Creating Characters (5 page)
His high regard for someone is also tempered by a degree of fear.
His appraisal of another is supported by a strong approval of that person's moral standards.
His respect for another takes on a hallowed nature.
Psychologically, he bows deeply toward another.
Feels mute in the presence of a certain person's accomplishments.
Related Traits:
Class-conscious, contemptuous, disdainful, disregardful, irreverent, prejudicial, scornful.
Character Possibilities: Observes one or more characteristics in someone that he views as offensive; thus, in his eyes, that person's worth is significantly devalued. Mentally separates groups of people into categories and views those who do not measure up to his standards as being undeserving of his attention. Toward one or more people who are held in high regard by others, he mentally scoffs at their so-called merit.
Unable to esteem one of the following: an idea; a principle; an achievement; a set of assumptions; an argument; an accepted truth; a prediction; a form of art; a belief; or, in fact, one of perhaps hundreds of possibilities that involve what people do or say.
Related Traits: Appreciative, beholden, bound, gratified, indebted, obligated, thankful.
Character Possibilities: Because of what has been done for him, feels an obligation to somehow repay the kindness at some time in the future. Feels blessed because he has been on the receiving end of good luck.
Related Traits: Forgetful, indifferent, oblivious, unappreciative, unaware, ungrateful, unmindful.
Character Possibilities:
Never burdens himself with the responsibility of having to repay someone for a kindness.
Views a favor as an intrusion.
Believes the help he received is something he deserved and sees no reason to express his appreciation.
Accepts any assistance that comes his way, but at the same time places no value on the spirit in which it was given.
Forgets the help he receives almost as soon as he accepts it.
Related Traits:
Anguished, ashamed, chagrined, compunctious, conscious-stricken, contrite, distressed, embarrassed, guilt-ridden, heavy-hearted, mortified, penitent, regretful, repentant, rueful, self-accusing, self-condemning, self-convicting, self-reproachful, sheepish, sorry, tormented.
Character Possibilities:
Weighted with guilt, as a result of something he has either done or thinks he has done. Desires to make amends for the wrong he committed. Condemns himself for engaging in what he believes to be a mortal sin. Greatly embarrassed to learn that he, of all people, should do or say such a thing.
In the name of justice, chooses a method by which to punish himself.
Related Traits: Callous, guiltless, impenitent, shameless, unashamed, uncontrite, unembarrassed, unregretful, unrepentant, unsorrowful.
Character Possibilities: Unable to see that what he has said or done is very wrong, possibly hurtful to another. Because he has become emotionally hardened by injustice, unable to shoulder any guilt for the injustices he renders. Whatever harm he brings to another, it's his opinion that the individual had it coming to him. The words "I'm sorry" never come together in his mind.
Related Traits:
Believing, deceivable, deludable, dupable, exploitable, gullible, indubious, ingenuous, innocent, naive, simple-hearted, undoubting, unguarded, unquestioning, unsuspecting, unwary, unworldly.
Character Possibilities: Tends to accept things as being truthful without carefully examining them. More liable to take someone's word than not.
Likely to fall for something hook, line, and sinker; one could sell him the Brooklyn Bridge.
Doesn't believe a particular individual would lie to him.
Places far more value in someone's words than they actually deserve.
Gobbles up the first thing he hears.
Does not know how to test veracity by attacking it with questions.
Believes what he reads, or what the gossip mill churns out, or what the voices of authority tell him.
Related Traits: Cynical, disbelieving, doubting, inconvincible, incredulous, jealous, leery, mistrustful, questioning, skeptical, suspecting, suspicious, vigilant, wary.
Character Possibilities: Rarely does he accept something to be true without first examining its value like a jeweler. Intuition tells him that what he sees or hears is not an accurate reflection of what is being presented. Experience has installed roadblocks in his mind and almost nothing he hears or sees can circumvent them.
Doubts the weightiest of evidence.
Believes that someone is receiving the love or attention that he is convinced should be his alone. Guards his trust as if it were his life's savings. Investigates motives; seeks the parents of conclusion.
How do the other people in the story see the character?
This has nothing to do with a physical description of the character,
e.g.,
the way he looks and dresses; instead, the question refers specifically to the character's behavior pattern. Now, whether another character in the story is observant enough to notice the behavior, or whether he has been placed in a situation that would
allow
him to see it, is of course another matter altogether. It is the writer who, in the name of plot development, must make that decision.
For example, the author may want only one character to know that another person in the story has been physically violent, leaving all the others ignorant of the fact. Or he or she may choose to let nearly everyone else in on the knowledge while keeping it hidden from at least one character. Whichever the case, at least one person in the story has seen the behavior at least once. Or thinks he has.
There are two other important questions to consider when deciding on a character's external traits:
Whatever one character sees in another, is it correct?
That is, is he laboring under a misconception? For example, one or more characters in a story could be led to believe that someone is brave, when in fact he is cowardly. Thus external behavior may veil a character's true nature. If that is the case, is it by the character's own design, or has action on his part been misinterpreted by another?
Is the character's external trait an extension of an internal trait?
While it is certainly true that some external traits extend from those classified as "internal" (in fact, they may bear the same name), there are nevertheless a great many instances in which a character's external nature deserves separate attention.
Here is a list of external traits from which you, the author, may extract something that will assist you in the development of a major or minor character.
There is, of course, no limit to the number that may be selected. Moreover, even exact opposites can become a part of a fictional character. For example, he or she may be sociable in one regard and unsociable in another. Likewise, a character may be both complimentary and faultfinding, skillful and unskillful, and so on. Just keep this in mind: all external traits are visible to other characters in the story, though not necessarily to
all
other characters.
Related Traits:
Affable, amiable, approachable, companionable, congenial, cordial, folksy, fraternal, genial, gregarious, hail-fellow, hearty, homey, hospitable, ingratiating, neighborly, outgoing, pleasant, sunny, warm.
As Seen by Others:
Seeks the company of others.
Enjoys conversations, telling or hearing jokes.
Likes to entertain.
Treats everyone like a friend.
Has a pleasing nature that is irresistible.
Always ready to talk.
Presence often seems to brighten a room.
A slapper of backs, a firm shaker of hands.
Gravitates toward a room full of people like a moth is attracted to a bulb.
A walking welcome mat.
Rarely meets a stranger that he can't get to talk.
Related Traits:
Aloof, brusque, chilly, cold, cool, glowering, haughty, hostile, inaccessible, inhospitable, snobbish, sour, sullen, unapproachable, unfriendly, uncongenial, uncordial.
As Seen by Others:
Doesn't care much for chit-chatting.
His "hellos," when he has any, are like icebergs.
Not easily approached.
Keeps his distance from almost everyone.
Has forgotten how to smile.
Treats people as if he were better than them.
Has the face of someone who looks like he's expecting someone to ask him for a donation.
More likely to be seen alone than with others.
He's a slam-the-door-in-your-face kind of person.
Has a bad case of the grims.
Related Traits:
Bashful, constrained, constricted, controlled, correct, detached, distant, guarded, formal, inhibited, introverted, repressed, restrained, reticent, retiring, rigid, starched, stiff, subdued, unassuming, undemonstrative, withdrawn.
As Seen by Others:
Goes out of his way not to be noticed.
Acts like he's afraid to do or say the wrong thing.
Seems to be holding something back all the time.
The proverbial stuffed shirt, ramrod, starched back.
At first glance, appears to be snooty.
Looks like he's all wound up in a ball, with no thread hanging loose.
Not a joke teller or a slap-on-the back kind of person.
Never gets excited about anything.
Won't hug anyone; in fact, he'll turn stiff as a poker if you try to embrace him.
Has probably never done anything on the spur of the moment, just for the heck of it.
Sits apart from everyone else.
Actions appear to be a little too precise and correct, almost mechanical.
Has good manners, but it's as if they've been drilled into him.
If he gets mad, he keeps it to himself.
Related Traits:
Approachable, bold, casual, cocky, confident, demonstrative, direct, extroverted, folksy, forward, informal, open, outgoing, rambunctious, self-assertive, spirited, spontaneous, uninhibited, unrestrained.
As Seen by Others:
Two whoops and a holler are always waiting to come out of him.
He'll run his feelings out there for everyone to take a peek.
Says what he thinks and does what he wants, without worrying about how others will react.
If there's only one person in a restaurant, chances are he'll go over and sit down at the same table.
Not afraid to make a fool of himself.
Doesn't stand on formality.
He can talk to almost anyone.
He makes you feel like you're important.
Related Traits:
Accommodating, attentive, caring, civil, comforting, complaisant, concerned, consoling, courtly, diplomatic, discreet, gracious, helpful, judicious, kindhearted, obliging, polite, politic, respectful, sensitive, solicitous, soothing, tactful, tenderhearted, thoughtful.
As Seen by Others:
Tries not to inconvenience people.
Does his best not to hurt someone's feelings or become annoying.
Obeys the Golden Rule.
He'll give up what's best for him, just to make it easier on someone else.
Listens to people's opinions and won't make fun of them if they're different than his own.
He'll do everything in the world to make you comfortable.
Won't become rude, even when he's prompted.
If something's bothering you, he'll try to talk to you about it and maybe take the edge off your mood.
Shows a sincere desire to please others.
To prevent misunderstanding or hurting someone's feelings, he chooses his words carefully.
He's the kind of person who does favors that people really need.
Seems to possess some advance knowledge of what someone needs or desires.
Related Traits:
Aggravating, annoying, discourteous, disobliging, harsh, impolite, inhospitable, mocking, nagging, nasty, pesky, rude, sarcastic, tactless, taunting, thoughtless, unaccommodating, uncivil, unfeeling, unhelpful, unkind.
As Seen by Others:
Never shows that he has a clue about what someone needs or wants, and he doesn't seem to care.
If he finds out something irritates you, he'll keep doing it.
Ridicules people.
Doesn't apologize if he's late.
Never makes you feel at home.
Has a sharp tongue, which he uses to cut people up when they fail to meet his expectations.
Doesn't have the slightest idea about what is the proper thing to do or say in delicate situations, and so he's likely to blurt out anything that comes to his mind.
Insults and sarcasm are his stock in trade.
Doesn't know what kind of assistance someone might need, and he wouldn't supply it even if he did.
He'll nag you to death.
Acts like no one's important except him.
Related Traits: Collaborative, compromising, contributive, cooperative, harmonious, helpful, mediatory, participatory, noncompetitive.
As Seen by Others:
He'll work with you rather than against you.
Takes the attitude that we're all in this thing together.
Won't try to outdo you.
Prefers to get along rather than get ahead.
He'll give up something, to get something.
Put him in the middle of a dispute and he won't take sides; instead, he'll want to know what they agree upon and then try to work out their differences from that point.
If you need a helping hand, he's the one you want.
Related Traits: Autonomous, competitive, individualistic, rivaling, separated, solitary, uncollaborative, uncompromising, vying.
As Seen by Others:
If you want to reach a goal, you'll have to get there without him.
Once he stakes out a position, that's where he stays.