In Story Building Blocks II: Crafting Believable Conflict and the Build A Cast Workbook, I introduce sixteen character mannequins or prototypes based on personality types. I track them from cradle to grave and talk about their strengths and weaknesses and how to warp them. I use male or female pronouns based on the percentage of the population that fell in that category, but all mannequins can be anything you make them. The traits discussed are starting points. You can alter their temperaments depending on the purpose they serve. Their traits give them strengths to build on and weaknesses to exploit.
CAM
As a hero, Cam does what he thinks he should, regardless of the human cost or emotional arguments against it. He finds the core of the problem and knows how to fix it.
As a villain, Cam turns his beautiful mind to thoughts of revenge. He knows exactly what makes people tick and how to make them explode. The results would be catastrophic.
Cam is self-confident and powerfully self-aware. He runs daily internal diagnostics. He thinks people should be useful. He is the ultimate freethinker, is immune to peer pressure, and didn't inherit the worship gene. He has high standards for himself, but isn't interested in forcing them on others. He doesn't care what other people do as long as it doesn't affect him. He is a good communicator on paper and in person. He thinks anything is possible, everything is negotiable, and nothing is terminally serious. His keen powers of observation help him navigate foreign emotions. He registers tone of voice, turn of phrase, and micro expressions. He is a deep thinker. He prefers to work alone and is not a risk taker. He would have to be forced to lead. He expects people to monitor themselves and set their own standards. He doesn't interfere unless targeted. He would prefer to work behind the scenes to overthrow someone.
On the dark side, Cam despises weakness, bad behavior, and laziness. He can make other people feel inadequate. He can grow isolated. He hates incompetence and people who aren't reliable. He is not in tune with social rituals. He has little patience with shallow small talk and less for materialistic people. He could come up with a plan for revenge and see it through with or without help. He can be terse, arrogant, derisive, and sarcastic if opposed. People fear he can see inside their minds. He isn't interested unless attacked. Humanity could be wiped out if it got too out of control.
Cam likes to play devil's advocate and debate. His wit is biting and self-deprecating. He listens to logical proposals if they are persuasive enough and based on data rather than feelings. He prefers to think before speaking or acting. He listens to the few people he trusts. He can explain complex theories when he bothers. His objective commentary alienates those who see criticism in everything. Cam tells you what he thinks, delivers objective opinions, and is focused on whether information is true or false. He doesn't need you to agree and doesn't care why you are upset. He wants you to focus on what he is thinking. He only respects people he deems intelligent. He likes people who admire his handiwork.
Cam is more interested in solving a problem than rehashing or blaming. Emotional arguments leave him cold. He represses his anger, so when he reaches a boiling point, he is feral. He does not carry a grudge and once he has lost his temper, he forgets about it. He wants you to clearly articulate your position, not dither or waste time.
Cam points out long term consequences and system defects. He sees how things really are not how people pretend they are. He likes to brainstorm, generalize, classify, and summarize data. He sees connections others miss. He is free from the sentiments and group think that blind others. He researches things that interest him and ignores the rest. He goes with his gut instead of relying on evidence alone. He bases rational and impartial decisions based on facts no matter the emotional price tag. He likes closure and makes decisions without consulting anyone. Once he makes a decision, he sticks with it, even if he ends up being wrong. He will let you know immediately whether he can help you and how.
Cam follows his own rules and challenges the status quo. He asks inconvenient questions and has little respect for authority. He embraces rules only if the agrees with them. He hates schmoozing, politics, rah rah, and woo woo. He does not respect title, status, or rank. He isn't interested in competition, voting, or popularity. He loathes meetings, company slogans, and herd mentality. He is immune to personal praise and flattery.
Cam only cares if a plan is feasible, not who came up with it. If something doesn't work, he moves on, sometimes unilaterally. He doesn't care how it impacts other people. He is more interested in the tasks ahead than the one in front of him. He has innovative ideas and leaves other people to enact them. He completes tasks early and under budget. He changes course only when he has to. He will finish the job even after he loses interest. He discounts the effect on other people. He prefers a backup plan for the backup plan. He is irritated when others don't meet deadlines or see things through. People just get in his way, that is why he prefers to work alone. He doesn't want to be in charge of other people. Cam is very self-critical and but not open to external criticism. He is harder on himself than anyone else could ever be.
Cam's naturally allies are River, Francis, Lee, and Greer. His nemesis is Dallas. Cam is hard to get to know. He has a low need for connection and belonging. He is often a loner. Cam has a few high-quality friends. Illogical, overly emotional people strain his patience. He cares for his inner circle deeply and is their greatest ally. He is serious most of the time but can be fun with an incisive, self-deprecating wit. He only spends time with people he respects and enjoys. He gives generously and wants his friends to be happy. His extroverted friends encourage him to get out more. He may be seen as snobbish because he is reserved and quiet. Trust and respect are key. If people let him down, he is hurt and withdraws. Once someone loses his confidence, they don't get it back.
As a hero, Cam is highly intelligent, informed, capable, and the enemy won't see him coming. He prefers to work alone but would die for his friends and loved ones. He makes a good spy or agent.
As a villain, Cam is the mad scientist, the bomb maker, or destroyer of an inadequate population. He will fight from the back lines, often under the radar. Getting close to him will be difficult.
Next week we meet Morgan.
You can download free character information sheets:
Character Worksheet
Mannequins Under Pressure
Sixteen Lovers
