Family dynamics, especially parent and child, have a long-lasting impact on how your characters are formed. You don’t have to write a family saga to utilize this insight. It will shape who your character becomes as an adult. It can play a big part in a young adult story world. Even in Science Fiction or Dystopian futures, human traits remain. Childhoods can twist and destroy. A good family can make your hero more lovable and a motivated hero. Mix a character with a good childhood without to give them different world views and definitions of family. Sibling rivalry can be a factor. Who did the parent love more? Who did they connect with? Who did they clash with the most? There are many opportunities to infuse conflict in your plot with parents and children. You can mix parents with different styles. You can craft a complex family dynamic based on their temperaments and needs. As always with any of the traits, you can make them benevolent or malevolent.
The sixteen profiles can be either male or female. I alternated he and she. The character can be a father, mother, grandparent, aunt, uncle, foster family, or other primary caregiver.
This post will focus on the mannequin Shelby.
Shelby is nurturing, emotionally guarded, patient, devoted, and flexible. She enforces her values and wants respect. She is generous with loving affirmations. She may give too much freedom to a child who needs structure. She blames herself for bad behavior. She wants to be good cop. She fiercely defends children against outsiders and overlooks their indiscretions until she can't. If she can't connect with children, she may leave emotionally or physically. She cannot handle a wild child. She gets along best with Shelby, Blair, Greer, River, and Dallas. She argues most with Arden.
SHELBY/WYNN
Shelby is easy to please and seeks approval. Shelby is nurturing but perhaps not approving enough. Wynn needs clear consistent rules and a secure routine. Shelby isn’t consistent and may not provide enough structure. Wynn hates being punished for something she didn’t do and Shelby blames herself for mistakes and that will be internalized too. Misunderstandings are likely here. Wynn will have to live with uncertainty and that will make her anxious. It’s not the worst pairing. They may muddle along together never understanding how they let the other one down.
SHELBY/FRANCIS
Francis needs order, structure, calm, and a predictable schedule. Shelby isn’t the most consistent parent. This could make Francis fretful, perhaps belligerent. He struggles with overly emotional people and may shrug off Shelby’s affectionate ways. Francis is not comfortable with new people or situations. He clings to close friends. Shelby is more social and may push him too far. Francis likes group events where he can show off his competence. He is meticulous and puts schoolwork before play. If his competence is questioned frequently, it results in low self-esteem. As long as Shelby shows interest and approval of Francis’s endeavors, it will be okay. However, Francis becomes rigid in the face of uncertainty and could be a bully. Shelby could find herself with a bully and blame herself for it. Francis may reject Shelby’s emotional overtures. It could be a dysfunctional dynamic.
SHELBY/NEVADA
Nevada needs structure, security, and personal attention. If he doesn’t get it, he becomes clingy. Shelby is happy to lavish him with affection. He struggles to conform to new situations and Shelby’s lifestyle could prove too stressful. Nevada craves acceptance and is eager to please.
He does what he is expected to do. He follows the rules if fair and reasonable. He speaks out against unfairness. He is furious when other people break the rules. Shelby may not provide consistent rules. Nevada will turn against his parents if they let him down. He becomes resentful and angry if he doesn't get the praise he seeks. He becomes willfully obstinate if violated. Shelby won’t understand the disconnect. Doesn’t she love him enough? Why is he turning on her?
SHELBY/ARDEN
Arden is an active toddler. He likes to experiment and needs constant activity and change. He grows sullen and depressed if deprived of opportunities. Shelby is likely to provide the fun and frivolity. Arden isn’t a snuggler. He hates standing still and that can be exhausting. Shelby won’t understand why he pushes her away. She wants physical affection in return. Arden is curious and likes to disassemble things. He is eager to share his findings. He wants to impress and wants to earn those trophies and badges. He wants to excel. Shelby will be tolerant of his efforts as long as they don’t go against her personal preferences. Arden can resort to acting up to get attention or break up the monotony. Shelby will blame herself for his Hijinks and will try to cover for him. Whether they end up appreciating each other or not is up for grabs. Depends on how far you push the level of intensity of their traits and how tumultuous Shelby makes their lives.
SHELBY/BLAIR
Blair needs love and nurturing. She is pleasant and kind and nurturing toward others. Shelby will give her the affection she needs. Blair needs a solid foundation from which to flit, which could be a challenge for Shelby who can be inconsistent. Blair is quiet and plays by herself, inventing her own world. She rebels if restricted and resists change. She is artistic and highly sensitive, a daydreamer. Shelby is more social. She can be inconsistent, even tumultuous. Blair is likely to retreat as Shelby attempts to pull Blair into her world. They may not agree on values. Blair will be the intellectual loner and Shelby will be the outgoing activist devoted her causes. It could be a way to drive a wedge between them.
SHELBY/DALLAS
Dallas is a restless child. She is suffocated by restrictions or cloying caregivers. She isn’t a cuddler. Shelby will be hurt by her rejection. Dallas is a dangerous loose cannon and will try anything. She needs to be corralled. Shelby isn’t the best with boundaries or consistency. Dallas is a ringleader of her siblings or in school. Her attention is fleeting. She doesn’t do anything long enough to master it. Dallas hates being stuck at a desk listening to other people talk. She forgets to do what she is supposed to. Both Dallas and Shelby can be inconsistent, leading them to blame each other when the ball gets dropped. If unchecked, Dallas becomes a very wild child. If too suppressed, she rebels. It could be a clash of the Titans if they have differences in values and opinions.
SHELBY/HADLEY
Hadley is an easy baby. She needs calm, personalized attention. Shelby will give her that. Hadley is agreeable and enthusiastic. She wants to try everything once but quickly drops it. Shelby won’t make her finish either. Their joint lack of follow-through can cause serious issues. Shelby will doubt herself but outwardly defend her child. Hadley wants to be seen and heard and offers deep insights. She shuts down in the face of criticism and everything is criticism. So if Hadley follows along with Shelby’s belief system, they could be mutually supportive. Hadley is easily led and hates leaving friends even though her friendships tend to be fluid. If Hadley is led off to a different path than her parent expects, sparks could fly.
SHELBY/SHELBY
Child Shelby is a quiet baby with a low threshold for excitement. She needs calm and consistent nurturing. Too much handling, moving around, and chaos make her cranky. Child Shelby cries to escape the torture when caregivers shake her up and show her off. As a parent, Shelby tends to be affectionate if not consistent. Child Shelby likes playing by herself, with her toys, or with her imaginary friends. She likes to daydream and doodle. She hates teams and groups and is highly sensitive to criticism. Both parent and child turn their pain inward. She is reserved around new people and bonds with a best friend. She can be a loner. A Shelby/Shelby combination could lead to a really tight friendship as long as they both believe in the same things.
SHELBY/JOSS
Joss is a quiet but busy child. He is a fearless daredevil. He accepts structure and concrete rules but needs flexibility. He asks permission but finds a way around it if told “no.” He grows bored when options are limited. He could prove a challenge to Shelby. Joss takes things apart to see how they work, but doesn’t tell anyone what he learns. He gets lost in his hobbies. Joss is a good student, but chafes at rote learning. He gets in trouble for not paying attention or sitting still. Shelby was never good with those things either and will make excuses for him. Joss tries harder to control his world if it spirals out of control. Shelby isn’t always consistent which could create turmoil in the relationship. Depending on the types of things that catch Joss’s fancy. Shelby expects her children to be like her and follow her example. Joss could very well go the complete opposite direction.
SHELBY/KELLY
Kelly is a freedom-loving, active, and cranky baby. If his caregivers crave a consistent schedule, they are out of luck. Kelly can't sit still and play alone. He craves attention and creates chaos to get it. He transplants easily. Kelly tends to run rings around most parents and Shelby won’t be an exception. She will find him challenging because Kelly won't abide by rules or conform. He collects friends and needs to be on the move. He is a ringleader of mischief. He needs firm hand, not an iron fist. Shelby doesn’t have a firm hand. He will most likely make her life difficult. She will blame herself for his behavior. Kelly can be self-destructive if thwarted. He learns how to manipulate early and can become a bully. He will run right over Shelby.
SHELBY/GREER
Greer is happy, easy going, likes to explore. He can't handle chaos and needs routine and safety. He plays happily alone and is a comfortable child for Shelby to raise. Greer asks odd challenging questions and enjoys fantasy, mystery, inventing, and thinking. Shelby might not appreciate being questioned. She hasn’t considered her positions too carefully or deeply. Greer is not interested in being fussed over or the center of attention and can be easily suffocated. Shelby can be too affectionate. She may want to push him to be more social and socially acceptable. Greer doubts himself and takes criticism hard. Shelby could go either way with Greer. Shelby can appreciate him as a quiet well-behaved, if slightly odd, child. Or Greer could challenge her belief systems too vigorously. She will not appreciate the debate.
SHELBY/TAYLOR
Taylor needs calm. Chaotic and unpredictable caregivers make her anxious. Shelby is affectionate but not always consistent. She could create some anxiety. Taylor is friendly and values harmony. Pleasing others makes her happy. She wants to please Shelby. Shelby will capitalize on that. Taylor takes charge of the playroom and siblings. Taylor could question Shelby’s leadership and that will lead to friction. If Shelby expresses disapproval or rejects Taylor’s attempts to put herself forward, they could end up hurting each other. Taylor overextends herself by trying to play with everyone and must be reined in. Shelby doesn’t like being bad cop and will force the other caregivers to take charge of that. This could make Taylor spiral out of control.
SHELBY/CAM
Cam is a quiet, low maintenance child. He won’t ask for anything, even for what he needs. He is good because it’s important to be good not to please others. He expects everyone else to be good too: caregivers, siblings, teachers, and friends. Shelby will be relieved that he is an easy child. Shelby is affectionate but not always consistent and chaos pushes Cam further into his shell. He spends a lot of time daydreaming and thinking. His questioning of authority and probing questions will make Shelby squirm. Luckily Cam is self regulating and responsible. He develops his own belief system and does not conform to what others believe. This will be a point of contention for Shelby. She expects her children to accept what she believes as gospel. They are likely to exist in an atmosphere of quiet resentment as both withdraw to protect.
SHELBY/MORGAN
Morgan is a lively baby. He walks, talks, and gets into everything early. He might do them all a little differently. Since Shelby expects everything to happen on time and in the right way, she is easily frustrated. Why isn’t her child doing things “right?” Morgan doesn't do group activities and can be a clown. He will try to charm his way out of trouble. Morgan has a lively questioning mind. He takes risks and outwits dim caregivers, teachers, or other authority figures. He will get around Shelby easily. She isn’t good at being the firm parent. Morgan likes creative projects and follows his unique interests wherever they lead. His penchant for invention is evident early on. Morgan is outgoing. He likes to orchestrate activities, assign roles, and oversee the progress. He is irritated when he doesn't get his way. Shelby will struggle with this child. He will be too much for her. She will blame herself for not being good enough and will resent his inability to fall in line. He might find her too dull or question everything she believes.
SHELBY/LEE
Lee is a high-demand baby. If placed with absent or self-absorbed caregivers, she screams until someone pays attention to her. She proves exhausting to the most attentive caregiver. She knows her own mind from the day she can talk and tells you what she wants and does not want. If Shelby has different plans and goals for Lee, she is met with stubborn resistance. Lee excels at whatever she chooses to participate in. She is in competition with herself not others, but they might not realize it. She is a leader on the playground and becomes the enemy of anyone who doesn’t follow along. She is the quintessential queen bee. To caregivers with Lee’s temperament, Lee is the perfect child. To rigid caregivers, she is a pain. To less intrepid caregivers like Shelby, she scares them a little. There could be a battle for dominance with Shelby being the parent most likely to back down.
SHELBY/RIVER
River is a quiet baby. She is content to observe the world. A busy, aggressive, or outgoing caregiver makes her cry. She needs peace and quiet to thrive. Shelby will give her affection and basic care. The problems crop up later. River lives in a dream world most of the time. Shelby would have to drag her kicking and screaming to play groups or to the playground. River has one or two friends. Her emotional skin is thin. She sees the world as treacherous and trust is vital. The problems arise with River’s tendency to be drawn to belief systems of the mysterious, perhaps paranormal. Shelby is more grounded but very invested in her belief system. River will tune out Shelby and go her own way. River hates violence and discord. She needs peace and continuity, so she will be outwardly compliant but withdraw. Shelby could push River even further into whatever mystical or outrageous belief system she is drawn to. Shelby will be lulled into a false sense of victory. If River goes too far off the edge, Shelby isn’t the one to pull her back.
Next week, we will introduce JOSS.
If you want to learn more, you can check out Mastering Character Development and the Story Building Blocks website for free tools and forms.
You can follow new posts on this topic on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/storybuildingblocks or opt for an email through follow.it.
You can get more insight into character development by picking up a copy of Story Building Blocks II: Crafting Believable Conflict or the fill-in the blank Build A Cast Workbook.
As always, if you find this information useful, hit the like button and share.
No comments:
Post a Comment