Creating a fictional character

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6 steps 

1. Start with a character archetype.
2. Add specific characteristics.
3. Build the backstory.
4. Give them quirks, faults, and flaws.
5. Give your character an arc.
6. Add visual references.

Here are some archetypes

1. The Lover

The romantic lead who’s guided by the heart.

• Strengths: humanism, passion, conviction
• Weaknesses: naivete, irrationality
• Lover Archetype Examples: Romeo and Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), Belle (Beauty and the Beast)

 

How strongly do you personally identify with this character?

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2. The Hero

The protagonist who rises to meet a challenge and saves the day.

• Strengths: courage, perseverance, honor
• Weaknesses: overconfidence, hubris
• Hero Archetype Examples: Achilles (The Iliad), Luke Skywalker (Star Wars), Wonder Woman (Wonder Woman), Harry Potter (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone)

 

How strongly do you personally identify with this character?

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3. The Magician

A powerful figure who has harnessed the ways of the universe to achieve key goals.

• Strengths: omniscience, omnipotence, discipline
• Weaknesses: corruptibility, arrogance
• Magician Archetype Examples: Prospero (The Tempest), Gandalf (The Lord of the Rings), Morpheus (The Matrix), Darth Vader (Star Wars)
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How strongly do you personally identify with this character?

 

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4. The Outlaw

The rebel who won’t abide by society’s demands.

• Strengths: independent thinking, virtue, owes no favors
• Weaknesses: self-involved, potentially criminal
• Outlaw Archetype Examples: Han Solo (Star Wars), Robin Hood, Princess Mononoke

 

How strongly do you personally identify with this character?

 

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5. The Explorer

A character naturally driven to push the boundaries of the status quo and explore the unknown.

• Strengths: curious, driven, motivated by self-improvement
• Weaknesses: restless, unreliable, never satisfied
• Explorer Archetype Examples: Odysseus (The Odyssey), Huckleberry Finn (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn), Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes)

 

How strongly do you personally identify with this character?

 

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6. The Sage

A wise figure with knowledge for those who inquire. The mother figure or mentor is often based on this archetype.

• Strengths: wisdom, experience, insight
• Weaknesses: cautious, hesitant to actually join the action
• Famous sages: Athena (The Odyssey), Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars), 

 

How strongly do you personally identify with this character?

 

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7. The Innocent

A morally pure character, often a child, whose only intentions are good.

• Strengths: morality, kindness, sincerity
• Weaknesses: vulnerable, naive, rarely skilled
• Innocent Archetype Examples: Snow White

How strongly do you personally identify with this character?

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8. The Creator

A motivated visionary who creates art or structures during the narrative.

• Strengths: creativity, willpower, conviction
• Weaknesses: self-involvement, single-mindedness, lack of practical skills
• Creator Archetype Examples: Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Frankenstein)

 

How strongly do you personally identify with this character?

 

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9. The Ruler

A character with legal or emotional power over others.

• Strengths: omnipotence, status, resources
• Weaknesses: aloofness, disliked by others, out of touch
• Ruler Archetype Examples:  King Lear (King Lear), Tony Soprano (The Sopranos)

 

How strongly do you personally identify with this character?

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10. The Caregiver

A character who continually supports others and makes sacrifices on their behalf.

• Strengths: honorable, selfless, loyal
• Weaknesses: lacking personal ambition or leadership
• Caregiver Archetype Examples: Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins)

 

How strongly do you personally identify with this character?

 

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11. The Everyman

A relatable character who feels recognizable from daily life.

• Strengths: grounded, salt-of-the-earth, relatable
• Weaknesses: lacking special powers, often unprepared for what’s to come
• Everyman Archetype Examples: Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit), Leopold Bloom (Ulysses), 

 

How strongly do you personally identify with this character?

 

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12. The Jester

A funny character or trickster who provides comic relief, but may also speak important truths.

• Strengths: funny, disarming, insightful
• Weaknesses: can be obnoxious and superficial
• Jester Archetype Examples: R2D2 and C-3PO (Star Wars)

 

How strongly do you personally identify with this character?

 

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Think again about the 12 archetypes - do any of them remind you of people you know? Some of your classmates?

 

1. The Lover

2. The Hero

3. The Magician

4. The Outlaw

5. The Explorer

6. The Sage

7. The Innocent

8. The Creator

9. The Ruler

10. The Caregiver

11. The Everyman

12. The Jester

1. Choose one archetype and give them some specific characteristics.

What's their role or job?

How old are they?

Are they male or female?

Rich or poor?

What nationality are they?

Where do they live?

1. Build the backstory.

 

Think of some stuff that might have happened to them in the past.

Did they go to school?

Did they have an unhappy or happy childhood?

Where did they grow up?

Did they have any interesting friends?

How did they become who they are?

1. Give them quirks, faults, and flaws, habits
2. do they smoke, drink, overeat?
3. do they a soft side?
4. who and what do they care about?

Add visual references

appearance

clothes

scars / distinguishing features

weapons / tools