Character Change

I've written before about the importance of an inner journey (or inner arc or character change), and it's one of my favorite topics to study. Imagine my joy when I discovered this month's Writer's Digest contains an article by David Corbett called "The Science of Character Change." It's worth the price to subscribe to the magazine, but if you're on a strict budget like me, head to your local library and read the entire article. It would be unethical for me to share all the good stuff from the article here, but I want to hit a few things that stood out to me as The Best Stuff.

About a third of the way through the article, Corbett wrote something I had to re-read several times to fully digest. "Human beings are inherently divided by conflicting, irreconcilable desires: the desire to avoid pain, and the desire to be healthy and whole. To avoid pain, however, we must avoid risk, and some risk is required to attain most of the rewarding challenges and adventures of life." 

(photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.com)

When I first read it, I wasn't sure I agreed with it. Only two desires? Avoid pain and seek health? What about wanting a spouse? I guess that falls under the "healthy" column. What about wanting healthy children? That contains the answer within the question. What about avoiding evil? Is that pain avoidance? Or does that, also, fall into the "healthy" category? (Quick example: I don't steal a car because I don't want to go to jail. Being in jail would not be healthy for me, therefore my car-stealing days never begin because of my desire to stay healthy--either spiritually or physically. Simplistic, but it works.) 

Corbett goes on: "In particular, wounds we (and our characters) have suffered in the past--physical injury, humiliation, abandonment, betrayal--misshape our personalities, forcing us to avoid relationships (or seek out only "safe" ones), hide our secrets, disguise our vulnerabilities, suppress or wants, and otherwise "act normal." But beneath all this emotional scar tissue and fakery, the human spirit retains its inclination toward openness, trust, generosity, commitment--love, courage, and truth--and an understanding that without these qualities our lives are lacking."

I agree with the basics of these things. I think he left out people who are outside the norm (sociopaths, people who've let evil rein in their lives, etc), but for most people (and characters), this assessment is spot-on. He sums up his point with this: "At heart, it's a conflict between a protective mask and a deeper, more honest, more loving, more courageous self."

"Your character unknowingly begins the story in a state of ignorance or deceit, believing the bargain he's made with life will see him through. No matter how successful or even happy the character's circumstances may seem on the surface, the compromises he's made with his more truthful, more caring, more daring self have created an untenable state of lack that is "ruining his life," even if that ruin has beautiful women, a casino, a bar, and live music" (think Casablanca).

Try this exercise: what are your protagonist's circumstances at the beginning of the story? Are they in conflict/opposition to the way he needs to be in order to face the final conflict? In other words, is he thoroughly equipped and ready to handle that final conflict/ If so, they your character has no need of an inner journey. There's a fix to this problem. Re-do your beginning so that his is NOT capable of winning that final climax. Then put him on a path that will challenge his beliefs, his abilities, his preconceived notions of himself, then give him a moment of clarity, of epiphany, right before the final climax of the story where he will recognize his true longing and respond. It should be such a huge moment that he can't help but respond, then realize the foolishness of ever going back to his old ways. 

There's more in this article I'd like to discuss, so I'll sign off for now and continue in my next post.

-Sonja

The Thomas Concept - Pattern VIII

This is the last post on The Thomas Concept with its patterns of strengths. Pattern VIII people are "dynamic, eloquent, spirited, enthusiastic, convincing, inspirational, dramatic, charismatic, optimistic, persuasive, impulsive, exciting, innovative, imaginative, versatile, colorful, impelling, exuberant, and has vision." He stimulates change.

Relationship Strengths: The Pattern VIII person puts his focus of attention on his own vision. He has the courage to risk everything. He wants to influence others. He seeks the spotlight, enlivens relationships, and loves to talk.

Vocational Strengths: The Pattern VIII person gives dynamic leadership to a "cause," sells a dream, promotes an idea, puts deals together, and is an excellent public speaker.

Wants Others to: Pattern VIII people want others to notice them and react, show excitement and enthusiasm, be influenced by them, follow them, and be supportive.

In the Myers-Briggs world, the Pattern VIII person most closely resembles the ESTP (Promoter) or the ESFP (Performer). Famous Promoters include John Kennedy, Lucille Ball, and Madonna. Famous Performers include Bill Clinton, Elvis Presley, and Homer Simpson. 

(Elvis, courtesy of wikipedia)

To shake up a Pattern VIII protagonist's life, introduce an opposing character who is not easily swayed by words, who is extremely independent, and who finds the protagonist to be a "fraud" or "foolish." If the antagonist is someone close to the protagonist, like a spouse or sibling, the "betrayal" is more deeply felt. 

That concludes The Thomas Concept discussions here. Personally, I find the Myers-Briggs 16 core personalities to be more helpful in building believable characters, but the "wants others to" category of The Thomas Concept can be very useful. Have you found the study to be helpful? Please share.

Sonja

The Thomas Concept - Pattern VII

Another apology owed to my loyal blog readers: I'm off schedule again. Life is what it is, and sometimes it feels like I'm drowning in the pile of must-do's and need-to's. My blog posts were one of the things that had to get shifted to the bottom of the list in order for me to survive this past week. But I tackled life the way I usually do, like a black lab with a rawhide bone--steady and determined until the whole thing is annihilated. I am in control, I have conquered the to-do list with lots of coffee (and two minions who Must Help when Momma demands it), and I am ready to blog on-schedule again.

I'm nearly finished with the series on The Thomas Concept with its patterns of strengths. I use them for creating believable characters. Today's post is on Pattern VII. This one is special to me because I'm a Pattern VII. I understand it, live it, and get it. Now lets see if I can communicate it. 

The Pattern VII person is "self-assertive, forceful, decisive, ambitious, action-oriented, vigorous, resourceful, adventurous, enterprising, self-starting, self-confident, competitive, aggressive, outspoken, active, doer, energetic, and takes initiative." 

Relationship Strengths: the Pattern VII person puts her focus of attention on personal goals, is fully dedicated to winning, never gives up, expresses her thoughts and feelings, takes charge, and is impatient to get into action.

Vocational Strengths: the Pattern VII person takes calculated risks, gives leadership to practical projects, starts new ventures, tackles difficult challenges, and is effective in personal sales.

Wants Others To: the Pattern VII person wants others to respond: "Don't just sit there--do something, even if it's wrong!" She also says what she thinks, many times coming off as tactless or rude, and she wants others to speak the same way: directly. She wants others to give loyalty and active support, and her motto is "Lead, follow, or get out of the way."

The Pattern VII person can be compared to either the ESTJ (Supervisor) in the Myers-Briggs system or the ISTJ (Inspector). I'm an ISTJ, but some of those Pattern VII traits apply more to extroverted folks than introverts. Also, I'm not ultra decisive, although that could be a vitamin D deficiency or something. These patterns aren't meant to be all-inclusive, so feel free to tweak these character traits to more fully fit your character. If it works best for your Pattern VII character to be not quite so adventurous, you can make that work.

Famous Pattern VII people include Reverend Billy Graham, George W. Bush, and Katniss Everdeen.

(Photo of Katniss Everdeen compliments of wikipedia)

Adding stress to the Pattern VII person's life is fairly easy: saddle them with a lazy partner. Nothing ticks off a Pattern VII person than someone who refuses to pull their own weight. Also, Pattern VII people tend to be rule-followers and sometimes even rule-enforcers. Introduce an antagonist feels he's "above the law" or a side-kick who bends the rules to accomplish the objectives quicker, and your Pattern VII hero will be ultra frustrated. It's not stated above, but Pattern VII people also tend to be moral and find comfort in religion. Give your Pattern VII character a crisis of faith to shake things up a a bit, or pit them against someone who is amoral or down-right evil. 

Any other ideas about adding conflict to this hero's life? Please share. It makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something worthwhile when I see comments in the comments section below.

-Sonja

The Thomas Concept - Pattern VI

The Thomas Concept with its patterns of strength are useful for building fictional characters. Check out my previous posts for Patterns I - V. Today's pattern is VI. 

(This Pattern VI photo courtesy of wikipedia)

The Pattern VI person is "diplomatic, humorous, gracious, cheerful, hospitable, soft-hearted, sympathetic, expressive, open, liberal, responsive, idealistic, compassionate, hopeful, warm, affectionate, trusting, and demonstrative." He wears his heart on his sleeve.

Relationship Strengths: The Pattern IV person focuses his attention on relationships, trusts others, shows feelings openly, seeks "closeness" and "intimacy", makes others feel warm and accepted, and leaves self unprotected and exposed.

Vocational Strengths: The Pattern VI person entertains people, works in public relations, is active in volunteer organizations, is a diplomat and a performer.

Wants Others To: The Pattern VI person wants others to be receptive, show warmth and compassion, share feelings, help them feel good about themselves, and give them compliments. 

On the surface, the Pattern VI person seems like an all-around nice guy, the gal everyone loves, the life of the party. Reminds me of the ESFP (Performer) from the Myers-Briggs system. Famous ESFPs include Bill Clinton, Elvis Presley, Bob Hope, and Marilyn Monroe. What's left out of the Thomas Concept is the darker side of the Performer. They crave an audience. What if they don't have one? They love to party. What if the party's cancelled? They're impulsive and self-indulgent. What does that mean to the family budget?

There are a ton of ways to introduce tension to your Pattern VI character. Put her in a room with a bunch of serious, no-nonsense people who just want to work on the project. Or give her a spouse who expects her to be faithful (ESFP's have trouble with this, as they fall in love often, and every time is the first time). Or simply take away his credit cards--the Pattern VI person NEEDS to be spontaneous and loves to give gifts--the idea of "affording" something is a foreign concept. A great way to introduce tension is to add confrontation. Pattern VI people tend to run from or ignore confrontations. By not allowing your Pattern VI character to run or otherwise avoid a sticky situation, he/she will automatically feel uncomfortable.

Can you think of other ways to stir up the Pattern Vi character's life? Share in the comments section.

-Sonja

The Thomas Concept - Pattern V

I'm slowly getting back into the swing of blogging regularly again... I've been discussing The Thomas Concept and the patterns of strength identified in the system. I use them for creating believable characters. There are eight patterns, and today's post deals with Pattern V personalities. If you do the math properly, you'll see we have three left after today. But enough of math. 

Pattern V has a special place in my heart because long ago, when my employer first introduced our office to the Thomas Concept, my arch-enemy/co-worker (name deleted to protect the guilty) was a Pattern V. After learning all about her and what she expected from her co-workers, I was able to adjust my work performance to give her what she wanted and create a more harmonious work environment. That's all bunk, because we still fought like crazed howler monkeys, and I felt slighted that she couldn't accommodate MY personality pattern to make a more harmonious work environment, but I think that's a discussion for another post. 

Here are the basics for Pattern V people:

They are outgoing, giving, friendly, helpful, sociable, flexible, cordial, gregarious, talkative, cooperative, generous, accommodating, caring, adaptable, empathetic, big-hearted, supportive, and likable. They facilitate communication and others find them easy to talk to. (And, after that amazing introduction, you're wondering what kind of harridan I am for not being able to get along with this gal... wait for the "Wants Others To" section and you may understand better.)

Relationship Strengths: Pattern V folks focus their attention on other people, seek to please others, want to interact and be involved, put emotions out on the table, draw people into relationships, and avoid making enemies.

Vocational Strengths: Pattern V people coordinate practical projects, work in "helping" professions, do personnel work, seem a "warm" counselor, and would be an excellent "soft-sell" salesperson.

Wants Others To: The Pattern V person wants others to give them recognition every day, show warm appreciation, accept their help with gratitude, trust them, and let them "talk out" their problems.

This pattern reminds me of the INFJ (Counselor) from the Myers-Briggs system, yet there are differences. The Counselor usually doesn't share their feelings with others, whereas the Pattern V person likes everyone to know what they're feeling. Also, the Counselor has strong empathic abilities and are often accused of reading people's minds because they're so in-tune with what others are thinking. The Pattern V person doesn't always go that extra step. I think the biggest difference is that the Counselor does not insist that others recognize them and their awesome work performance. Famous Counselors include Fanny Crosby, Mother Teresa, and Luke Skywalker.

(This famous INFJ photo courtesy of wikipedia)

Want to introduce stress to a Pattern V character in your novel? Pit them against someone who is independent, confident, and reserved. If this person is like me and finds "offering validation" to be a total waste of time, as anyone needing validation is weak-willed and incompetent, you'll really have some wonderful sparks flying. Another way to introduce tension is to have your Pattern V character interact with someone who refuses to be helped--either they will not admit they need help, or they know they need help but refuse to seek it. 

Can you think of other ways to introduce stress in a Pattern V character's life? Share in the comments section, please.

-Sonja

The Thomas Concept - Pattern IV

I didn't mean to take a week off from blogging, but life got in the way. My apologies to my loyal readers. I'll try to get back on track. Before the break, I was discussing The Thomas Concept and the patterns of strength. For those who don't know anything about it, The Thomas Concept is yet one more way of summarizing human behaviors and breaking them into recognizable personalities for whatever use you have. I use them for creating believable characters (which is why I'm writing about them on this writing blog). In the past, my employers used The Thomas Concept to help co-workers get along better and be more productive as a team. Today's post deals with Pattern IV personalities and how to use them as characters in your writing.

The Pattern IV person is "contemplative, intense, reflective, persistent, introspective, self-sufficient, philosophical, individualistic, insightful, inventive, precise, profound, accurate, earnest, experimental, perceptive, serious, and ingenious." The concentrate deeply on one thing at a time.

Relationship Strengths: A Pattern IV person focuses his attention on his own thoughts. He follows ideas rather than people. He works out his problems alone. He's reserved and private, and selective in choosing friendships. He's reticent in social situations.

Vocational Strengths: The Pattern IV person has original ideas, creates new products, takes initiative to explore and invent, is a catalyst for chance, and is an inventor.

Wants Others To: The Pattern IV person wants others to be thoughtful and reserved, ask for their thoughts and ideas, give them time to think, respect their privacy, and let them make their own decisions.

This pattern reminds me a little of the INTP (Architect) personality from the Myers-Briggs core personalities. My husband is an INTP, so I can see the Pattern IV strengths in there. However, Pattern IV might even more closely resemble the INTJ (Mastermind). I'll let others more familiar with the Thomas Concept make that decision. Famous INTPs include Albert Einstein, Abe Lincoln, and Seven of Nine from Star Trek Voyager. Famous INTJs include General Colin Powell, and Stephen Hawking.

(This photo of Seven of Nine courtesy of wikipedia)

How can this be utilized in your novel? Pit your Pattern IV character against someone who needs to be involved in every step of whatever process is going on. The Pattern IV person wants to work alone. By having someone constantly try to push themselves into the solution will cause great stress for the poor Pattern IV guy who just wants to be alone with his thoughts and ideas. Better yet, make the stressing character loud, obnoxious, flighty, spontaneous, and in desperate need of attention/validation. Sparks will fly.

Can you think of other ways to stress this character? Share your thoughts in the comments section. I love hearing from you!

-Sonja