Jeff begins the chapter with this: "The best fiction is about a character who changes in some significant way." This bit of advise isn't new--I've read it in nearly every writing book I've ever read. Call it a character arch, a flaw, or the hero's journey, it's all the same thing, and it's necessary because readers love to see a character transform. Hopefully for the better, but any transformation will hold reader interest. Your protagonist will turn away from something that's harmful, or turn toward something helpful. He'll conquer a fear, or learn to put others first, or marry for love instead of money, or cut back work hours to spend time with family. He'll become a better person by the end of the story.

Side Note: not every story needs a character who changes. Indiana Jones is who he is, and his stories are wonderful because of the action, not the protagonist. It's the same with James Bond, Forrest Gump, and WALL-E. These characters can be agents of change for other characters, but they don't go through a transformation. If you're writing this type of book, you won't need an inner journey. 

For those who do need an inner journey, begin by looking at the protagonist you've made. She's got a core personality, temperament, background, love language, family, etc. Now you can work on the deeper stuff. 

There are five major phases of a character's inner journey:

1. Initial Condition (including the "knot")

2. Inciting Event

3. Escalation

4. Moment of Truth

5. Final State

I'll look at these phases more in-depth in the following posts. Stay tuned.

-Sonja

Jeff says, "If your book doesn't have a likable hero, your book is dead. End of discussion." Even if your hero is an anti-hero (like Butch Cassidy, who was a thief and an outlaw), he's got to be likable. If you begin your novel with a protagonist who is so despicable, so depraved that the reader can't stand the guy, the reader won't continue reading. That equals a dead book. Even if your scoundrel is heading for a major transformation, it won't matter. If you lose the reader in chapter 2, she won't be around to watch the glorious transition in chapter 19. You don't want a perfect protagonist, either. 

Absolute perfection (in anyone other than Jesus Christ) is boring and unrealistic. No reader will stick around to find out what happens next. 

The protagonist MUST be likable - or at least comprehensible. So how do you make a realist character that's both flawed and likable? James Scott Bell has the answer: A great protagonist has Grit, Wit, and It.

Grit

The protagonist can't be a wimp, just taking everything that everybody dishes out. He's got to do something. He's got to move forward. He's got to have grit. "Grit is guts in action," says Bell. The protagonist can't give up, can't take too long to react, can't sit around and think without reacting or doing something. Go through your novel and add some fight to your character. Think Clint Eastwood.

Wit

The protagonist who has a sense of humor is always likable. Even if they're getting whiny, a little self-deprecation will smooth the edges. Give your protagonist the ability to laugh at himself and the reader will warm to him instantly. Wit can also enliven negative characters. Bell uses Hannibal Lector as an example. He's absolutely disgusting, but who didn't find humor in his lines about a census taker's liver and some fava beans?

It

"It" is personal magnetism, sex appeal, a quality that invites admiration or envy from others. When someone walks into a room and draws attention from everyone, that's "it." Putting "it" into your character can be difficult, especially if you have a weakness for telling. Show the protagonist being charming, attracting attention, at the center of attention. Think of Scarlet O'Hara at the beginning of the novel (or movie).  

Find something likable about your protagonist and show it early in the novel. You'll hook the reader.

-Sonja

**spoiler alert** If you haven't read the series but plan on doing so, do not read this post, as it will reveal too many secrets that Robb doles out over the course of the series.

With a character as realistic and sympathetic as Eve Dallas, it's no wonder that the In Death series is wildly popular. To date, there are 35 novels, 8 short stories, and no end in sight for this spectacular series. That's just my biased opinion, of course.

-Sonja

Every character needs to have a history that includes hardships, perils, life events that he's survived: the major influences that have shaped his character into something beyond the 16 base personalities outlined at the beginning of this series. They don't necessary have to be traumatic, but they should be big enough to make an impact.

Think about his home life. Was it a broken home? Did his parent bicker and bribe and beat each other for his attention? Extrapolate from that event, through the character's childhood, and figure out how they shaped him. How would a character with this temperament and love language react to this situation? How would it impact his self-image and career choice?

Maybe his parents stayed together, but a sibling died when your character was young. Or what if he was born in a military family and every two years got yanked away from his friends? What if an act of God (hurricane, tornado, tsunami, volcano) traumatized his family? What if she's constantly trying to please Dad, but he's not proud of anything she ever accomplished? 

As you play with possible major life events, think of positive things that could have had negative effects. Maybe his parents won the lottery, but dealing with new-found wealth can be traumatic for some people. Maybe she was a child star in Hollywood--you all know where that one can go. 

Gerke offers this example from his novel, Operation: Firebrand. Rachel is a Mossad agent. As a little girl, she was in a Tel Aviv hotel with her father when a terrorist detonated a bomb. Rachel stayed with her father's dead body, surrounded by other dead people, for hours before someone found her. This event forever altered her life. Her innocence was gone. Her convictions that people are basically good were eradicated. Her father and the feeling of always being protected were gone. Rachel's adulthood was shaped by this event. She seeks protector-type males. She champions children's causes. She joined a counter-intelligence agency. 

In my latest book, Cassandra's Curse, Cassie was stalked by an ex-boyfriend when she was in high school. The stalking ended when he crashed his pick-up into Cassie's car and they were both severely injured. Now she experiences seizures, so she can't drive--she has to rely on others to ferry her around. She's terrified of strangers, particularly men. She's driven to control every aspect of her world. If that stalking incident hadn't happened, Cassie would have matured into a different woman altogether.

Now think about your character. Do you want him to behave in certain ways for the purposes of your story? Consider what major life event could have impacted him in such a way that he'd naturally tend to do those things. Or maybe she's spoiled and soft, so that when something major happens to her, she has no resources.

In my story, I had the ending in mind when I made up Cassie's trauma. The ending of the book takes place in a city 60 miles north of Cassie's home town. Getting Cassie to that scene was too easy - she drives up and arrives on time. So I brainstormed: how do I make it harder for Cassie to get to the end locale? Take away her vehicle. Better yet, take away her ability to drive. Then I dug deeper. What else could make this journey difficult for her? I made her agoraphobic - she hates to leave her neighborhood. She's afraid of strangers. She's afraid of new places and new things. Based on where I needed my character to be at the end of the story, I built her a background that suited her temperament, made logical sense, and added extra tension to the ending of the story.

Gerke suggests a brainstorming session. Come up with at least a dozen things that might have happened to your character in his past. Follow each one through to figure out how it would impact his character now that he's mature. Then choose the one or two that make it especially difficult for your character to achieve his goals, conquer his obstacles, and survive the journey.

-Sonja

Where is your character at when the story begins? Married? Divorced? Kids? Wealthy? Successful? Overachiever or underachiever? What is his life situation right now?

Next, is your character happy with the current state of affairs? Given her temperament and upbringing and zealousness, is this where she thought she'd be at this point in her life? If not, what is she lacking and how will she get it? What are her current goals? 

How moral is he? Is he meeting his own standards of right and wrong, or has he crossed the line somewhere and feeling guilty about it? Would his mama be proud of him? Is he in jail, or even been in jail? Does he wants his kids to emulate his behavior?

Once you know the emotional and physical state of your character, you can find ways to shake him up even more. 

-Sonja

Every person is passionate about something, and your character should be, also. Religion, politics, quilting circles, protecting children from predators, freedom of speech--whatever he's passionate about, it will impact how he thinks and acts. The woman who's on a mission to make sure every child in her kindergarten class is well-fed will act differently than the kindergarten teacher who's zeal is to find the perfect mate. A character who hates conservative authority will think differently than a character who passionately defends the welfare system. Knowing what your character feels passionate about helps you determine how she'll react in stressful situations.

Every person is religious. Even those who state there is no God is making a faith statement, and systems of belief are powerful motivators. Does she hold fast to the morals taught in the Koran? Does she cling to the hopes inherent in Christianity? Is she a Jew in name, but an agnostic in practice? Show your character zealously expressing her beliefs. When she's in the midst of crisis, her true beliefs shine.

Fill in the blank for your character: "I love             enough to die for it."

Once you know what your character would die for, put her in the position to test that passion.

-Sonja

The five love languages are:

1. Word of Affirmation: these people say I Love You with words. "I love you," "I appreciate you," "Thank you," all express that they notice you and you are valuable to them.

2. Quality Time: these people say I Love You by giving you their undivided attention, by sitting with you and being there for you, but putting off everything else to spend time with you.

3. Gifting: these people say I Love You by giving thoughtful items. Purchased, hand-made, recycled, doesn't matter - giving of gifts expresses their affections.

4. Acts of Service: these people say I Love You by cleaning your clothes and fixing your computer and mowing your lawn. Their love is active and shown in the many things they do for you.

5. Physical Touch: these are the huggers, the touchy-feely types who can't cross a room without having physical contact with others. They express love by giving physical contact in caring ways.

Jeff goes on to say that a person who gives love in a specific way is predisposed to receiving love in the same way. A gift giver isn't naturally going to understand your undivided attention as love. Someone who is verbal won't necessary understand a touch on the shoulder as love. Whether your character understands these love languages or not, she will *have* a love language. Investigating how your character expresses love will give you more insight into how your character might behave in certain situations, how she will instantly like (or dislike) someone else, or how there can be miscommunications.

When a character (or real person) gets upset, that's also expressed in terms of love language. You automatically know the hugger is angry with you when she doesn't give you an enthusiastic hug the moment she enters the room. The garbage and laundry pile up if an Acts of Service person is upset. Extrapolate out to villainous proportions and you have some cues for how your character will act if pushed too far.

Sometimes a character's love language is in perfect harmony with her temperament: an outgoing ESFP who is a hugger. But sometimes it'll be an unnatural fit, like the introspective INTJ who is also a hugger. This can help you create complex and interesting characters.

I'd like to add something else that doesn't appear in Jeff's book, something I learned from personal experience. Every member of my immediate family (Mom, Dad, Sister) are all Acts of Service people. When I was growing up in that house, we didn't hug or say I Love You out loud, but we never doubted that we all loved each other. We simply served each other. Then Maria came to live with us for a short time. Maria was a rare individual: a hugger AND a speaker. She'd smile, say "I Love You!" then give a huge hug. At first, it was awkward to receive this physical and verbal affection, but everyone in my family soon found that we liked it. We began speaking our love to each other in Maria's way, giving hugs, and continuing with our own acts of service. My point is this: people can learn to express love in other ways, but there's still going to be that one language that comes naturally, and that's the language that will pop up in times of stress. When I get angry with my husband, I don't respond verbally (yelling) or withhold hugs or avoid being in the same room with him. When I'm upset with him, the acts of service slow down or stop altogether. If I were maladjusted, I imagine that would escalate into acts of disservice (which could be extremely fun to play with in fiction!) but I'm happy to report that I usually respond in a more mature manner and try to work things out before the laundry piles up and the floors get sticky. But you can see how this all translates to fiction and building believable characters. 

Now go find your character profile and figure out how your character expresses love (and hate) to others and how that integrates into their personality. It might be fun to make your ISTJ (introspective and practical) character a hugger or a gift-giver (which won't be a natural fit at all).

In the next post I'll discuss self-esteem.

-Sonja

First, think of your character's family. What kind of family is it? A person growing up in a house with seventeen kids and three generations will be different that an only child with a single parent. Consider the house: a shack, a mansion, a castle? Were the character's parents married when she was born? Did they stay married, or did they remarry and blend two households? Was the home stable and happy, or depressing and forgettable? Was there privilege or poverty, food stamps and welfare, yacht clubs and nightclubs, food kitchens (on either side of the serving tray) or church potlucks? All these things influence your character's personality.

Birth order can also play a factor. Is your character the first-born or the youngest of six? The only female in a house full of boys? If the oldest, was she responsible for caring for all those younger than her? Or was there a nanny involved? A mean baby-sitter? Was she a latch-key kid (home alone until the folks came home)?

Did your character have a parent with an exceptionally strong personality? Kids of drill sergeants grow up in a different environment than kids of hippies, and it impacts personality. Where did your character grow up? Military kids move around a lot. Farmers stay in one place. Did he grow up in the big city or in a rural community? 

How well educated is your character? Grammar school or grad school? Was it a high-quality education or street smarts, Ivy league or correspondence courses? How high did your character want to go in her education? Did she get there? Did she settle for less? Did she study what she wanted to study, or did she study what she was expected to study? Also, how intelligent is your character? Measure both mental acuity and common sense when determining how smart she is. 

What is your character good at? We all gravitate toward the things we're naturally gifted in, and so will your character. The highest goal is to join the things we're good at with the things we enjoy doing and turn them into something we can make a living at. Did your character succeed? Or is she a graceful dancer going to med school because her daddy wanted her to? Does she have a knack for fixing things? An ear for foreign languages? The uncanny ability to express thoughts verbally? A gift for teaching? A way with animals? A natural-born talent for spurring others on to virtuous works?

What does your character enjoy doing? Does she love throwing parties? Reading books all day long? Working crossword puzzles? Singing in jazz clubs? Sometimes what people are good at and what they enjoy doing are two different things. Your character may love to sing but be tone deaf. He may love kids but he ends up scaring them away. 

These are factors in your character's personality, so know them well. In the next post I'll discuss love language, one of the most meaningful sections in the book (at least, it was to me).

-Sonja

I'm in the process of dispensing wisdom from Jeff Gerke's book  Plot vs. Character. Today I'll continue discussing the physical attributes for your character.

Gender: This is a no-brainer, but Jeff brings up an interesting idea: what would your character be like if you switched her gender? A female bouncer at a night club or a male nanny might be fun. But chose the gender that best works for the story.

Race and Ethnicity: Use your character's race and ethnicity to add tension. Take an ENTJ character (someone who takes charge of any situation) and make her of a minority ethnicity or an enslaved people and see how her natural leadership expresses itself in her confines. Or think about cultural distinctives inherent in a race and go against stereotype (African-American rapper, Asian scientist, Hispanic cowboy). How would being Asian affect a boy who dreams of becoming a professional basketball player? Are there pressures on your character to pursue a certain line of education or work? Are there restrictions on her activities or friends or choices of mate due to her ethnic background? Think of the people groups in high school (jock, geek, band, brainiac) and how your character would react to being in one of these. Think of your character's culture. Is he a voracious Greek man? A repressed Jew? A quiet blond woman of Swedish descent who keeps to herself? Be aware of the influence these cultures may have on your character, and use them wisely.

Age: Age is both objective and subjective (the 42-year-old man who acts like a 14-year-old boy, or the 15-year-old girl who acts like a 35-year-old woman). It might be interesting to make your character the "wrong" age for the story you're telling: a Doogie Howser child prodigy or an octogenarian heading back to college. Whatever age you make your character, it's got to fit the story.

Physical Attractiveness: Not every character can be stunning. Nor should they all be hideous. Variety is important. Also remember that people are judged by their appearance, despite the adage to not do so. Attractive women find more dates than homely ones. Characters with deformities, especially in the face, may make others feel uneasy. Also keep in mind how this attractiveness or lack thereof affects the character. Is she aware of her beauty or non-beauty? Does she want to do something about it (exercise more, invest in plastic surgery, spend a fortune on clothing and makeup, etc)? The physical attributes of a person have an impact on his personality, so use that in your book.

Face, Hair, Eyes, and Complexion: Depending on ethnicity, you might not have a ton of variety here, but you need to know what your character looks like, even if you never describe her in the story. How does she wear her hair and why does she choose that style? Does she color it? Style it to match trends? Comb it once and ignore it for the rest of the day? Tie it back in a bun? Keep her temperament in mind. Someone who's practical like an ESTJ would wear a no-nonsense hairstyle, whereas an outgoing ESFP might wear her hair like she's going to party all year long. Also factor in the character's culture and whether she wants to fit into that culture. For men, consider facial hair and hair coloring. Would your character hide the gray? Wear a goatee or a soul-patch? Don't forget skin: acne scars or baby smooth, dark or light, freckles, wrinkles, age spots? These things affect how a person acts. Just ask the kid with acne all over his face. 

Clothing and Style: What look is your character going for? How does she want the world to view her? Or does she even care how others see her? How successful is she at achieving her targeted look? And don't forget the accessories: jewelry, hats, scarves, shoes, and iPods all tell the reader something about the character. What is she trying to say or achieve or make others believe by the way she dresses, why is she trying to do this, and how successful are her efforts?

Other Stuff To Consider: This is the catch-all area for things that didn't fit in the categories above. Does your character walk with a limp? Missing a limb? Birthmarks? Asymmetry in face or body? Long legs and short torso? Remember that even the slightest details can impact your character's personality.

In the next post I'll look at natural attributes, those things your character is born with.

-Sonja

Jeff brings up this example: you meet two people of the same personality type. One is an old man from Taiwan and another is a teenage girl from the Bronx. You wouldn't know they were the same personality type until you hung out with them for awhile. But other things stand out about them right away: their appearance.

In real life, the first thing we notice about other people is their appearance: gender, ethnicity, age, height, build, hair, clothing, etc. These things are important in fiction, too. You might not always need to describe your character in the book, but you, the author, must know some things. Hair color might not be important, but age and gender are. Their aptitudes are also important: things like family of origin, birth order, gifts and talents, etc. These are things a person is born with that makes them a unique individual.

These physical traits and aptitudes should be used to develop a great character. Jeff offers these examples:

* a character of the ENFJ temperament (who would have a tendency to be highly organized) has a tattoo diagram on her wrist that explains something important so she'll always have it "on hand."

* an ESTP (a temperament that lends itself to spontaneity and competitiveness) wears the most fashionable clothing and is constantly getting compliments for his taste and style.

Look for ways your character's core temperament would adapt to the physical appearance and background she was born with. Find the ways that your character's temperament will express itself on the outside. For instance, the main character in my newest book is practical and shy. She'd find fashion and bling a waste of money. She wears sensible, affordable clothing that doesn't attract undo attention and will last for years. Her vehicle of choice is fuel-efficient and low-maintenance. Her hair style is practical and low-maintenance. She keeps her body in fantastic physical shape - it would be illogical to let herself get fat, as that would make it harder for her to complete her work in an efficient manner. She's an introvert and prefers to work alone, so her career choice flows from that: she's part-owner of a small bakery, where she can stay in the kitchen and bake bread all day while her business partner runs the front counter and takes care of the people-side of things.

Hopefully you can see how fun it can be to integrate even the simplest of traits into an existing core personality to come up with a unique character. I'll continue this discussion in the next post.

-Sonja

The last trait is the ISFP (introvert, sensory, feeling, perceptive), or who Keirsey calls THE COMPOSER. She's loyal, committed, friendly, and reserved. Like the Performer, the Composer dislikes conflict and is all about the feelings: impulse, excitement, joy. She has a special talent for tactical artistry, working closely with color, tone, texture, aroma, and flavor. ISFPs are the musicians, chefs, and fashion designers of the world.

Composer make up about ten percent of the population, but they don't want the limelight. As introverts, they prefer being alone, but will share their artistic outcomes with others just to share the joy. They don't express themselves verbally, but in action, with tools (fabric, paintbrush, tuba), because the spoken word isn't nearly as handy as the tool. If they can't find a medium to express themselves, then they'll keep to themselves. While it looks like they are hard at work on their compositions, they are extremely impulsive. They live intensely in the here and now, with little or no planning. "Composers are seized by the act of artistic composition, as if caught up in a whirlwind," says Keirsey. They paint, sculpt, dance, and compose simply because they must. Composer seem oblivious to fatigue and pain, but it's simply that they are so absorbed and excited that they don't notice the difficulties.

The ISFP is the kindest of all the personality types, and are especially sensitive to the pain and suffering of others. Composers are also extremely competitive, especially in sports or table games, and hate to lose. Educating a Composer is difficult. They often drop out of school before finishing--they prefer experiential learning. Friendly and soft-spoken Composers seek a dutiful spouse, someone who can keep the Composer from wandering away when a tempting opportunity presents itself. When tension arises in a relationship, the Composer will put with it to keep the family intact, then quietly slink off once the children are grown.

Good career choices for the ISFP include teacher, bookkeeper, systems analyst, and firefighter. Famous ISFP's include Donald Trump, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Dan Quayle, Christopher Reeves, Fred Astaire, and Elizabeth Taylor. Fictional ISFP's include Bella Swan from Twilight, Buffy Summers from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Rachel Greene from Friends, Harry Potter, Flounder from The LIttle Mermaid, and Shaggy from Scooby Doo.

Now that I've finished the sixteen core personality types, I'll rely more heavily on Jeff Gerke's book. In coming posts, I'll discuss character temperament, physical attributes, and love language. Stay tuned!

-Sonja

Today I'm covering the ESFP (extrovert, sensory, feeling, perceiving) or who Keirsey calls THE PERFORMER. He's fun, friendly, outgoing, adaptable, and can't resist putting on a good show. He wants to stimulate everyone around him, arousing their senses, offering pleasure, and creating a feeling of well-being. With his contagious good humor and irrepressible joy of living, everyone wants to be around this guy. When he walks into the room, everyone gathers.

These guys are plentiful, making up more than ten percent of the population, which is a great thing, because they bring joy to so many. They love excitement and crave an audience, so they try to generate a sense of showtime wherever they are. "All the world's a stage" applies brilliantly to them. They love the fast life, good food, fancy cars, bling, fantasy, and merriment. Life is a party to these people. They are inclined to be impulsive and self-indulgent, making them give in easily to others. Pleasure is an end in itself, and they are open to trying almost anything that promises a good time. They rarely consider the consequences. 

They don't like confrontation or sticky situations. Their tolerance for anxiety is the lowest of all the personality types, and they will avoid it by simply ignoring it for as long as possible. "Always look on the bright side" is their motto, and if forced to endure a tense situation (at work, in a relationship) they won't make waves or put up a show of resistance. They'll simply walk away. This personality trait is ultra fun to play with in fiction because of their intense dislike of anxiety or confrontation of any kind. 

ESFP's are the most generous of all the personality types, lavishing friends and loved ones with gifts. They don't have a stingy bone in their bodies, and have no concept of savings or investing their cash. Life is to be lived right now. They are emotionally expressive and affectionate, completely unable to hide their true feelings or hold their tongue. They tend to fall in love easily, and every time is like the first time. Intent on pleasing everyone, ESFP's can appear fickle, even promiscuous, to others, when they're simply and innocently sharing themselves with others. 

Performers make exciting and entertaining mates, but cause a good deal of anxiety in these relationships. They love to spend money on fun things and will impulsively max out credit cards. They make warm, generous, loving friends to their spouse and their children, but should not be expected to take these relationships much more seriously than that. When tension arises, the Performer will quietly leave--and may not come back.

The best careers for the Performer are (duh) the performing arts, but they also find success in fundraising and retail sales. Flight attendant, photographer, teacher, and receptionist are also good fits, as they deal with people on a daily basis. They avoid solitary technical occupations in science and engineering, and couldn't stick to a schedule if their life depended on it. Famous ESFP's include Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Elvis Presley, Bob Hope, and Marilyn Monroe. Fictional ESFP's include Homer Simpson, Tim "The Toolman" Taylor from Home Improvement, and Kelly Bundy from Married with Children.

-Sonja

The personality type on today's docket is the ISTP, or introverted, sensory, thinking, perceiving. Keirsey calls her THE CRAFTER. Others call her "the Realist." But no matter what you call her, she's patient, data-oriented, logical, efficient, and tolerant. She's best with a tool: microscopic drill, supersonic jet, giant crane, scalpel, any piece of equipment that she can play with. ISTP's enjoy spontaneity, follow their own drummer, and should not be subject to rules, regulations, or laws. Hierarchy and authority are unnecessary and irksome to the crafter, as they get in the way. The ISTP must be free to do her own thing, when the urge strikes, without a schedule bothering them.

Crafter's seek recreation on impulse, taking days off just because they feel like it. These urges to take off can be irresistible and overpowering, and no one had better try to stop them. They are fearless in their play, risking themselves for the joy of the moment. They are bored easily. They communicate through action, and can't be bothered to develop verbal skills--and this lack of expressiveness makes them seem like loners. They're happy hanging out with their tools. They are hard to get to know, although they are fiercely loyal to those few people they are close to, but their inability to be tied to a schedule makes them unreliable when it comes to activity commitments: they might show up, they might not. Crafter's can treat their spouses like royalty and lavish them with beautiful gifts, then take off with friends for an unplanned week or two in the sun without bothering to notify their significant other. Crafters need their freedom to seek adventure, and mates who wish to keep them happy are wise to give them an extremely long leash.

ISTP's make up about ten percent of the total population (which is kind of scary, to an ISTJ like me) so you can put plenty of these people in your novel. In fact, if your protagonist is a SUPERVISOR or an INSPECTOR, he'll be driven up the wall, repeatedly, by the CRAFTER. Talk about tension. ISTP's make good software developers, systems analysts, and computer repair people, where they can set their own schedules and don't have to communicate a lot. They also make good firefighters or purchasing agents. 

Famous ISTP's include Charles Bronson, Tom Cruise, Clint Eastwood, James Dean, Burt Reynolds, and Keith Richards. Fictional ISTP's include Boba Fett and Han Solo from Star Wars, Wolverine from X-Men, and Butch Coolidge from Pulp Fiction.

Only two more to go! Hang in there.

-Sonja

Today's personality type is the INTP, or introverted, intuitive, thinking, perceptive. Keirsey calls him THE ARCHITECT. This guy is logical, theoretical, quiet, analytical, and critical. He not only designs buildings, he's the architect of corporations and theoretical systems. He's the master organizer of organizations. In his mind, the world exists to be analyzed, understood, and explained. He may venture so deeply into thought that he seems detached, and is often oblivious to the world around him.

INTP's are extremely rare, making up one percent of the total population. They won't be found in ordinary places, and they are rarely recognized, but they are easy-going and amenable. They prefer to stay in the background and not make a scene, but if someone violates their principles, they will become outspoken and inflexible. They tend to be shy, and are often seen as difficult to get to know. They do make loyal mates, although preoccupied much of the time and somewhat forgetful of appointments and important dates (like anniversaries). They won't want to entertain at home, but will follow their spouse to a planned social event. They'd prefer retreating to the world of books, emerging only when physical needs become imperative. They keep their desires and emotions to themselves, and may seen insensitive to the desires and emotions of others.

The Architect loves mathematics, languages, computers, and any other complex system. They thrive on logic and logical correctness, and can become obsessed with analysis. Word games (Scrabble) and strategy games (Risk, Chess) also attract their attention. They don't put up with nonsense, and can spot an inconsistency easily. They'll always point out these types of errors, making conversation with an INTP a little uncomfortable. 

If you put an INTP in your fiction, put him in a room full of comedians and Elvis impersonators and watch the tension escalate!

INTP's make excellent professors, mathematicians, linguists, or economists. They'd be horrible at clerical jobs, as Architects are impatient with routine details. They prefer to work quietly, without interruption, and alone. Famous INTP's include Sir Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Socrates, Carl Jung, and Abraham Lincoln. Fictional INTP's include Data and Seven of Nine from Star Trek.

-Sonja

Today's personality is the ENTP (extrovert, intuitive, thinking, perceiving), or who Keirsey call's THE INVENTOR. This dude is ingenious, outspoken, easily bored by routine, clever, and change-oriented. He's the guy that can build the prototype of a device to make systems more efficient. He creates gadgets and mechanisms for the rest of the world. He started when he was a kid, and gets such a kick out of it he never quit. 

These guys are rare, making up only two percent of our population, so use them sparingly in your fiction. They are intensely curious and probe all the possibilities. The harder the problem, the more they love it. Chaos theory is pure joy to these guys. Tradition, or "the way we always do it" means nothing to the ENTP's of the world. They're always looking for a better way of doing things, new procedures, new activities, new projects. Ideas are valuable only when they make possible actions and objects. "It can't be done" is a challenge that must be met with "I can do it." 

Because of their confidence in their own ability to solve any problem, Inventor's often jump into a task without preparing adequately. They're quick, both verbally and cerebrally, and love to argue, playing devil's advocate sometimes just to confuse those around them. They avoid routine, which causes restlessness. They are basically optimists, but setbacks and inconveniences will tick them off. They have little patience with those they consider unintelligent, and aren't afraid to say that out loud.

In relationships, the Inventor is capable of a close bond but will choose carefully those select few who are worthy of this devotion. They are quick to spot kindred spirits, but are oblivious to the rest of society except as an audience. It can be difficult to get this guy's attention if he's not immediately aware of you. To get his attention, present him with a problem. In conversation, be straight forward. No games (he'll win), no pulling rank (he'll put you in your place), and no apologies (he'll dismiss you as unworthy). 

Worthy career choices for the ENTP include computer science, financial advising, systems designer, computer analyst, and strategic planner. You won't find a happy ENTP on an assembly line or working as a bookkeeper. Famous ENTP's include Thomas Edison, Walt Disney, Alexander the Great, and Weird Al Yankovick. Fiction ENTP's include Chandler Bing from Friends, "Q" from Star Trek, Bugs Bunny, Wile E. Coyote, and Garfield the Cat.

-Sonja

Keirsey calls the ESFJ (extroverted, sensory, feeling, judgment) THE PROVIDER. I've also seen this person described as "the Supporter" or "the Enthusiast." Whatever you call her, she's nurturing, loyal, harmonious, and collaborative. She makes certain that everyone around her has the necessities of life. She's eager to serve, arranging for the physical health and welfare of those in need. She's extremely sociable. She wants traditions upheld, social functions to succeed, and for everyone to be healthy and happy. She's the woman who feels the uncontrollable urge to feed everyone who comes anywhere near her house (which is kept immaculate but cozy, not museum-like).

Providers make up more than ten percent of the population, so they can show up frequently in your novel. They are tireless in organizing goods/services, and make excellent chairpersons for banquets, rummage sales, and charity balls. They are the best hosts/hostesses, aware of all their guests names, what everyone's doing, and what everyone needs. They are personable and talkative, and go bonkers when left alone for too long. The best way to cause this character stress is to lock her in solitary confinement for a couple of days. Even among strangers, the ESFJ will strike up a conversation with anyone nearby, about any topic. They are delighted with gossip. If your protagonist needs to know what's going on in any given neighborhood, have him seek out the Provider and she'll happy divulge that information, free of charge--and she'll provide coffee cake or a sandwich. 

The ESFJ has observable things on her mind, as opposed to imaginary or abstract issues. She's much more concerned with people's lives than with theology or sociology. Sometimes she can come across as pessimistic when she turns nostalgic, recounting past experiences in the good old days, but most of the time, she's upbeat and highly sensitive to those around her. She loves to talk about her emotions. She's quick to like and dislike, idolizing those she admires. Anyone who disagrees with her, or does something she disapproves of, goes on her hate list. Personal criticism will crush the Provider, as she highly values the opinions of others, especially in regards to her own behavior. 

Providers lean toward service occupations: flight attendant, teacher, clergy, nurse. They are visibly and honestly concerned with their customer's welfare, so used-car salesman isn't a good fit. They respect their supervisors, do their duties with diligence, and respect and obey all rules. They are exceptionally loyal, especially to family. To throw a wrench into the Provider's life, give her a mate that steps out on her, or is extremely independent (doesn't *need* her, per se), or refuses to share his emotions with her.

Famous ESFJ's include Don Knotts, Sally Struthers, and Mary Tyler Moore. Fictional ESFJ's include Monica from Friends, Rabbit from Winnie-the-Pooh, and Leonard McCoy from Star Trek.

-Sonja

Today we're studying the ESTP, or the guy who is extroverted, sensory, thinking, and perceiving. Keirsey calls this dude THE PROMOTER. He's hands-on, action-oriented, fun yet practical, and flexible. In the same way ISTP's operate instruments and machines, the ESTP operates people, maneuvering them in the direction they need to go. 

ESTP's make up ten percent of the population, so you can put plenty of these guys in your story. He is witty and clever, bringing excitement to even mundane events. He always has tickets to the latest shows or sporting events, he knows the best restaurants (where the waiters know his name), and he has a hearty appetite for the finest things in life: wine, expensive cars, fashionable clothing. He's attentive to others and smooth in social settings. He knows exactly what words to say, when to say it, and what everybody's name is. He's so in tune with people that some mistakenly believe he has empathy. Reality is that he's really good at reading people's faces and body language. He watches people, collecting data to use for his own purpose: sell the customer. 

The Promotor is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goal. He's an excellent troubleshooter and negotiator (or used car salesman). He'll find what works to achieve his goals and toss out traditions or moral niceties that don't work. Usually, follow-up details get lost in the thrill of victory, so he needs someone to come in behind him and finish the job. They make great defense lawyers, industrialists, and real estate developers. Unfortunately, if their desire for excitement isn't met, they may channel their energies into antisocial activities (like con artistry).

The Promoter is rarely interested in long-term commitments, and usually family becomes a second priority. He's looking for the pay-off, the gain from their investment. If it's not apparent, he'll move on, leaving behind an ex who feels like a negotiable commodity. His kids love the lavish birthday parties and fancy new toys he's eager to bring home, but are usually less enthusiastic about being pushed into competitive sports, where winning is all that matters. The more exciting and dangerous the activity, the more the ESTP likes it: surfing, skiing, racing, rock climbing, sky diving. He's got a low tolerance for anxiety and will run from any relationship that shows signs of tension, so if you need a character in crisis, make your ESTP character marry a drill sergeant. Sparks will fly!

Some famous ESTP's include Teddy Roosevelt, John Kennedy, Mike Tyson, Jessica Alba, Lucille Ball, and Madonna. Fictional ESTP's include Sonny Corleone from The Godfather, Bart Simpson, and Mystique from the X-Men.

-Sonja

You remember the four parts:

Todays personality is ISFJ, or THE PROTECTOR, according to Keirsey. The protector is consistent, friendly, conscientious, and precise. The want to be of service and minster to others. They long to guard people against the pitfalls and perils of life and make sure everyone is secure. They find great satisfaction in caring for others, and long to be seen as dependable.

These people make up a large part of the population, about ten percent. They handle disability and neediness in others better than any other personality type, and go about their duties quietly and diligently. They don't mind being under-appreciated. They are not open and talkative except to those closest to them, and this can sometimes be seen as coldness or stiffness, when in reality they are quite warm-hearted and sympathetic. They have a strong work ethic and are wiling to work long hours, forsaking play time. Because of this, they are frequently over-worked and misunderstood. But they are humble to the core and submit to what's given them.

Famous ISFJ's are Barbara Bush, William Shatner, Jimmy Stewart, and Johnny Carson. In fiction, Melanie in Gone with the Wind, Snow White, Bianca in Taming of the Shrew, and Ophelia from Hamlet are ISFJ's. 

Excellent career choices for the ISFJ character include tech support, secretaries, bookkeepers, paralegals, nurses, and veterinarians. If you need one of these in your novel, they'll come out extremely life-like if you model them after the ISFJ.

-Sonja

You remember the four parts:

Today, let's look at INFP, who Keirsey calls THE HEALER. These folks are curious, helpful, and values-oriented. They strive to mend divisions, restore lost unity, and establish integrity. On the outside, they're easy-going and serene. On the inside, they're going nuts trying to help everybody achieve world peace and wholeness. They see the world as an ethical, honorable place, and strive to make all that idealism come true. More often than not, they are let down and take it badly. They love fantasy, and love to please everyone at all times.

INFPs are rare, making up less than one percent of the population. Think of the princess in fairy tales, or the knight who wanders the wilderness seeking someone to save. Logic is usually optional to the INFP, who prefers impressionism, metaphor, and intuition. They may make errors with facts, but never with feelings. They make excellent mates, having a deep commitment to their vows and showing immense loyalty to their spouse. 

Famous INFP's are Princess Diana (quit laughing! Just because most INFP's are loyal to their spouses doesn't mean that one can't stray...), Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, William Shakespeare, Helen Keller, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Julia Roberts. In fiction, Anne of Green Gables, Winnie the Pooh, and Sleeping Beauty are all INFP's.

Great career choices for INFP's are missionary, psychologist, social worker, writer, and actor. You won't find INFP's seeking employment in science and technology fields, so keep that in mind when you're creating your characters. That *would* create a ton of tension for your INFP protagonist, though...

-Sonja

You remember the four parts:

Today's personality trait is the INFJ. Keirsey calls this person THE COUNSELOR. The counselor is curious, insightful, values-oriented, and organized. They want to help people to realize their human potential. They also want to contribute to the welfare of others and take great joy in guiding people onto the correct path. They are private, sensitive people, and don't crave the limelight of leadership, but are quite content to work behind the scenes to get things done.

They can be hard to get to know, as they are reserved and don't usually share their feelings with others. They can be hurt easily. When they find someone they can trust, they open up and let their feelings flow freely. They have strong empathic abilities and are often accused of reading people's minds because they can identify feelings and motives quickly. If anyone on the planet has ESP, it's the INFJ. They are seen as poetic and sometimes even mystical. They are highly attracted to the arts. 

Famous INFJ's include Jimmy Carter, Jerry Seinfeld, Fanny Crosby, Mother Teresa, and Mahatma Ghandi. In fiction, Luke Skywalker and Mulan are both INFJ's.

Counselors make excellent recruiters, coaches, ministers, and (duh) counselors. If you need an entrepreneur or flight attendant in your novel, look elsewhere. 

-Sonja