Currently I’m reading “Hello, Plot? Are You Out There?” by Lori Devoti. I can come up with characters in my sleep – and sometimes do! It’s plotting that makes me whimper and doubt why I ever thought I could write. That’s how this book recently became an addition to my already bulging bookcase.
And that’s why I was so surprised that she begins her plotting book by getting characters under control. Fleshing them out. Really understanding them.
The tool she uses to accomplish this is the Enneagram. I’d played around with the Enneagram years ago when I was really into all things New Age. But it didn’t stick. This time I took an online test to see where I fell within the nine character types. Surprise! It turned out to be pretty accurate. Some of the things the Enneagram focusses on are:
- what drives a particular type
- how they make decisions
- their fears
- their weaknesses
- their strengths
Sound familiar? Lori Devoti takes it even further, and after her brief discussion of each type, she describes how writers can use that type to create characters. For example, a Type 3 might show up in your story as a “co-worker who steals others’ ideas.” Once you’ve decided the type (1 – 9) your character is, you can read more about that type to flesh the character out in a way that will seem realistic to your readers.
There are also variations, because very few people are truly contained within one type. This allows you to give more depth to each of your characters. Of course, the whole reason for this exercise is to keep your characters consistent. To keep them in character as they react to situations during the story.
I’m going to give this a try with a couple of recurring characters I put in my short stories and see how it works out. I’m betting it will enhance my connection with them and increase my confidence in having them react in more ways than ever before.
Now, to get into the plotting part! Lori includes a workbook you can use for each story you develop!
P.S. I turned out to be a Type 1, with a Type 2 wing and a self-preservation variant!