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Chapter 3: Your Character's Defining Trait
So, Pie-chan was asking me about refining RP characters into Headpeople as opposed to, I don't know, Headmasks, and I was randomly spouting out seemingly-appropriate things, and I think I stumbled upon something that sorta works. Who can poke a few of their characters and tell me if it, you know, does?
Kay's Wonderful Miracle Guide to Character Creation
Chapter 3: Your Character's Defining Trait
Now that we have established a major character from assorted ideas, with an entire chapter devoted to the sheer agony of picking out a name, take your fledgling character and begin to build around him. In order to build any sound structure -- architectural, academic, or fictional -- it must have a solid foundation, and the foundation of your character should be what I will call a "defining trait".
A character's defining trait should be his core beliefs, his most principle values. Something this character strives for, a concept that he holds more important than anything else, something that, in a very real way, composes who he is. Many of his decisions and actions should, in some way, be traceable to this trait.
Let's take the example of Bailey. Bailey is a hacker with something of a detachment from reality. He had a bossy girlfriend while in high school who made all his decisions for him, and later on, a laidback boyfriend who still made many of his decisions for him. Bailey occasionally does drugs and really likes being drunk. When his boyfriend gets in trouble from the police because of those drug habits, Bailey drops everything, says, "Screw you buddy," and flees that half of the country.
Bailey's defining trait is that he does not want to be held responsible for his actions.
He stays with lovers who take the decisions out of his hands, so if something goes wrong, they're the ones who told him to do it; wasn't his fault. The drugs and the alcohol keep him feeling without burdens, no consequences, rather like a 'net high where he feels practically all-powerful. And when real authority shows up with a real danger of real reckoning for what he's done, he acts immediately and instinctively on his core principle: get the hell away before they can make him take responsibility.
Without a defining trait, a character has no purpose. A main character has no spine, no steel. All your major characters should have a core principle that they will uphold except under the most extreme of duress. It will take something sincerely dramatic, like his One True Love being held at gunpoint, to make Mr. Bailey Q. Example turn around and take responsibility for something he's done. And even then there's no guarantee that he wouldn't turn tail and run, and just spend the rest of his life loathing himself, but personally safe.
Furthermore, this trait is probably more integral to your character's personality than you imagine -- in very real ways. Mr. Example, for instance, is a tangle of things related to his cowardice: he's indecisive, he's vague, he's lazy, he doesn't show emotions or speak ideas that other people might dislike, he doesn't get in arguments or stand in other people's way, and at the first sign of danger -- emotional, physical, situational -- he's gone. He's also other things (sarcastic, cynical, casual, and an undeniable genius) but so much of what he is can be traced back to that defining trait. Or perhaps his defining trait can be traced back to what HE is, and it is the personality that makes the purpose of the man...
(Warning: Defining traits are not, generally-speaking, applicable to real life.)
The best defining traits are selfish ones. They should be "me"-centric. I don't want to take responsibility; that would be bad for me, I would be unhappy. I want to be the one in control; that would be good for me, I would be happy. I want people to like me; that would be good for me, I would be happy.
Unselfish defining traits can be tricky. Core principles that put other people's wants before the character's own should be challenged. I don't want to cause trouble; that would make other people unhappy. I want my mother to be happy, I would do anything to make Mother happy, that's led to stabbings, hasn't it? Those kinds of character traits may be successful in their goals, but leave the character unsatisfied and problems unresolved.
So now look at your characters. Where are their defining traits?
Having trouble? Or are you just looking to see what comes next? Well here you go. There are five character trait questions in total. Try answering them. All or most of them should be related to each other. If you find that, for example, the core character trait has nothing to do with the greatest fear, perhaps you're mistaking the defining trait, and should reconsider what it is, relative to your character's greatest fear.
What is his greatest fear?
When is he at his happiest?
What is his greatest weakness?
In no more than two words, what is his inner self?
What is his core character trait?
Bailey Q. Example, who bears no resemblance to Bailey Taraford:
What is his greatest fear? Being in a situation from which he can't escape.
When is he at his happiest? When other people make his decisions for him.
What is his greatest weakness? Being unfaithful, and unable to stand strong under pressure.
Two words or less: What is his inner self? Cowardly.
What is his core character trait? He does not want to be held responsible.
These things are all internally consistent within Bailey's character -- I speak the truth on all those questions. I feel that it makes his character more realistic than a character who is a collection of random traits, but... What do you think? Is it just me and Pie-chan?
Kay's Wonderful Miracle Guide to Character Creation
Chapter 3: Your Character's Defining Trait
Now that we have established a major character from assorted ideas, with an entire chapter devoted to the sheer agony of picking out a name, take your fledgling character and begin to build around him. In order to build any sound structure -- architectural, academic, or fictional -- it must have a solid foundation, and the foundation of your character should be what I will call a "defining trait".
A character's defining trait should be his core beliefs, his most principle values. Something this character strives for, a concept that he holds more important than anything else, something that, in a very real way, composes who he is. Many of his decisions and actions should, in some way, be traceable to this trait.
Let's take the example of Bailey. Bailey is a hacker with something of a detachment from reality. He had a bossy girlfriend while in high school who made all his decisions for him, and later on, a laidback boyfriend who still made many of his decisions for him. Bailey occasionally does drugs and really likes being drunk. When his boyfriend gets in trouble from the police because of those drug habits, Bailey drops everything, says, "Screw you buddy," and flees that half of the country.
Bailey's defining trait is that he does not want to be held responsible for his actions.
He stays with lovers who take the decisions out of his hands, so if something goes wrong, they're the ones who told him to do it; wasn't his fault. The drugs and the alcohol keep him feeling without burdens, no consequences, rather like a 'net high where he feels practically all-powerful. And when real authority shows up with a real danger of real reckoning for what he's done, he acts immediately and instinctively on his core principle: get the hell away before they can make him take responsibility.
Without a defining trait, a character has no purpose. A main character has no spine, no steel. All your major characters should have a core principle that they will uphold except under the most extreme of duress. It will take something sincerely dramatic, like his One True Love being held at gunpoint, to make Mr. Bailey Q. Example turn around and take responsibility for something he's done. And even then there's no guarantee that he wouldn't turn tail and run, and just spend the rest of his life loathing himself, but personally safe.
Furthermore, this trait is probably more integral to your character's personality than you imagine -- in very real ways. Mr. Example, for instance, is a tangle of things related to his cowardice: he's indecisive, he's vague, he's lazy, he doesn't show emotions or speak ideas that other people might dislike, he doesn't get in arguments or stand in other people's way, and at the first sign of danger -- emotional, physical, situational -- he's gone. He's also other things (sarcastic, cynical, casual, and an undeniable genius) but so much of what he is can be traced back to that defining trait. Or perhaps his defining trait can be traced back to what HE is, and it is the personality that makes the purpose of the man...
(Warning: Defining traits are not, generally-speaking, applicable to real life.)
The best defining traits are selfish ones. They should be "me"-centric. I don't want to take responsibility; that would be bad for me, I would be unhappy. I want to be the one in control; that would be good for me, I would be happy. I want people to like me; that would be good for me, I would be happy.
Unselfish defining traits can be tricky. Core principles that put other people's wants before the character's own should be challenged. I don't want to cause trouble; that would make other people unhappy. I want my mother to be happy, I would do anything to make Mother happy, that's led to stabbings, hasn't it? Those kinds of character traits may be successful in their goals, but leave the character unsatisfied and problems unresolved.
So now look at your characters. Where are their defining traits?
Having trouble? Or are you just looking to see what comes next? Well here you go. There are five character trait questions in total. Try answering them. All or most of them should be related to each other. If you find that, for example, the core character trait has nothing to do with the greatest fear, perhaps you're mistaking the defining trait, and should reconsider what it is, relative to your character's greatest fear.
What is his greatest fear?
When is he at his happiest?
What is his greatest weakness?
In no more than two words, what is his inner self?
What is his core character trait?
Bailey Q. Example, who bears no resemblance to Bailey Taraford:
What is his greatest fear? Being in a situation from which he can't escape.
When is he at his happiest? When other people make his decisions for him.
What is his greatest weakness? Being unfaithful, and unable to stand strong under pressure.
Two words or less: What is his inner self? Cowardly.
What is his core character trait? He does not want to be held responsible.
These things are all internally consistent within Bailey's character -- I speak the truth on all those questions. I feel that it makes his character more realistic than a character who is a collection of random traits, but... What do you think? Is it just me and Pie-chan?
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I tried this with a few people (Leopold, Alan, Daryl) and it worked really well, but for some reason I can't come up with anything cohesive for Rob. This bothers me somewhat. Think you can lend your services once again? XD
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