Superman (Yahoo Image Search)
Did you know that Luke Callindor plays the ocarina and Nyx can sing? Sari is obviously a dancer, but she dreams of learning how to make candy. Aedyn is a reader, Nimby whittles, and Fritz studies creature physiology. Selenia Hamilton enjoys darts. All of these hobbies and interests, but only a few of them get into the books.
Truthfully, it gets strange when one has a tiny detail like this and tries to force it into a story. A character relaxing can get away with things like this such as Luke resting under a tree and playing music. Others might mindlessly slip into their indulgence when distracted like Nyx. It’s all about subtlety with these hobbies because they’re not plot essential. So, contriving a situation for this ability to come out and has no impact on the story can be an issue with readers. Remember that these are typically quirks to give a little more realism to the characters.
Realism is the key here. Think about yourself and people you know. You have your job or some kind of career path then you have hobbies. The hobbies do not always coincide with the job. Most times they’re an activity one does to relax from the job, so it doesn’t exist in the same vein. Some hobbies work entirely off of being lazy and low activity like watching a favorite show. For characters, these activities can help an author get an idea of personality and demeanor. Even if it doesn’t get into the story, you have an idea of what kind of person would be into the hobby. For example, a character who paints in his or her spare time can be seen as observant, creative, and patient. Much of this comes off an author’s personal interpretation of a hobby and what is needed to enjoy it.
You might be wondering how to pick a hobby for your hero. First, realize that this isn’t a necessary thing, so don’t force yourself. Not everyone has a hobby and if you don’t see a point in doing this when it might not appear in the book then don’t worry. Now if you’re going through with it then examine your character. If it’s a physical activity then make sure they can do it and the same goes for mental activity. An ogre who is shown to be stupid shouldn’t have the hobby of acing crossword puzzles unless he’s really smart and hiding it. It’s a simple rule really, which makes adding a hobby to a character fairly easy and low stress.
My favorite method for choosing a hobby is brainstorming. I list hobbies while imagining the character performing them. Whatever feels the most natural for them is what I go with and many times it will be something surprising. Nyx having a talent for singing was surprising when I was listing because it originally felt more like a Sari thing. Yet, I slipped it into a few scenes and it oddly worked. I think it brings out the vulnerable and sensitive side that she keeps hidden so much. Maybe that’s another use for these hobbies if you have a deeper character. They have the persona that is shown on the surface, but these interests stem to a secret self that might not be something they share easily.
So, any characters that you wrote or like have a unique hobby?
Legends of Windemere 
I’m trying to recall if any of my characters have had hobbies. There was one who liked to smoke a pipe, does that count? Otherwise, I don’t know that I’ve written anything in that wasn’t eventually pertinent to carrying the story forward.
I might have to try giving a character a hobby in the next story I write, just to see how it all pans out.
LikeLike
I’d say pipe-smoking counts. After all, if it’s good enough for Gandalf then it’s good enough for any other character.
LikeLike
Hah! And now I’m wondering if my elderly pipe-smoking magician (of sorts) was inspired by Gandalf! Hmm… I wonder if anyone else who reads my story will make that connection. Perhaps I should give my character a different hobby. 😛
LikeLike
Probably, but it’s been done so much that I don’t think people will get upset. Only a handful of easily angered will take issue.
LikeLike
And the easily angered would just find something else to complain about anyway. Though the idea of having one of my characters play a musical instrument is appealing.
LikeLike
It’s a fun quirk that can pop up from time to time. I’m actually surprised how often the singing ability of one of my characters is used.
LikeLike
When I’m writing fantasy I almost always work in a song or two… but, I never actually comment on the ability of one character to sing better than any of the others. There are just songs that need to be sung for special occasions…
LikeLike
I don’t really write the songs. Just that she sings and describe the tune. I’ve tried and I have no skill for it.
LikeLike
I thought it would be more difficult to write songs the first time I tried… but, then I remember that it is basically poetry, and if it is being translated from another language then most of it doesn’t even have to rhyme. That took a lot of pressure off getting it “just right.”
LikeLike
I took that approach a few times. It still didn’t really feel like it fit. Probably just me.
LikeLike
Probably just being too hard on yourself. 😉 A writer’s curse.
LikeLike
My own worst enemy. 🙂
LikeLike
Nathan and his father liked to fish when they had time together, which wasn’t often. Althea liked to sing, and sang at the local juke joint, but I don’t know if that counts because she aspired to become famous. Trent had a radio/bicycle repair pawn shop..so hobbies were his thing. He also had his model airplanes.The good doctor and Trent tinkered on planes and boats. Ms. Bea had her album collection. Sybil’s big thing was her new stereo and TV. Hobbies are good for the soul. I certainly see how their hobbies reflected their personalities.
LikeLike
I think the singing counts.
I do notice that hobbies are more common in dramas, romances, and books that aren’t as high action as fantasy. By action, I mean combat, duels, and spells go off.
LikeLike
I think having hobbies makes them characters the reader can relate to…not so foreign.
LikeLike
Relatable characters are really important.
LikeLike
I love the little details about characters – even when they don’t make it into the story. Maureen likes to smuggle forbidden knowledge into her dorm (convent-school kid), even if she doesn’t read it, just to say she has. I’m not sure if that’s a hobby or just a contrary outcropping of her nature. Sean studies mythology and plays the the pan pipes, and D tells stories.
LikeLike
What kind of forbidden knowledge?
LikeLike
For her, in the 50s, the pagan side of mythology, nationalist pamphlets and astrology stuff.
LikeLike
Got it. Wasn’t sure of the time period.
LikeLike
Great post! Hobbies make the characters more real. Some of my characters have hobbies. But this post reminds me that the main character does not. I need to rectify that.
LikeLike
Main characters seem to get left out a lot. I think because the author is so focused on plot-based skills and interests.
LikeLike
I am working on lists of careers and interests etc in my character compendium project (still in early stages with a great deal of work to do as I overcomplicate everything!) Will share when ready. Brainstorming is definitely a good idea for quick characterbuilding.
LikeLike
Good to hear. Never thought of careers, but fantasy tends to have ‘adventurer’ as a job.
LikeLike
one of my many distractions! many heroes had jobs before they were thrust in to adventure/destiny, like scullery boy, blacksmith, miller, whipping boy, assistant pig keeper (there is a trend of laborious jobs…), I think of a fairly medieval time but any job can be used and re-designed to fit the story and give some substance to a character. One of the many things I’d love to chat about over a coffee (if only we lived nearer (hohowhat!) but would that be more procrastinating? *grins*
LikeLike
It does seem to be rare that a hero comes out of a warrior class. Though I didn’t realize whipping boy was a career.
LikeLike