You can learn a lot about your story characters from the knickknacks in their house. Consider this topic when enhancing characterization in fiction writing.
As we are attempting to declutter our shelves, I’m wondering why I collected so many souvenir drinking glasses, paperweights, candles and rocks. Yes, rocks. There’s also my wonky pen collection, a box full of troll dolls that I am loathe to give away, and letter openers. What do these things say about my personality? You tell me.
 
What can they say about your main character? Perhaps your heroine presents a tough exterior but has a collection of hair ornaments. Or your bookish hero hides a fascination with antique hunting knives. Maybe a sidekick is a cat fan and has decorated her house with cat-themed throw pillows and handmade ceramics depicting cats. For inspiration, check out those unsolicited catalogs you get in the mail.
  
Be specific about what type of reading material your character keeps around. Does the heroine read steamy romances but pretends to disdain romance? Does your hero stick to instructional manuals because fiction isn’t real? What if the woman he’s interested in collects unicorn figurines? Will there be a clash in their interests? How about the pages of the magazines or books? Are the corners folded in, the spines bent, or is there a bookmark inside?
What secret longing do these objects represent? How about art? What does your heroine hang on her walls? Does your hero prefer sports memorabilia or does he have an interest in wall clocks? Maybe he hasn’t an eye for design and mismatches colors, while your heroine reads interior design magazines and believes everything should be coordinated.
  It’s fascinating to view the items inside another person’s house. You can see what they enjoy collecting and learn more about them. It also gives you an idea what to get them for a gift. So next time you visit a friend or relative, take a stroll around and see what’s inside their curio cabinet, adorning their walls, or standing poised on a bookshelf.
Even owning nothing of a personal nature makes a statement in itself. Have fun delving into the intricacies of your protagonists’ hobbies so you can describe the collection through their eyes. It will give an added dimension to your story.
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12 thoughts on “Knickknacks Reveal Character”
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Nancy, this blog is terrific. Collections could reveal interesting subtleties I’d never considered.
On another subject, doesn’t everyone collect letter openers ?
I thought letter openers were a lost art. Our daughter doesn’t use one, and yet I wouldn’t open an envelope without it.
Although as you know I’m a collecter (of teacups), I’ve never thought to include this trait in any of my characters. But what a great idea! It would add that much more dimension to the character. Thanks for pointing this out, and sharing some of your collections with us!
You have a lot of interesting collections in your house. I enjoy looking at everything, from your tea cups to the miniature dollhouses. You’re talented to work with your hands on the latter and need a lot of patience.
What is it with Floridians and Troll dolls? When dad finally passed on and my sibs went down to clean out the apartment they sent me a couple of large cartons of STUFF! One had trash bags full of photos that I spent a week sorting out.. I then sent them on to my cousins who those photos were about.. The other contained her “doll” collection and a ton of Trolls..
I contacted my doll expert in Jersey who told me what the cost would be of redoing the dolls to good condition (tossed out) and the Trolls, minus the three I kept and the few my grands took went to Sally Anne.. Mom’s idea of collecting was to put things on a shelf in the sun room… totally destroying any value when the dolls got sun dried and and washed out..
So again I ask, what’s with Floridians and the Trolls??? Unless you are a fan of Piers Anthony (author of Xanth books) I see no reason to hold on to them.
What can I say – I like trolls! I have my troll dolls with the colorful hair from a bygone era, and I’ve bought trolls at the Norway pavilion in Epcot. The villains of my scifi Drift Lords series are evil trolls, called Trolleks, from another dimension. But you made a good point of keeping our treasures out of the sun. I also have an international doll collection kept in a cabinet in our living room.
I make sure my 3000 plus book library is never hit by direct sunlight. Some of the books are from the 1940s and 50s. A large portion are 1st Editions and also autographed.. They are all that I expect to have to leave to my kids.
I hope your kids like to read.
What a cool way to show (not tell) character personality through the contents of their curio cabinets or their walls. Even minimalists collect “something” and that would be a real tell…
Thanks!! I do believe my Stacey might stumble across an old collection of “something” from her & her mom’s “Mermaid Days.”
And, as for the girls of Gamma Chi? Oh that is so wide open! Great suggestion!
I’ll bet you come up with something fun and interesting.
Love this blog, Nancy! I think about what my characters have in their homes and cars, but this brings the whole idea into sharp focus! Thank you!!!
My husband’s collections have collections of their own … dust.