Ficitional or Real - Character Counts

Liz Robertson is the main character in my book, The Pitch. Like real people, Liz has likes and dislikes; a personality, vulnerabilities, and feelings. I have to know what they are before I can have her make choices because they are linked.
When I start to write, I usually start where I would in my coaching practice. I start with understanding the ‘character.’ As much as I can know about a character, whether fictional or real, the better I understand their choices, attitudes, motives, and relationships. First, I establish personality type. With Liz, she is an ISFP (to use the Myers-Briggs, Kiersey Sorter lettering). That means that Liz is self-reflective and tends to re-energize alone or in small groups. She relies on what her senses tell her when she is gathering information from the world and determining its validity. Liz tends to make decisions based on their impact on people, rather than the impact on policies. And finally, Liz really sees the world in shades of grey. She isn’t so good with structure and deadlines. Each of these elements of her personality shows up in her business and her life. I am not saying that this description is enough for anyone to assess their own personality; it is merely my analysis of Liz’s personality as it relates to my writing. Characters have to have the same reference points as all others so they, and their experiences, are relevant.

After establishing personality, I have to know who and what matters to Liz. Knowing this, serves as the anchor point for her choices. When she doesn’t understand why she is making the decisions she is, it doesn’t really matter what they are. She is untethered. I find many of my coaching clients are in similar situations. When they do not know what drives them; then anything will or nothing will. By determining values and needs, I am able to create a character that is believable and one whose challenges resonates with the reader.

I have been asked to speak to a high school creative writing class later this week and I intend to talk to them about character development. I want them to recognize the importance of doing the rather unexciting background work on their characters before they pen their fiction. Without a firm understanding of character, the story suffers. Without that same self- understanding our life stories suffer because we lack comprehension of why we do what we do.

I believe that people, therefore characters, always have choices. They may not always like the choices they have, but there are options. They may choose to engage or they may choose to escape. Both are choices. Whether a character in a book, or a real person, choices define us. It is important to know what personality tendencies our characters have and how they influence their everyday functioning. It is equally important to know what and who drives them; shapes their priorities and compels them to act. What choices are they making that are ‘in character’ and which decisions are ‘out of character?’ Notice that when they are acting ‘out of character’ there will be increased stress and conflict in their lives because character and choice are linked.