All characters have specific personality traits that make up the core of how they react to things. If I said to you “This person polishes her toenails every night” or “He posts In a Relationship with Bourbon as his status” or “She was damn proud of the fact she beat her cat” you can instantly see the personality and form an opinion of this character. Some of the following list is just picking the one word. You can elaborate if some inspiration comes to you while picking the main personality trait. Other traits come with some imagination numbing effort. This is where is gets difficult, but pays off in spades later on. I have literally had my characters get up and drive the plot because I did all the work to create them completely.
Personality traits
The Protagonist is the hero or
leader in every story. Does your character like to lead? Is she bossy-pants?
They are proponents, advocates and trailblazers. On the other hand, the
Antagonist mostly stands for opposition or adversary of everyone. These are the
nemesis, foe, opponent, bad dudes.
- Introverted or Extroverted
Introverted is a shy or
introspective person, a wallflower, icicle or shrinking violet. While the
Extrovert is marked by interest in and
behavior directed toward others or the environment to the exclusion of self; they
are gregarious or outgoing. Super Cool Party People. Extroverted people you
want to have at your party- you just want them to leave early.
- Intuition or Doubting
Intuition is the
act of knowing or sensing without the use of rational processes. It is knowledge
gained by the use of this faculty; a perceptive insight. Mothers use intuition
as a tool for battling little criminals. The Doubting
personality trait is marred in disbelief, skepticism and lack of trust. Picture
an old white guy on his front porch yelling at the kids for being on his lawn,
watching News channels all day and talking about conspiracies to take away our
guns (did I just describe Clint Eastwood?)
- Judging or Perceiving
Do they make snap judgments upon
meeting new people? Do they decide someone is trustworthy (or not) based on
their clothes, looks or ethnic background? If the answer is yes, then you have
a Judy on your hands. If they are more perceiving, they are slow to critic and
are more aware of all the details that go into making a person or situation. We
all wish everyone were Perceiving when making a first impression (especially if
it involves an involuntary Pratt fall).
- More Thinking than Feeling
People who are More Thinking
contemplate and go over reason why they will or have done anything. They use logic to justify, they consider different options. They are descendants of Mr.
Spock. Feeling people often say, “My gut told me” or “that old car was talking
to me”. They also start sentences of complaint with “I feel that………….” This type of person I
find more frightening than a rabid pack of Zombies.
- Life Goals
This is more than what did they
want to be when they grew up. This is what they see themselves as, maybe not
what they are, but in their Ego Vision. Try to be compartmentally specific:
Love, health, work, home, offspring, even pets.
- Core Characteristic
This one is difficult and will make
you squirm and run to do the dishes or pick up dog poop. Resist and push
through.
A Core Characteristic is the one
thing that makes the person who they are, like a Nazi or a Pop Star. Each
person has one thing that they are that is to core to their personality, drive
and inspiration. You may have to work
backward on this one, as the Core Characteristic is formed in childhood based
usually on the traumas or boredom the child received. This will serve you well,
so do not skip this step; it is a motivating factor on All Hero’s Journey's.
- Biggest Contradiction
Is she a baker who hates bread? Is
he a mechanic that doesn’t own a car? Are they a farm family living in the
city? Do they love church, but hate God? This is another telling factor that
will help drive your plot- make it interesting, unique, a paradox.
- Father, Son, Mother, Daughter
Who we are to the world in our
emotional lives drives us. If they are parents, they will have a very different
view than none spawning humans. If they are caretaking an elderly or sick
child, that will also drive their motivation. Whether we have contact with our
immediate family or not, this drives our personality atmosphere.
- Tends to be Victim / Persecutor / Savior
How do they respond to disparity?
Do they sink away and sing “Poor Me”? Or do they turn and become vigilant and
maybe even a savoir. Make sure your savoir is doing it for authentic reasons
and not just becoming a martyr (or make them a martyr). In your mind, put them
in a fight or flight situation and how do they react?
- Tends to be Innocent/Imposter/Ironic
Innocents are always that- people
who are made of gossamer wings and fairy dust. They never say a bad word, think
a bad thought or encounter trouble. Imposters look like this but are wrought
with misfortune, for their hearts are not pure. Ironic people find both arch
types ridiculous. They are led by irony and humor. They believe it is one big
cosmic joke.
- Mostly Self Center/Selfless
Self-Centered people see the
“what’s in it for me” of every situation. They tend to be narcissistic,
misogynistic and super fun to write. This is the main characteristic of all
villains and antagonists. Please categorize their self-centeredness, as this
makes their evil ways even more pronounced. Selfless people react and deed for
everyone else, sometime to their own detriment, but it is their make up so that
cannot discontinue.
Here is your exercise for the day.
Write a haiku about your kitchen sink. I know your brain is tired from this
character building experience, so I am giving it the day off to play with
rhyme.
(The entire Character lesson plan
will be available after for one complete download and I do teach this 4-hour
class live in person, contact me for either at livewell@teribayus.com).
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