesaurus will help you find the perfect quality or two that will show readers your character’s uniqueness while also acting as an asset when it comes to goal achievement.
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.
Self-Defense
Description: Being able to defend oneself against physical attack involves a variety of methods, such as heightened awareness that enables one to avoid a potential attack, verbal techniques to de-escalate a violent situation, evasive physical tactics…
Beneficial Strengths or Abilities: physical strength, quickness, being in tune with one’s instincts
Character Traits Suited for this Skill or Talent: being observant, determination, level-headedness, a teachable attitude, being able to think quickly
Required Resources and Training: While luck or terror may inadvertently enable a person to escape a serious situation, training is definitely an asset for someone who wants to effectively defend him/herself. Self-defense courses often teach a variety of techniques…
Associated Stereotypes and Perceptions: Frail female victims who are transformed into kick-butt women who can take on anyone; women who have been attacked in the past; ex-military types
Scenarios Where this Skill Might be Useful:
- when a child or teen is being bullied
- working or living in a dangerous part of town
- when someone is being stalked or threatened in some way…
TIP: Choose a talent or skill that makes your character memorable and helps them achieve their goals.
If this is something you’d like to learn more about, you might find these resources helpful. You can also see the full collection of talent and skill entries in their entirety at One Stop For Writers, where all our thesauruses are cross-referenced and linked for easy navigation. If you’re interested in seeing a free sampling of the Talent and Skill Thesaurus and our other descriptive collections, head on over and register at One Stop!
Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.
Kapow! Thanks for another great entry.
Kapow! Lol!
This could really be a fun one to include. Thanks!
Often a college course, too! 🙂
There’s no question about the benefits of this trait! I wish it’s one I had! Thanks, Becca 🙂