by Ciara Gold
Do you hate lengthy character charts? I do. Yes, I do the character charts, but I start out with astrology and find that most of the chart is done for me. I realize some of you may not believe in the power of astrology. That’s fine. You don’t have to believe, but look at astrology as a tool. Each of the zodiac signs come with a list of adjectives for both the good characteristics and the bad.
In fact, I use numerology as well. I find it easier to start with a character’s name. Let’s say you have a vague idea that your character will be an Alpha male. Then you need a strong, alpha-type name. List out a few possibilities and test them at one of the free numerology sites. My favorite is
.
Here’s an example: In my first book, Celestial Dragon, the hero’s name is Fen Dane Charst-Stanquet.and the numerology reading for this name is:
You have an innate ability to get what you want and what you need for your survival. You are primarily concerned about developing the self and acquiring resources for your own enjoyment. Your independence and courageous determination to succeed makes you a good leader, and your unique approach is sure to open the doors to brave new worlds and fascinating discoveries.
EXERCISE: Go to the site and click on Free Name Reading. Plug in your own name for fun.
Once you settle on a name, you can start searching through the charts for a zodiac sign. The other option is to use the twelve archetypes, but why not use both. We’ll get to that in another lesson.
Since Dane had to be a warrior type, I chose Aries for his sign. Any basic Astrology book will give you a list of adjectives for both positive and negative attributes. This is important. Your character cannot be perfect. He or she must have a flaw. Without a flaw, the character can’t grow. And that’s what makes Astrology such a powerful tool. You don’t have to make up adjectives, they’re already done for you.
Here are the basic adjectives for Aries: impatient, strong-minded, hot-tempered, domineering, adventurous, energetic, enthusiastic. Once you narrow down the hero’s sign, you can make up a birthday, plug it into a free reading and get a more detailed idea of who the character really is. I bought an astrology CD called Astrology Source that works great for my purposes.
ARCHETYPES AND ASTROLOGY
(I took the archetypes from Awakening the Heroes Within by Carol S. Pearson and compared attributes to those found in astrological signs.)
This will not be a full lesson on the archetypes because that in itself would be a novel. There are many wonderful resource books out there that list these in detail. What I’ve done is chart out the 12 archetypes and what zodiac signs best fit within the scope of these archetypes. This does not mean you can’t have a villain that was born under the Pisces sign. And it doesn’t mean if your zodiac sign is listed with a specific archetype, that you are that archetype. It means that I found the same adjectives for the zodiac signs used to describe a specific archetype.
A lot of authors refer to the archetype for character information, because a good book on archetypes will show the natural evolution of how these archetypes grow. And - that’s what we strive for when we create characters.
1. The Innocent needs to feel safe and is often dependent on others. They need to feel safe.
*Cancer fits this description best.
Others include Pisces, Capricorn, Scorpio and Taurus
2. The Orphan feels a sense of abandonment. They might be empathetic and realistic and
sometimes rebellious or cynical.
*Virgo
Capricorn, Aquarius
3. The Warrior needs to win. They are assertive and disciplined.
*Aries
Leo, Scorpio
4. The Caregiver is self sacrificing. They show compassion and are very giving to their fellow man.
*Cancer
Pisces, Aquarius, Leo, Virgo
5. The Seeker is always searching They are ambitious and curious.
*Capricorn
Aires, Sagittarius
6. The Destroyer is caught by the hand of fate. They experience a metamorphosis through loss.
They are self-destructive. In their negative form, they are our murderers and rapists. In positive form, he/she learns to change harmful activities
All
7. The Lover believes in unity and oneness. He/she shows commitment and passion.
*Leo
Aries, Cancer, Libra, Scorpio
8. The Creator is prone to daydreams and fantasies. They often are workaholics who use dreams to escape reality. When they realize the power of their inspiration, they move forward to make their dreams come true.
*Gemini
Sagittarius, Capricorn, Pisces
9. The Ruler takes responsibility for the world around him/her. They exhibit competence, but are sometimes domineering.
*Scorpio
Aries, Cancer, Leo
10. The Magician is able to change reality through either paranormal means or spiritual means.
*Aquarius
Pisces, Aries, Taurus
11. The Sage needs to understand the world around them. They seek truth through wisdom and skepticism
*Pisces
Capricorn, Gemini
12. The fool enjoys life to its fullest. They are extroverted individuals that provide comic relief or love playing tricks.
*Sagittarius
Leo, Virgo, Libra
For deeper characters, you can decide on the archetype first and then narrow down specifics by using astrology.
EXERCISE:
Choose a character archetype and then the zodiac sign from the list. Assign a birthday for your character that falls within the time frame for your zodiac sign. Here’s a site I found that lists the adjectives.
http://www.vangelis.com.au/12signs.asp
Just click on the sign of your character and it will give you a general analysis.
EXERCISE:
Now narrow the scope so you can really know who your character is. Choose one adjective and one noun that sums up your character. Example, Dane is a Self-sacrificing King. I could also call him a Strong-willed motivator. When writing, it’s hard to remember all the nuances of your character, but the two word summation really helps you focus on who he/she is. Plaster this at the beginning of your wip for quick reference.
Giving your character a strong, beginning foundation will get you started, and you could probably write a short story or novella with just the bare bones, but knowing the GERPS will give your readers a character they’ll remember for a long, long time.
So, is this a disease, you ask? Nope. Gerps refers to background. Genetic, Ethnic, Religious, Psychological and Social background. Knowing the Gerps will give you a wealth of information from which to assign a characters internal and external motivation.
Genetic Background: Jimmy Buffet has a song titled We are the People Our Parents Warned Us About. And haven’t you always said, “I’ll never be like my mother,” only to discover you are exactly like your mother. Genetic Background is much deeper than physical qualities. It’s about who your parents were and how they influenced the person you are today. You need to know who your character’s parents were, maybe even his/her grandparents and great grandparents.
Ethnic Background: Even in a politically correct situation, we are influenced by our race. It’s not so much about the color of our skin as it is about the culture. Your character should have qualities and attributes that reflect his/her cultural beliefs and attitudes. Do they have certain traditions they observe every day, once a week, once a month? Do they eat certain foods at certain times? Do they listen to certain kinds of music?
Religious Background: Even if you don’t actually write about his/her religious beliefs, you should still be aware of what those beliefs are. Religion gives us our moral stability. Some religions frown on dancing. This could be a source of friction between hero and heroine. Some religions don’t allow musical instruments during services. But dang, each member of the congregation can sing like an angel. So, knowing religious background can help enrich the character you’re creating.
Psychological Background: As a parent, you never know exactly how your kid will turn out. I’ve seen parents do everything right in raising their children and yet, they end up with one bad apple. And I’ve seen kids come from the worst sort of upbringing possible and grow up to be outstanding individuals. So, what makes a person really tick? This is where you can really come up with good, internal conflict for your characters. Some past event might shape a phobia. Or they might be introverted versus extroverted. Maybe they were traumatized as a kid, buried the event and years later, the event surfaces to create unstable behavior. Maybe, your character experimented with drugs. Maybe it’s as simple as being the middle child.
Social Background: No matter how our parents try to protect us from the environment around us, we can’t help but be influenced by our surroundings. So, is your character rich or poor? From a middle class neighborhood or from the wrong side of the tracks. Is your character a working class citizen with a talent for working with his/her hands? Or has your character been pampered all their life?
Unedited Excerpt from Celestial Dragon: (Can you see how background is woven in? How their differences complement each other?)
Chelian trailed behind Fen Dane, her back stiff, her head raised. Whispers echoed throughout the crowded space while eyes full of censure followed her progress through the room.
She had looked forward to attending a welcoming for the first time only to discover just how much of a pariah she had become. Fen Dane’s desire to usher her from the gathering came as a pleasant gesture.
He led her to the outer courtyard. Once the crystal doors closed behind them, she lowered her gaze, ever mindful of decorum.
“Nay.” Anger laced his voice.
“Beg pardon?”
“You will not lower your gaze for me. In private, you will lift your eyes to meet mine. I’ll not have you cower in my presence.”
She welcomed the opportunity to look him straight in the eye, but she didn’t care for his imposing tone. “I do not cower. I but follow the dictates of the Council. Your rights to command me are limited here, Fen Dane. Although I recognize your status as a prince, your authority is confined to only those rights granted to any visitor of Kel.”
“You would rather stare at the floor?”
“Nock. I would rather be a full Kelton with equities and privileges. Unfortunately, I can’t change who or what I am.”
And I do not wish you to change. You are perfect as you are.
Chelian’s eyes bulged. Surely, she had dreamed such words of praise. She tried to fathom his true emotion, but he had a way of schooling his features. She turned away.
They continued in silence. She led him along a path that meandered through colorful gardens and eventually opened into a clearing. She paused and tilted her head toward the skies. The rich display of stars nestled against an aultid sky gave her peace. She had brought this man to her favorite spot. Why? Why Fen Dane when he made her uncomfortable with his dynamic bearing?
She knew the answer. He had taken an interest in her as a person of equality. His attention frightened her. It pleased her. It confused her. She’d never felt such an array of emotions before.
What should they talk about? She cleared her throat. “I come here often to just stare out at the sky and silently worship Orius, God of Creation.”
“Do you believe it possible other life exists beyond this planet?”
Chelian laughed. “That seems to be a popular topic of late among scholars. I have yet to form an opinion. The Book of Orius refers to a great world from whence all creation sprang. Most interpret this to mean a holy place, a mythical land where Gods chose the first beings to inhabit Satobik. Others argue there exists somewhere beyond our reach a mother planet. They say travelers crossed the universe to land here and colonize Satobik. What do you believe?”
He inched closer. She inhaled his male scent, enjoying the rich, spicy aroma. She allowed his proximity, wondering how far he dared enter her perimeter of seclusion.
A gentle smile made the corners of his eyes crinkle. “Your world, Satobik, is but a small planet in a sea of many which sustains life. The mother planet is called Mezitane. A half centon ago, the technology on Mezitane advanced while resources dwindled. Soon, it became necessary to seek other worlds, other resources. They sent convoys with explorers and settlers. Many planets can attribute their origins to these voyages.”
She stared at him aghast. Did he believe such a farfetched idea? “Are you a historian, scientist? From what information do you base these theories?”
“Do you doubt my word?”
She blinked. He seemed to take offense easily. He took another step into her perimeter. She stiffened, uneasy with his close proximity. “Nock. I don’t doubt your belief in all you’ve said. But you can’t expect me to believe without tangible proof.”
“Well said.” He turned his attention back to the sky. “Another topic, then. I would know more about you.”
EXERCISE: Use the Character Chart below to help you get started.
CHARACTER CHART
There are many out there. But they all have the same basic idea. You need to know how to describe your character from the inside out. So here’s what mine looks like:
Name:
Numerology of name:
Physical characteristics
hair color and texture
eyes
skin color and texture
body style
height
mannerisms
Internal attributes
zodiac sign and birthday
five positive adjectives
three negative adjectives
GERPS:
Genetic:
Ethnic:
Religious:
Psychological:
Sociological:
A full discussion of character development can be found on the . Just scroll down to workshop topics.