Sunday, November 05, 2006

Point and Click character development

I'm working things out with SURE THING. Doh! There was a reason why Derek was so obsessed with why women cheat. Geesh. I can be so dense. Thank goodness for the internet!

The Colors of Sex :: Both Kate & Derek are RED: People who like red tend to be tigers in the sack. They are easily aroused and enjoy sex in every way imaginable. Once the sexual spark is ignited, it may take hours to extinguish. When two reds get together, the ensuing erotica could make Lady Chatterly blush. Lovers of red tend to be aggressors and weaker colors should be aware.

Hero Archetypes :: The PROFESSOR: coolly analytical, he knows every answer. He’s logical, introverted, and inflexible, but genuine about his feelings. At work, he likes cold, hard facts, thank you very much, but he's also honest and faithful, and won’t let you down. Think Leonard Nimoy in Star Trek, Robin Williams in Flubber, Kelsey Gramner in Frasier, Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind

Heroine Archetypes :: The BOSS: a real go-getter, she climbs the ladder of success. This is a “take charge” female, who accepts nothing but respect. Reaching her goal post the most important thing in life to her, and she isn’t bothered by a few ruffled feathers along the way. Think Annette Bening in American Beauty, Candice Bergen in Murphy Brown, Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth.

Emotional Baggage or Internal Forces Keep Lovers Apart
Kate ::
» Inability to trust, especially opposite sex
» "I am a rock;" emotional detachment
Derek ::
» Some past incident, e.g., abuse, has left emotional scars
» Sense of unworthiness

Devices to heighten suspense (notes from David Freeman workshop)
» A enemy or obstacle interferes with a soft goal
» Hero forced to face his emotional fear, limitation, block, or wound
» A character forced to make a difficult moral choice
» Foreshadowing (many ways to do this)
» Any scene where a seduction occurs, or might occur

***edited to add***
Enneagrams (thanks Janet)
Derek :: Type One: The Reformer The Rational, Idealistic Type: Principled, Purposeful, Self-Controlled, and Perfectionistic. Ones are conscientious and ethical, with a strong sense of right and wrong. They are teachers, crusaders, and advocates for change: always striving to improve things, but afraid of making a mistake. Well-organized, orderly, and fastidious, they try to maintain high standards, but can slip into being critical and perfectionistic. They typically have problems with resentment and impatience. At their Best: wise, discerning, realistic, and noble. Can be morally heroic.
Kate :: Type Three: The Achiever The Success-Oriented, Efficient Type: Adaptive, Excelling, Driven, and Image-Conscious. Threes are self-assured, attractive, and charming. Ambitious, competent, and energetic, they can also be status-conscious and highly driven for advancement. They are diplomatic and poised, but can also be overly concerned with their image and what others think of them. They typically have problems with workaholism and competitiveness. At their Best: self-accepting, authentic, everything they seem to be-role models who inspire others.

4 comments:

DirkStar said...

Interesting site! Glad I surfed by...

http://jestersrap.blogspot.com/

Janet Ch said...

Discovering his enneagram type might lead you to his conflict. Does he believe he has to be perfect in order to be loved? He could be Type 1 The reformer whose basic fear is of being bad.

Type I Childhood pattern: needed to justify his existence, parents expected a lot of them,they often played the role of family hero.)
Type ones want a flawless relationship with an idealized partner. They long for the perfect mate, an unwavering source of stability in their lives. Fear that others will fall short thus destroying the harmony and perfection of their relationship. Fears of abandonment.

Intense desire alternating with a need to reject that desire. Continual inner conflict of periods of strict restraint of their appetiotes and periods of excess and debaunch.

What does a One dread most? Untrustworthiness...his own or someone else's. Ones have a lot of energy on the issue of trust, which is a great vehicle for conflict.

Janet Ch said...

Lots on enneagrams at
http://community.eharlequin.com/webx?14@63.1xDba41LWsf.165058@.3b9c23fe/0

Janet Ch said...

Oh, that link I jus posted was probably far too long to work (and I don't know how to condense it).

The enneagram stuff is on e-Harlequin. Go to the Silhouette section. Then go into Silhouette Special Edition archives. There in the Q&A archives is Laurie Campbell's 2004 enneagram workshop: Creating your hero's fatal flaw. Well worth copying and pasting.