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	<title>Learn to Write Fiction &#187; Character Creation Made Easy</title>
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		<title>Character Creation Made Easy, Add an Appearance-Attitude</title>
		<link>http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-add-an-appearance-attitude/</link>
		<comments>http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-add-an-appearance-attitude/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:38:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cheryl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Character Creation Made Easy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Characters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How To Series]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[attitude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[create a character]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Add an attitude to your character for consistent behavior and actions throughout your story.


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://www.learntowritefiction.com/your-character-is-not-his-name-weight/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Your Character Is NOT His Name &#038; Weight'>Your Character Is NOT His Name &#038; Weight</a></li>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The last piece in the Character puzzle is Attitude.  You may wonder why attitude is included in the Appearance section.  You can see what the character looks like.  You can see where the character lives and how her living space is laid out and decorated.  You can&#8217;t see an attitude.  Or can you?</p>
<p>Attitude is the character&#8217;s consistent disposition or dominant impression.  Say you&#8217;ve got a friend, Robbie.  And he is Mr. Bad News.  No matter what happens, he can put a negative spin on it.  It could be your birthday and he&#8217;d mutter, &#8220;Another year gone that you&#8217;re never getting back.&#8221;  He usually has a somber expression, more frown than anything.  He walks slowly, his shoulders hunched as if waiting for someone to hit him.  He squints a bit with a permanent crease between his eyes.</p>
<p>Do you see Robbie&#8217;s attitude?  Yep, it&#8217;s Negativity.  He exudes it in how he stands, walks, everything he says, even how he says it.</p>
<p>Figuring out your character&#8217;s attitude will give you a handle on how that character moves through each scene in your story.  It gives you a starting place for what a character might say or do in response to the story events.</p>
<p>To select an attitude for your character, take a look at the character&#8217;s personality.  Is there an element there that provides a dominant impression for your character?  Perhaps her analytical tendencies have become a compulsion and she analyzes everything and everyone around her.  </p>
<p>Look at your character&#8217;s history.  What life events have shaped him and how does he feel about them?  Did a bad childhood leave her with a timid disposition or a chip on her shoulder?  Is the world her rose garden or is today just another ho hum day?</p>
<p>Find the attitude that your character wears day in and day out and use it to make your character memorable.</p>
<p>And this brings us to the end of the Character Creation Made Easy series.  I hope you enjoyed it and found some tools that will help you create your next character.</p>
<blockquote><p>Have a suggestion for a writing series you&#8217;d like to see?  Leave me a note in the comments.  I love a challenge!</p></blockquote>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://www.learntowritefiction.com/your-character-is-not-his-name-weight/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Your Character Is NOT His Name &#038; Weight'>Your Character Is NOT His Name &#038; Weight</a></li>
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		<title>Character Creation Made Easy, Add an Appearance-Setting</title>
		<link>http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-add-an-appearance-setting/</link>
		<comments>http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-add-an-appearance-setting/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:45:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cheryl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Character Creation Made Easy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Characters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How To Series]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[create a character]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[setting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[A character needs a home to retreat to when things get rough.  Use these ideas to find the perfect living space for your story character.


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://www.learntowritefiction.com/your-character-is-not-his-name-weight/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Your Character Is NOT His Name &#038; Weight'>Your Character Is NOT His Name &#038; Weight</a></li>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>
Along with an appearance for your character, you&#8217;ll need to determine his or her surroundings.  That usually means the place where they live.  But if you&#8217;re like me, you probably have limited experience in housing.  All of the places I&#8217;ve lived have generally fallen into a middle-class range.  Nothing very run-down or poor and certainly nothing ritzy.  So what do you do if your character lives somewhere vastly different from you?  Here are some options for getting the details you need.</p>
<p><strong>Neighborhood</strong><br />
Start by looking around your own city to see if there are areas of it that are suitable to your character&#8217;s needs.  While your own neighborhood may not be right (too rich, too poor, too average), you might find something that will work for your story close to home.  The People or Living section of the local newspaper might have feature articles on specific neighborhoods as well.  An online chamber of commerce site can provide good information as well.</p>
<p><strong>Home Shows </strong><br />
Many communities offer tours of newly constructed homes to the public.  Take along a camera and snap pictures of the latest in quality living.  You can often find details on local shows through the chamber of commerce.</p>
<p><strong>Apartment Buildings</strong><br />
Large apartment complexes often have different layouts to their units and floor plan maps showing the different choices.  Or ask to have a tour of their model apartment or a vacant one, if available. </p>
<p><strong>Realtor Websites</strong><br />
Online photos and virtual tours of houses that are currently for sale are becoming more popular.  Check out the websites of your local real estate companies and see if you can find a house that suits your character.  This works especially well if your character lives in a different city or state.</p>
<p><strong>Hotel Websites</strong><br />
Is your character planning to visit Las Vegas or some other city, try checking out the hotel websites in the area.  In Vegas, you can view floor plans and photos of the rooms in the <a href="http://www.mgmgrand.com">MGM Grand</a> to the <a href="http://www.bellagio.com">Bellagio</a>.  If your character&#8217;s tastes and finances are more modest, you can also view photos for motels like Super 8 or Holiday Inn.</p>
<p><strong>Furniture Stores</strong><br />
Once you&#8217;ve determined the housing for your character, you need to furnish it.  An afternoon in a furniture store can provide some great ideas.  Take a camera along to record your findings.</p>
<p><strong>Home Improvement Stores</strong><br />
Another option is to hang out at a home improvement store.  Many have displays of kitchen and bath designs that might just fit your character&#8217;s home.  And maybe you&#8217;ll get an idea for that hobby project your character is working on&#8230; remodeling a bathroom, anyone?</p>
<p><strong>Decorating Magazines</strong><br />
This is another good source for pictures of rooms where your character might spend his or her leisure time.  Use the different photos to build a home for your character.</p>
<p>As with other aspects of character building, try to select a few key details about your character&#8217;s environment to draw a picture for your readers of who your character is.</p>
<p>Next up, the final piece in the character puzzle.  Stay tuned!</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://www.learntowritefiction.com/your-character-is-not-his-name-weight/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Your Character Is NOT His Name &#038; Weight'>Your Character Is NOT His Name &#038; Weight</a></li>
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		<title>Character Creation Made Easy, Add an Appearance-The Right Face</title>
		<link>http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-appearance-the-right-face/</link>
		<comments>http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-appearance-the-right-face/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:55:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cheryl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Character Creation Made Easy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Characters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How To Series]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[character appearance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[create a character]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Need to come up with an appearance for your story character?  Try these options.


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://www.learntowritefiction.com/your-character-is-not-his-name-weight/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Your Character Is NOT His Name &#038; Weight'>Your Character Is NOT His Name &#038; Weight</a></li>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Coming up with a physical description for your character is sometimes the easiest part of creating a character.  It&#8217;s very common for a writer to visualize a character first and then be stuck with trying to come up with a personality or a good motivation for the character.  But if you have trouble coming up with the &#8220;right&#8221; look for a character, here are some places to check:</p>
<p><strong>Hairstyle Sites </strong><br />
While they usually feature the &#8220;beautiful people&#8221; these sites can have some extreme, but interesting, models for your character.  I like <a href="http://www.friseur.com">Friseur</a>.  It appears to be a German site (which I don&#8217;t speak), and it has some great pictures of models with unique hair styles (and colors).  Even if you can&#8217;t read German, click some of the links and look around.  If you&#8217;re doing a fantasy or scifi type story, you&#8217;ll want to check out the <a href="http://www.friseur.com/trends/index.htm">2007 Trends</a>  and <a href="http://www.friseur.com/frisurentrends.html">2008 Trends</a>.</p>
<p>For more conventional looks try <a href="http://www.matrix.com/find_your_hair_style/">Matrix</a> or <a href="http://www.hairstylesdesign.com/">Hairstyle Design</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Model Sites</strong> </p>
<p>Again, these sites often highlight the pretty people, but they can also be a treasure trove of photos of more regular-looking folks.  Look for sites that allow people to upload their own photos in hopes of being chosen as a model.  I like <a href="http://www.newfaces.com">New Faces</a>.  Click on the Model tab and then scroll to the bottom of the page.  There&#8217;s a search function there that lets you enter gender, age range, hair color, skin color and body type.  The search results will give you a wide variety of faces to choose from.</p>
<p><strong>Face Generators</strong> </p>
<p>Can&#8217;t find a real person that looks like your character?  Make your own face.  Singular Inversions have a free download available for <a href="http://www.facegen.com/products.htm">FaceGen</a>.  (You&#8217;ll get their logo on the character&#8217;s forehead, but if it is just for you, who cares?) </p>
<p>The Perception Lab&#8217;s <a href="http://morph.cs.st-andrews.ac.uk/">Face Transformer</a> lets you load a digital picture and then change the age, race or sex of the facial image.  </p>
<p><a href="http://sporkforge.com/imaging/sketch.php">Sketch Generator</a> lets you upload a photo and it will create a &#8220;sketch&#8221;-like abstraction of it.  This can be useful if you have a model or hairstyle picture that is close, but not just right for your character.  Maybe a sketch would be better for bringing the character to life.</p>
<p>Try using one of these methods when you need to put a face on your character.</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://www.learntowritefiction.com/your-character-is-not-his-name-weight/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Your Character Is NOT His Name &#038; Weight'>Your Character Is NOT His Name &#038; Weight</a></li>
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		<title>Character Creation Made Easy, Mix in Motivation-Core Need</title>
		<link>http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-mix-in-motivation-core-need/</link>
		<comments>http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-mix-in-motivation-core-need/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:44:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cheryl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Character Creation Made Easy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Characters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How To Series]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[create a character]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Plotting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Stumped on getting your story character motivated?  Try using the Core Need, Inner Wound method of defining your character.


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://www.learntowritefiction.com/your-character-is-not-his-name-weight/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Your Character Is NOT His Name &#038; Weight'>Your Character Is NOT His Name &#038; Weight</a></li>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Here&#8217;s another way to think about motivating your character.</p>
<p><strong>Step One &#8211; Core Need</strong><br />
Start with a Core Need, preferably one that developed in childhood. For inspiration, check out the post on <a href="http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-motivation-16-needs/">16 Basic Needs</a> or the one on <a href="http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-mix-in-motivation-desires-and-fears/">Desires and Fears</a>. They both mention things that could be used as a core need for your character. </p>
<p>You want a need that is of utmost importance to your character, but not necessarily one that they are aware of. In fact, it is probably better that they know nothing about it, but it still drives them on. If your character is exceedingly self-aware, he or she could be aware of the need, but helpless to break its hold over their thoughts and behaviors. Or perhaps they merely accept it as part of themselves &#8211; &#8220;This is the way I am.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Step Two &#8211; Inner Wound</strong><br />
Next, create an Inner Wound for the character. This is a traumatic event that happened in your character&#8217;s past that deeply wounded him or her. And remember that traumatic does not have to mean violent. A thirteen-year-old who is ridiculed and humiliated by his classmates for his attempt at writing a story would feel just as violated as someone who had been physically attacked.</p>
<p>If the wound has some connection to the character&#8217;s core need, even better.</p>
<p><strong>Step Three &#8211; Outer Goal</strong><br />
Taking these two items &#8211; the core need and the inner wound &#8211; you want to examine your story setting and determine a goal for your character. The outer goal is an intentional one that the character sets out deliberately to attain.</p>
<p><strong>Step Four &#8211; Inner Goal</strong><br />
The last piece is the Inner Goal. It is related to the Outer Goal usually, but probably isn&#8217;t one that the character is fully aware of. It subconsciously drives the character&#8217;s thoughts and actions.</p>
<p>Sound complicated to put together? Let me give you an example from one of my own story ideas.</p>
<p>My character is a teenager in a fantasy setting. Her core need is to belong. While growing up, that need is met by her family. But as she hits her late teens, she develops a magical &#8220;gift&#8221;. The people in her village consider it to be a curse. They kill her father and banish her mother and siblings to a meager, dirt-scraping existence. This is her Inner Wound &#8211; her family was destroyed because of her very own nature.</p>
<p>To spare her remaining family any further harm, she leaves them and strikes out on her own. Her Outer Goal is to find others like herself, to see if there is anyone else with a &#8220;gift&#8221;. </p>
<p>Her Inner Goal, the one that she isn&#8217;t really aware of is to bind those others into a family, to keep them safe and whole. Her Inner Goal reflects her Core Need &#8211; to belong. Since she lost her real family, she&#8217;ll create her own family to belong to.</p>
<p>If you asked her what her Inner Goal was, she couldn&#8217;t tell you, but you&#8217;d see the effects of it in her actions. After she had located others like herself, she would be constantly striving to keep them together, and to find a place of safety for all.</p>
<p>With these four pieces of information, you can build a character that will be motivated to take immediate action.</p>
<p>As a bonus, you can use them to do a little plotting as well. Since you know her Outer Goal and Inner Goal, it is easy to come up with ways to thwart her efforts.</p>
<p>For example:</p>
<ul>
<li>Prevent her from finding others (they all hide their own gifts for fear of discovery)</li>
<li>Once she finds some, prevent her from rescuing them from their current circumstance</li>
<li>Let issues divide her new &#8220;family&#8221; &#8211; instability, power struggles, members leaving</li>
<li>Make her a pariah in the new family or have her cast out of the group she formed</li>
<li>Have the group/family under constant threat of attack</li>
</ul>
<p>Each of these obstacles creates numerous possibilities for plot events. And the events that happen will give your character some realistic reasons to keep on struggling. She has to fulfill her core need, after all. Give this method a try and see how it works for your characters.</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://www.learntowritefiction.com/your-character-is-not-his-name-weight/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Your Character Is NOT His Name &#038; Weight'>Your Character Is NOT His Name &#038; Weight</a></li>
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		<title>Character Creation Made Easy, Mix in Motivation-Desires and Fears</title>
		<link>http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-mix-in-motivation-desires-and-fears/</link>
		<comments>http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-mix-in-motivation-desires-and-fears/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cheryl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Character Creation Made Easy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Characters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How To Series]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[create a character]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[desires]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fears]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motivation/Productivity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Define a character's desires and fears to create a more realistic character for your story.


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The next method for finding a motivation for your character comes from an article in the July 2006 issue of <a href="http://www.writermag.com">The Writer</a> magazine.  &#8220;How to Create Convincing Characters&#8221; by Corey Blake gives some great ideas for motivating your character.</p>
<p><strong>Step One &#8211; Define Desire Essences</strong><br />
The first step is to determine the desire essences of your main character.  These are the deep aspirations that drive our choices, actions and thoughts.  These needs differentiate us from others.  Some examples are:  the desire to be intellectually brilliant, the desire to be famous, the desire to hide from the world, the desire to belong to a group, the desire to be loved, the desire to party, the desire to die.</p>
<p>Blake recommends that you write down 20 desire essences for your character.  You don&#8217;t have to use them all, but you want a good profile to choose from when creating your character.  When determine your desire essences, look to the character&#8217;s ethnicity, religious beliefs, and major life events.  Address sex, drugs, music, parents, siblings, education, appearance and intelligence.</p>
<p><strong>Step Two &#8211; Define Fear Essences</strong><br />
Step two is to write down the fear essences of your character.  These are the exact opposite of the desire essences.  For example, if you have a desire to be famous, you will also have a fear of being ordinary.  Here are the fear essences that match the desire essences mentioned above:</p>
<p>desire to be intellectually brilliant = fear of being stupid<br />
desire to be famous = fear of being ordinary<br />
desire to hide from the world = fear of being socially exposed<br />
desire to belong to a group = fear of being rejected by a group<br />
desire to be loved = fear of being loathed<br />
desire to party = fear of being boring<br />
desire to die = fear of having to face life</p>
<p>Write down the fear essences that match the desire essences you already have.  Then rework and refine the list down to ten desires and fears that really excite you.  These are the ones to use for your character.</p>
<p><strong>Step Three &#8211; Write Backstory Scenes</strong><br />
You can then take this exercise a step further and create backstory for your character that clearly illustrates each of these desires and fears.  Come up with five moments in your character&#8217;s life when each of the ten essence pairs was tested and either the fear or the desire won out.  A failure support the fear; a success supports the desire.</p>
<p>Your character will likely be unaware of these defining moments in his life and how each one influences his future thoughts, attitudes and actions.  But as the writer, you can use these backstory scenes to make your character richer and more detailed.</p>
<p><strong>Step Four &#8211; Describe Current Behaviors</strong><br />
Using the ten essence pairs and the backstory scenes, determine current behaviors the character might exhibit.  For example, our character that desires to be famous and fears being ordinary may take every opportunity to perform and promote himself, may act depressed or sulky if he is overlooked in any way, and may dress or act in a flamboyant or eccentric manner.</p>
<p>By following these four steps, you will find your character easier to write by having well-thought-out desires, fears and behaviors that are consistent with your character&#8217;s past and motivations.</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://www.learntowritefiction.com/your-character-is-not-his-name-weight/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Your Character Is NOT His Name &#038; Weight'>Your Character Is NOT His Name &#038; Weight</a></li>
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		<title>Character Creation Made Easy, Mix in Motivation-Maslow&#8217;s Hierarchy</title>
		<link>http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-motivation-maslows/</link>
		<comments>http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-motivation-maslows/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 13 Jul 2008 04:14:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cheryl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Character Creation Made Easy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Characters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How To Series]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[create a character]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maslow's Hierarchy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motivation/Productivity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[How to use Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to create a motivation for your story character.


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Finding the right motivation for a character can be difficult.  It&#8217;s often easier to think of actions that you character must take than reasons why the character is doing those things.  Lucky for us writers that we have shortcuts available to help us determine a character&#8217;s motivation.</p>
<p>Today&#8217;s tip is to use Maslow&#8217;s Hierarchy of Needs to motivate your character.  Abraham Maslow proposed a theory about a human&#8217;s needs&#8211;that each person starts with the primitive needs and as each one is satisfied, moves up the hierarchy to the top.  But if an event happens that moves a person down a level, they stay there until they have satisfied that need again.  Sound confusing?  It&#8217;s not.  Take a look.</p>
<p><strong>Level 5 &#8211; Self-Actualization</strong><br />
morality, creativity, spontaneity, problem solving, lack of prejudice, acceptance of facts</p>
<p><strong>Level 4 &#8211; Esteem</strong><br />
self-esteem, confidence, achievement, respect of others, respect by others</p>
<p><strong>Level 3 &#8211; Love/Belonging</strong><br />
friendship, family, sexual intimacy</p>
<p><strong>Level 2 &#8211; Safety</strong><br />
security of body, of employment, of resources, of morality, of the family, of health, of property</p>
<p><strong>Level 1 &#8211; Physiological</strong><br />
breathing, food, water, sex, sleep, excretion</p>
<p>For example, let&#8217;s suppose that Jane, our main character, has a decent job, an apartment to live in and enough money to treat herself to a movie once a month.  Jane has satisified the needs in Level 1 &#8211; Physiological and Level 2 &#8211; Safety.  That leaves her at Level 3 &#8211; Love/Belonging and needing to satisfy those needs next.  She&#8217;s probably hanging out with friends, dating on occasion, looking for Mr. Right so she can get married and start her own family.  That&#8217;s her motivation at this stage in her life.</p>
<p>Now, imagine that Jane&#8217;s employer isn&#8217;t doing well financially and decides to lay off 100 people, Jane included.  Jane&#8217;s motivation and priority now isn&#8217;t dating.  It&#8217;s finding a job so she can keep her apartment and continue to eat.  So she&#8217;s back at Level 2, making sure her Safety needs are met.</p>
<p>Next, let&#8217;s suppose that a careless neighbor in Jane&#8217;s apartment building starts a fire and Jane is trapped in her apartment, choking on smoke.  Breathing is now her immediate priority.  A boyfriend and a job mean nothing compared to the need for clean air to breathe.  Her basic physiological needs, Level 1, are her utmost priority.</p>
<p>After the firemen have rescued her from the burning building (all Physiological neds met), and she&#8217;s received a large settlement from the neighbor after suing him over the mental trauma of the fire, she uses the money to buy a house (Safety needs met).  And she&#8217;s begun dating the fireman who carried her out of the building, so she&#8217;s squarely back to meeting her Love and Belonging needs.</p>
<p>See how easy this is?  To use it for a character, simply determine where your character falls on Maslow&#8217;s Hierarchy.  The level that the character is at will provide the underlying motivation for your character&#8217;s actions.</p>
<p>For more info on Maslow&#8217;s Hierarchy, check out the entry at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy">Wikipedia</a>.</p>


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		<title>Character Creation Made Easy, Mix in Motivation-16 Needs</title>
		<link>http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-motivation-16-needs/</link>
		<comments>http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-motivation-16-needs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:22:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cheryl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Character Creation Made Easy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Characters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How To Series]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[16 basic needs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[create a character]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motivation/Productivity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Need to motivate a character in your novel? Try one of the 16 basic needs.


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We&#8217;re moving on to Motivation.  As part of developing your character, you need to mix in some motivation.  Your character needs to have a reason to get up in the morning and a reason to go into that dark basement when there&#8217;s a serial killer on the loose and a creepy noise from downstairs.</p>
<p>This is also a good time to talk about motivation and goals.  Your character needs both.</p>
<p>Motivation is the underlying reason your character does something.  I go to work at my day job so that I can afford to eat food and write in my spare time.  My underlying motivation is a need to eat.  And my motivation for writing might be a need for social recognition.</p>
<p>A goal is what your character wants to achieve, like a new job so that she has more time to write.  Or catching the serial killer who&#8217;s hiding in the basement.  Because she&#8217;s motivated to restore order in her town.</p>
<p>In Steven Reiss&#8217; book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&#038;location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FDesires-Motivate-Actions-Define-Personalities%2Fdp%2F0425183408%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dbooks%26qid%3D1215746305%26sr%3D1-2&#038;tag=leatowrific-20&#038;linkCode=ur2&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325">Who Am I? The 16 Basic Desires that Motivate Our Action and Define Our Personalities</a>, he defines the 16 basic desires that he&#8217;s identified.  Any of these can function as your character&#8217;s motivation.</p>
<p>In no particular order, these desires or needs are:<br />
1.	Acceptance, the need for approval<br />
2.	Curiosity, the need to think<br />
3.	Eating, the need for food<br />
4.	Family, the need to raise children<br />
5.	Honour, the need to be loyal to the traditional values of one&#8217;s clan/ethnic group<br />
6.	Idealism, the need for social justice<br />
7.	Independence, the need for individuality<br />
8.	Order, the need for organized, stable, predictable environments<br />
9.	Physical Activity, the need for exercise<br />
10.	Power, the need for influence of will<br />
11.	Romance, the need for sex (or the need for beauty)<br />
12.	Saving, the need to collect<br />
13.	Social Contact, the need for friends (peer relationships)<br />
14.	Status, the need for social standing/importance<br />
15.	Tranquility, the need to be safe<br />
16.	Vengeance, the need to win and strike back </p>
<p>If you want to get really creative, try selecting one of the needs and keep your character unaware of it.  Most people don&#8217;t spend any effort analyzing why they do things.  They run through life on auto-pilot.  But even if your character is unaware of his or her motivation, it will still color their actions and emotions.</p>
<p>Mix in a motivation with your character&#8217;s personality and see what interesting behaviors come from it.</p>


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		<title>Character Creation Made Easy, Pick a Personality-Method 6-MBTI Profiles</title>
		<link>http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-pick-a-personality-mbti-profiles/</link>
		<comments>http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-pick-a-personality-mbti-profiles/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:21:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cheryl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Character Creation Made Easy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Characters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How To Series]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[create a character]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MBTI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personality type]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Learn how to use the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality profiles to start a character for your next novel.


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) offers another useful set of character profiles that you can use to jumpstart a character for your novel.  There are sixteen different types.  Let&#8217;s look at them:</p>
<p><strong>ISTJ &#8211; The Duty Fulfiller or Detective</strong><br />
Characteristics: Quiet, cautious, meticulous, responsible, strong and silent type<br />
Good occupations:  Administrators, inspectors, researchers<br />
Acronym:  I Save Things Judiciously<br />
Half empty or half full?  &#8220;It&#8217;s half empty now and it wouldn&#8217;t surprise me if it dried up completely.&#8221;<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I do everything right&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>ESTJ &#8211; The Guardian or Overseer</strong><br />
Characteristics: Friendly, realistic, analytical, organized, very driven and enthusiastic<br />
Good occupations:  Executives, analysts, managers<br />
Acronym:  Execution Saves The Job<br />
Half empty or half full?  &#8220;Hey! Whose job was it to fill up this glass?&#8221;<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I am in control&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>ISFJ &#8211; The Nurturer or Defender</strong><br />
Characteristics: Cautious, hard-working, thoughtful, careful, very dedicated to causes and relationships<br />
Good occupations:  Health care technicians, accountants, customer service representatives<br />
Acronym:  I Serve Family Joyfully<br />
Half empty or half full?  &#8220;I bet my friend would like to have some water right now&#8230;&#8221;<br />
Motto:  &#8220;Nobody can get along without me&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>ESFJ &#8211; The Caregiver or Loyalist</strong><br />
Characteristics: Talkative, practical, empathetic, decisve, very harmonious<br />
Good occupations:  Counselors, coaches, nurses<br />
Acronym:  Extra Special Friendly Joiner<br />
Half empty or half full?  &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe someone would leave this dirty glass out here! Clean up this mess right now!&#8221;<br />
Motto:  &#8220;Everyone likes me and wants to be like me&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>ISTP &#8211; The Mechanic or Artisan</strong><br />
Characteristics: Independent, practical, realistic, adaptable, very skillful with tools<br />
Good occupations:  Programmers, operators, pilots<br />
Acronym:  I See The Problem<br />
Half empty or half full?  &#8220;So? It&#8217;s water. Big deal!&#8221;<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I can make anything work&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>ESTP &#8211; The Doer or Promoter</strong><br />
Characteristics: Gregarious, practical, observant, adaptable, very unpredictable<br />
Good occupations:  Stockbrokers, entrepreneurs, private investigators<br />
Acronym:  Everyone Seems Too Proper<br />
Half empty or half full?  &#8220;You call that a glass of water?  Why, back where I come from&#8230;&#8221;<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I&#8217;m a stud and the world revolves around me&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>ESFP &#8211; The Performer or Entertainer</strong><br />
Characteristics: Approachable, decisive, concerned, adaptable, very generous<br />
Good occupations:  Teachers, scientists, public relations specialists<br />
Acronym:  Extra Special Friendly Person<br />
Half empty or half full?  &#8220;There&#8217;s a glass of water! You know, it&#8217;s healthy to drink a lot of water! Why, I remember when I was growing up, we used to&#8230;&#8221;<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I am the most glamorous&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>ISFP &#8211; The Artist or Composer</strong><br />
Characteristics: Modest, easy-going, caring, flexible, very artistic<br />
Good occupations:  Customer service representatives, nurses, counselors<br />
Acronym:  I Seek Fun and Pleasure<br />
Half empty or half full?  (Holds up glass of water, tilts it from side to side, wiggles finger in it, licks finger, grins slightly, moves on.)<br />
Motto:  &#8220;Nobody has better taste than I do&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>ENTJ &#8211; The Executive or Director</strong><br />
Characteristics: Energetic, creative, strategic, decisive, very commandeering<br />
Good occupations:  Lawyers, marketing consultants, teachers<br />
Acronym:  Executives Need Tough Jobs<br />
Half empty or half full?  &#8220;Hey! This is a beer glass, not a water glass!&#8221;<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I am all-powerful&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>INTJ &#8211; The Scientist or Wizard</strong><br />
Characteristics: Autonomous, imaginative, logical, organized, very independent<br />
Good occupations:  Engineers, planners, publishers<br />
Acronym:  It&#8217;s Not Thoroughly Justified<br />
Half empty or half full?  &#8220;Glass is made from silicon dioxide, heated to a temperature of&#8230;&#8221;<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I am all-knowing&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>ENTP &#8211; The Visionary or Inventor</strong><br />
Characteristics: Energetic, expressive, decisive, easy-going, inventive<br />
Good occupations:  Talk show hosts, motivational speakers, marketing consultants<br />
Acronym:  Each New Thought Propels<br />
Half empty or half full?  &#8220;Voila! 0.157 litres of dihydrogen oxide, prepared by micro-gnomes.&#8221;<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I can come up with a solution for anything&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>INTP &#8211; The Thinker or Architect</strong><br />
Characteristics: Reserved, creative, intellectual, adaptable, very logical<br />
Good occupations:  Mediators, musicians, strategic planners<br />
Acronym:  It&#8217;s Not Theoretically Possible<br />
Half empty or half full?  &#8220;The glass <em>is</em> full&#8230;half water, half air!&#8221;<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I&#8217;m brilliant and you should bow to my genius&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>ENFJ &#8211; The Giver or Teacher</strong><br />
Characteristics: Outgoing, creative, empathetic, decisive, very persuasive<br />
Good occupations:  Therapists, educators, writers<br />
Acronym:  Everyone Needs Fulfillment and Joy<br />
Half empty or half full?  &#8220;There&#8217;s more than enough for friends to share.&#8221;<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I can teach anyone anything&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>INFJ &#8211; The Protector or Mentor</strong><br />
Characteristics: Reserved, creative, decisive, organized, very empathetic<br />
Good occupations:  Architects, journalists, counselors<br />
Acronym:  Inner Nuances Foster Journeys<br />
Half empty or half full?  &#8220;This glass of water is a metaphor for my life.&#8221;<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I have the best intentions&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>ENFP &#8211; The Inspirer or Motivator</strong><br />
Characteristics:  Friendly, imaginative, empathetic, flexible, very optimistic<br />
Good occupations:  Acting, graphic design, psychology<br />
Acronym: Every day, New Fantastic Possibilities<br />
Half empty or half full?  &#8220;Whooeeee! Water fight!&#8221;<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I have the most enthusiasm&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>INFP &#8211; The Idealist or Actor</strong><br />
Characteristics: Private, creative, empathetic, flexible, very non-directive<br />
Good occupations:  Human resource associates, fashion designers, researchers<br />
Acronym:  I Never Find Perfection<br />
Half empty or half full? &#8220;But look! A crystalline vessel, filled with shimmering, life-giving nectar!&#8221;<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I have the most sensitive conscience&#8221;</p>
<p>To get more in-depth info on the MBTI personality types, check out the <a href="http://www.personalitypage.com/portraits.html">Personality Page</a>.   To see which profile fits you, take the quick test at <a href="http://www.personalitytype.com/quiz.asp">PersonalityType.com</a>.</p>


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		<title>Character Creation Made Easy-Pick a Personality, Method 5-Zodiac Signs</title>
		<link>http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-pick-a-personality-zodiac-signs/</link>
		<comments>http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-pick-a-personality-zodiac-signs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:00:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cheryl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Character Creation Made Easy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Characters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How To Series]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[create a character]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[zodiac signs]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Try using the Zodiac signs when creating a character for a novel.  Read the quick profiles of each sign.


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Our next method for creating a quick character is to use the signs of the Zodiac as our template.  For our templates, we&#8217;ll be using the western Zodiac signs (as opposed to the Chinese Zodiac which uses animals to represent the signs).</p>
<p>While each of these signs are tied to a specific date range for the person&#8217;s birthday, you don&#8217;t have to limit yourself to that when creating your character.  If you like the Leo&#8217;s personality, but your character was born in January, use the Leo&#8217;s personality anyway.</p>
<p><strong>Capricorn</strong> &#8211; <em>Ambitious Achiever</em></p>
<p>Primary Goal:  To be proud of his/her achievements<br />
Strengths:  Practical, prudent, patient, ambitious, self-reliant, resourceful<br />
Weaknesses: May be pessimistic, miserly, rigid, or workaholic<br />
Motto: &#8220;I use&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Aquarius</strong> &#8211; <em>Visionary Individual</em></p>
<p>Primary Goal:  To be unique and original<br />
Strengths:  Independent, intellectual, inventive, gregarious, loyal, eccentric<br />
Weaknesses:  May be contrary, unpredictable, unemotional or detached<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I know&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Pisces</strong> &#8211; <em>Romantic Dreamer</em></p>
<p>Primary Goal:  To live their dreams and turn fantasies into realities<br />
Strengths:  Sensitive, compassionate, selfless, sympathetic, kind<br />
Weaknesses:  May be lazy, idealistic, secretive, weak-willed, easily led<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I believe&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Aries</strong> &#8211; <em>Dynamic Pioneer</em></p>
<p>Primary Goal:  To lead the way for others<br />
Strengths:  Adventurous, energetic, pioneering, enthusiastic, confident<br />
Weaknesses:  May be selfish, quick-tempered, impulsive, impatient, daredevil<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I can&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Taurus</strong> &#8211; <em>Stable Traditionalist</em></p>
<p>Primary Goal:  To have material and emotional security<br />
Strengths:  Warmhearted, reliable, persistent, security-loving, determined<br />
Weaknesses:  May be resentful, possessive, inflexible, self-indulgent or greedy<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I have&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Gemini</strong> &#8211; <em>Inquisitive Intellectual</em></p>
<p>Primary Goal:  To explore a little bit of everything<br />
Strengths:  Witty, curious, adaptable, versatile, engaging, entertaining<br />
Weaknesses:  May be superficial, inconsistent, nervous, flaky, restless<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I think&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Cancer</strong> &#8211; <em>Emotional Nurturer</em></p>
<p>Primary Goal:  To feel safe (emotionally, spiritually, romantically, and financially)<br />
Strengths:  Sentimental, cautious, protective, sympathetic, emotional, devoted<br />
Weaknesses:  May be moody, clingy, overemotional, needy, insecure<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I feel&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Leo</strong> &#8211; <em>Regal Charmer</em></p>
<p>Primary Goal:  To lead the way<br />
Strengths:  Dramatic, charismatic, generous, exuberant, proud, confident<br />
Weaknesses:  May be pompous, patronizing, bossy, intolerant, stubborn<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I will&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Virgo</strong> &#8211; <em>Practical Planner</em></p>
<p>Primary Goal:  To do the right thing<br />
Strengths:  Meticulous, reliable, practical, diligent, modest<br />
Weaknesses:  May be fussy, overcritical, harsh, perfectionistic, a worrier<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I serve&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Libra</strong> &#8211; <em>Easy-going Diplomat</em></p>
<p>Primary Goal:  To live an easy, uncomplicated life<br />
Strengths:  Diplomatic, fair-minded, peaceable, charming, sophisticated<br />
Weaknesses:  May be indecisive, gullible, passive, co-dependent or easily influenced<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I balance&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Scorpio</strong> &#8211; <em>Mysterious Soul</em></p>
<p>Primary Goal:  To survive against all opposition<br />
Strengths:  Intense, forceful, powerful, passionate, magnetic,<br />
Weaknesses:  May be compulsive, jealous, secretive, obstinate, obsessive<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I desire&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Sagittarius</strong> &#8211; <em>Transparent Free-Spirit</em></p>
<p>Primary Goal:  To live the good life<br />
Strengths:  Jovial, good-humored, honest, straightforward, freedom-loving<br />
Weaknesses:  May be irresponsible, superficial, tactless, restless, flippant<br />
Motto:  &#8220;I seek&#8221;</p>
<p>Next up is a review of the Myers-Briggs personality profiles for jump-starting a character.</p>


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		<title>Character Creation Made Easy-Pick a Personality, Method 4-Archetypes</title>
		<link>http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-pick-a-personality-archety/</link>
		<comments>http://www.learntowritefiction.com/character-creation-made-easy-pick-a-personality-archety/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:46:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cheryl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Character Creation Made Easy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Characters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How To Series]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[archetypes]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Stuck on how to create a character for your novel?  Try using one of the 12 archetypes to get you started.


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>An archetype is an original pattern or model from which others are copied.</p>
<p>Joseph Campbell, in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&#038;location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FHero-Thousand-Faces-Mythos-Books%2Fdp%2F0691017840%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dbooks%26qid%3D1215197536%26sr%3D1-1&#038;tag=leatowrific-20&#038;linkCode=ur2&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325">The Hero With a Thousand Faces</a>, identified both the archetype of the Hero and the quest that the hero follows, in many of the folk tales and myths of the world. Carol Pearson, in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&#038;location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FAwakening-Heroes-Within-Archetypes-Ourselves%2Fdp%2F0062506781%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dbooks%26qid%3D1215196985%26sr%3D1-1&#038;tag=leatowrific-20&#038;linkCode=ur2&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325">Awakening the Heroes Within</a>, expands upon the archetypes that exist among people.</p>
<p>You can use one of the 12 archetypes as the basis for a character. Remember that a character needs to have more qualities than these to be well-rounded.</p>
<p><strong>Innocent</strong><br />
Primary Goal: To be safe, loved, cherished and included<br />
Fears: Being abandoned<br />
Strengths: Trusting and optimistic<br />
Weakness: May become dependent on others<br />
Motto: Life is joy</p>
<p><strong>Orphan</strong><br />
Primary Goal: To protect himself from being hurt, exposed or abandoned<br />
Fears: Being used<br />
Strengths: Empathy and realistic attitude<br />
Weakness: May develop a victim mentality<br />
Motto: Life is suffering</p>
<p><strong>Warrior</strong><br />
Primary Goal: To win in whatever situation he/she encounters<br />
Fears: Being weak or vulnerable<br />
Strengths: Courageous and disciplined<br />
Weakness: May see others as enemies or think in strict black/white terms<br />
Motto: Where there&#8217;s a will, there&#8217;s a way</p>
<p><strong>Caregiver </strong><br />
Primary Goal: To help others<br />
Fears: Being selfish<br />
Strengths: Compassionate, nurturing and generous<br />
Weakness: May become co-dependent or try to take care of everyone and everything<br />
Motto: Love your neighbor as yourself</p>
<p><strong>Seeker</strong><br />
Primary Goal: To find his/her true purpose in life<br />
Fears: Being the same as everyone else, conformity<br />
Strengths: Autonomy and ambition<br />
Weakness: May reject help from others and become isolated<br />
Motto: To thine own self be true</p>
<p><strong>Lover</strong><br />
Primary Goal: To gain the bliss of true love<br />
Fears: Being alone and unloved<br />
Strengths: Passionate and committed to his/her relationships<br />
Weakness: May smother other people or enter/stay in bad relationships to avoid being alone<br />
Motto: Life is love</p>
<p><strong>Destroyer </strong><br />
Primary Goal: To effect change for the better (as they see it)<br />
Fears: Being powerless or ineffectual<br />
Strengths: Humility and outrageousness<br />
Weakness: May be ruthless, careless of their own safety, may put others in danger too<br />
Motto: Rules are made to be broken</p>
<p><strong>Creator</strong><br />
Primary Goal: To express him/herself in an individual and unique way<br />
Fears: Being unreal or mediocre<br />
Strengths: Individuality and curiosity<br />
Weakness: May overload his/her life with constant new projects<br />
Motto: I create, therefore I am</p>
<p><strong>Ruler </strong><br />
Primary Goal: To create order and structure<br />
Fears: Being chaotic or being overthrown<br />
Strengths: Responsibility and leadership<br />
Weakness: May dominate others<br />
Motto: Power isn&#8217;t everything, it&#8217;s the only thing</p>
<p><strong>Magician</strong><br />
Primary Goal: To transform his/her life and the world around him/her<br />
Fears: Being the cause of unintended consequences<br />
Strengths: Personal power and influence with others<br />
Weakness: May become manipulative and be feared<br />
Motto: I make things happen</p>
<p><strong>Sage</strong><br />
Primary Goal: To find truth<br />
Fears: Being false<br />
Strengths: Wisdom and objective viewpoint<br />
Weakness: May put forth his/her version of the truth as the only one<br />
Motto: The truth will set you free</p>
<p><strong>Fool </strong><br />
Primary Goal: To enjoy life for its own sake<br />
Fears: Being not-alive<br />
Strengths: Joy and freedom<br />
Weakness: May be prone to laziness or dissipation<br />
Motto: You only live once</p>
<p>Next up, using the Zodiac signs to create a character.</p>


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