The Doctor Knows Best- Laura L. Zimmerman

by Laura Zimmerman

Allons-y!
Say these words and any Doctor Who fan will be able to tell you the season(s) and actor related to this phrase. (Reboot seasons 2-4 and David Tennant are the answers, by the way.) These words are immortalized in the minds of those who follow the Tenth Doctor, a phrase that has become a part of his very character.
A repeated phrase, action or object can be effective in connecting your character to your audience. It doesn’t need to be complicated, just something unique that sets them apart in the reader’s mind, something the reader can relate to. It could be the difference between a reader putting your book down, or sparking a fire within that keeps them reading.
The popular TV show, Doctor Who, does a fantastic job utilizing character traits. Here are a few reasons to consider adding a unique phrase or action to the characters in your own work of fiction:
1. It makes them memorable. Doctor Who fans of the earlier seasons will identify a twelve-foot-long multi-colored scarf with the Fourth Doctor. Each time I serve celery for lunch, my teenaged daughter will remind me that it donned the Fifth Doctor’s lapel for many episodes. Like a familiar commercial jingle or tagline from a retail store, these unique traits will keep your character in the minds of your readers. Something both you and your publisher will appreciate.
2. It makes for better marketing. Hand-in-hand with the first point, if you can find a trait to make your character memorable, then it will be easier to market toward your intended audience. You’ll have a built-in arsenal of ideas already! Browse Pinterest to find a number of DIY wall hangings with phrases like, “The Girl Who Waited” (Companion Amy Pond) or “The Impossible Girl” (Companion Clara Oswald). Attend any Sci-Fi convention and the Doctor Who fan with the red bowtie and fez will tell you the Eleventh Doctor made them “cool.” Publishers want to hear your ideas for how you’ll market your book. Characters with unique traits can make the difference between a publisher choosing your book, and another similar work.
3. It elicits emotion. “Allons-y” will make a fan’s heart pound with excitement since a fight against evil is sure to follow. “Run you clever boy” will elicit dread, as this is often spoken to The Doctor at the height of a climactic scene. Riversong’s words, “Hello Sweetie,” are surely followed by joy in the hearts of romantics, and the evil Daleks “Exterminate” will undoubtedly strike fear. Link the unique phrase, action or object to an emotion and you can recreate that emotion within your reader later, with a few simple words.
Have I missed any? What other ways do you use character traits to connect with the reader? I’d love to hear feedback regarding your thoughts!

Bio: Laura L. Zimmerman is a homeschooling mom to three daughters, and a doting wife to one husband. Besides writing, she is passionate about loving Jesus, singing, drinking coffee and anything Star Wars. You can connect with her through Facebook and Twitter and at her website, www.lauralzimmerman.com