16 Heroes & Villains: Cam

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

16 Heroes and Villains: Taylor

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. 

TAYLOR

As a hero, Taylor is fiercely protective of friends and loved ones and is a born leader. 

As a villain, Taylor is an interfering busy body or toxic enabler. She makes the perfect stalker roommate or girlfriend.

Taylor is charismatic and confident. She assumes other people will follow her and they do. She favors cooperation and puts other people first. She is persuasive and believes her own hype. She views herself as a benevolent crusader. She is trustworthy, enthusiastic, and looks for the good in others. She fights on the side of what she believes is “good." She is drawn to activism more than income and likes helping people. She takes her values and beliefs seriously. She is good at reading people and assessing motive.

On the dark side, Taylor absorbs the characteristics, emotions, and beliefs of people around her. She is a master of spin and could be a zealot. She figures out other people's triggers and uses them to manipulate. Her boundaries are naturally fuzzy and she interferes where she shouldn't. She often ignores her intuition. She overextends and neglects herself to fulfill the needs of others. She can't say no and can't separate. She can be overpowering in her need to fuss. She idealizes people then is hurt when they let her down by being human. Transgressions are a deal breaker. She can become petulant, paranoid, and manipulative if opposed or when someone lets her down.

Taylor just assumes people understand her and is hurt when they ask questions. She excels at verbal communication and public speaking. She is better in person than on paper. She embraces paranormal explanations and refuses to listen to anything that counters her beliefs. She likes to talk things over as she thinks them through with her wide network. She is focused on feelings and sentiments and whether information is good or bad. When it comes to conflict, she wants you to agree with her, understand how it makes her feel, and acknowledge that she is upset. She has strong opinions but keeps them to herself to avoid conflict. When she speaks, she is clear. She can't handle criticism. She suppresses her own needs to make other people happy then sizzles and combusts. She is harshly self-critical but rejects outside criticism.

Taylor relies on other people's opinions. Her intuition is keen but reality won't get in the way of her feelings. She isn't hampered by evidence. She is swayed by emotional arguments. She follows hunches and convinces other people to overlook pesky facts. She relies on other people and listens to those she admires. She grasps the big picture, but is fuzzy on the details. She makes emotional choices based on how they affect everyone. She wants to keep the peace. She hates making decisions and lose-lose options. She often decides by not deciding, because she is focused on her integrity and reputation. Once she decides, she is done, even if new evidence arrives or the situation changes. She won't reconsider.

Taylor assigns a high value to those with status, title, and rank. She goes along with the prevailing tide and conforms. If she flouts authority, she persuades people to switch sides. She has no problem unseating a rival or someone who has lost her respect. She would cling to the system but remove the figurehead.

Taylor likes structure and group activities and hates solitude. She wants recognition for her effort. She makes plans and sees them through, meeting deadlines. She focuses on the problem at hand, not what is ahead. She is capable of innovative solutions and gains consensus. If one idea fails, she comes up with another one and implements the plan once everyone agrees on it. She prefers for someone else to make the final decision so she can't be held responsible. She likes being in charge and getting the credit though. 

She can think on the fly and likes a challenge. She prefers having a schedule but hates monotony. She is organized without planning. She likes helping and rewarding people. When things go wrong, she can get stuck rehashing the emotional impact instead of solving the problem. She is not interested in what went wrong or whose fault it was. She wants to soothe ruffled feathers and move on.

Taylor's natural allies are Nevada, Lee, Dallas, and River. Her nemesis is Joss. She has many, but not intimate, friends. Relationships and responsibilities come before leisure or self. She enjoys intellectual conversations. She is neither competitive nor malicious. She is committed and loyal and usually well liked and tuned in. She joins clubs and causes. She is a social butterfly and the life of the party. She wants to make her friends happy. Because she shifts to accommodate other people, many different people consider her a friend. She is a good cross-pollinator.

Taylor does not handle constant fluctuations well. She turns against anyone she sees as a false friend. She has a real problem with characters who resist consensus or don’t work toward the collective good. Her self-worth is tied up in the closeness and quality of her relationships. She is needy and resentful when she does not receive the positive affirmations she craves. She is momentarily vicious if crossed, but returns to being all sunshine a moment later. At her worst, she is suffocating.

As a hero, Taylor is an activist and cheerleader, convincing people to follow a good cause. She will fight alongside others to win the day and has a wide network to draw on for assistance.

As a villain, woe betide the person who crosses her, violates her belief system, or takes her for granted. She will be vicious in retaliation and has the posse to back her up.

Next week we meet Cam.

You can download free character information sheets:

Character Worksheet

Mannequins Under Pressure

Sixteen Lovers

Sixteen Heroes and Villains: Kelly

 

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. 

KELLY

As a hero, nothing stands in Kelly’s way. He is the ultimate gamer and thrives on beating the competition. Kelly goes for his enemy’s jugular. 

As a villain, Kelly is the stereotypical sociopath, evil business tycoon, or mob boss.

Kelly gathers information and uses it to his best advantage. He is keenly discriminating when he chooses. Kelly’s senses are on high alert. He thrives on stimulation. He is impulsive and action-oriented. He loves power, speed, risks, and thrill rides. He is lively, resourceful, entertaining, and lives in the moment. He is socially sophisticated and cares deeply but isn't hampered by it. He can rouse people to action. Kelly is never boring and not entirely trustworthy. He loves to save the day and will cheat, steal, and lie if necessary without guilt. Kelly is hypersensitive to micro expressions. He can read and play other people. He never forgets a face or a detail about a person.

On the dark side, Kelly uses other people's feelings against them. He adds other people’s perspectives and opinions to his mental database so he can use the information later to his benefit. He goes for shock effect to gain attention and can be crass and outlandish. His empathy is a trick. He calculates to manipulate. He demands center stage and feeds off the energy of the crowd. He cares about himself more than others. He hates losing. His conclusions can be bizarre. He is subject to odd superstitions or flights of fancy. He has convoluted explanations to prove his beliefs are true. He never admits to being wrong.

Kelly makes mistakes when pressured and becomes excessively impulsive under stress. No one knows what Kelly truly thinks or feels. He likes to talk things over as he thinks them through. Deep thinking people bore him. He is immune to criticism because he rarely respects the source. He knows everyone, but no one really knows him. He does not care about other people's thoughts or feelings or opinions of him. He is blunt but not honest. He makes other people doubt themselves. He can talk his way out of trouble. He tells you what he thinks, delivers objective opinions, and is focused on whether information is true or false. He doesn’t care if you agree or you are upset. He wants you to focus on his opinion of the matter. He is more interested in solving (or avoiding) the problem than rehashing it. He can be a verbal bully or sweet and charming. He favors evidence over hunches. He relies on experience. He is not subtle.

Kelly never admits weakness or failure. He never apologizes or explains. Everything is win-lose and he wants to win. He embraces opposition just to defeat it. Kelly wants backup for his last minute decisions. He focuses on the details and loses sight of the big picture. He makes impersonal, rational decisions. He is not swayed by emotional arguments. He likes to keep his options open and is never entirely satisfied with a choice. He procrastinates to avoid deciding and struggles with multiple options. He considers even ridiculous options.

Kelly likes being in charge. He appears to play by the rules (only ones he agrees with) while breaking them. Rules are suggestions and everything is open to interpretation. Kelly hates restrictions. He looks for loopholes and lives in the gray areas. Kelly admires anyone who can best him at his own game. Anyone who tries to control him becomes an enemy. He resists anyone who tries to limit him. He undermines them, works around them, or has them removed. He uses subtle rather than overt tactics. Leverage is better than muscle. He conforms outwardly only if it is a means to an end. He isn't attached to a particular belief system. He pretends to be sorry and put on a show, then goes right back to misbehaving.

Kelly skates by with only what he needs. He is action-oriented and hates restrictions. He has grandiose ideas but can't run a business. He needs minions to handle details. Kelly easily influences people and gets them to follow him and do his dirty work. He seeks situations where he is called upon to react and solve immediate problems or to use his powers of persuasion. He happily travels anywhere. He hates being tied down or trapped in routine. He prefers high physical, intellectual, personal, or financial risks and high yields. He is a gambler. He makes things happen even when he shouldn't.

He doesn’t plan, but will carry out someone else's plan. He is not attached to a plan and switches tactics at a moment’s notice. People might not appreciate his modifications. He comes up with solutions but doesn't see them through or follow-up. He goes with gut instinct, timing, and luck. He gets the job done at the last minute and just good enough. Deadlines are suggestions. He is quick and flexible and can select the most efficient route at the last moment. He never justifies his actions but can waste time pointing the finger when things go wrong instead of fixing it.

Kelly's natural allies are Morgan, Hadley, Joss, and Arden. His nemesis is River. She is the depth to his shallowness. Kelly admires strong personalities. He takes people one day at a time. When he is with you, he is truly with you, until the day he isn’t. He tailors his behavior to fit in with all kinds of people. Friends are drawn to his charm and love of a good time. He is drawn to other extroverts who enjoy sports and risk-taking hobbies. People think they are his friends because it suits him for them to believe it. Kelly isn’t invested in long-term relationships. He quickly moves on without a backward glance if the other person gets too needy or boring. Few feel they know him well, if at all. He is inspired by the concept of brotherhood, but lacks the commitment it entails. He is on the move, not sitting around pondering the meaning of life. Navel gazers and theorists bore him.

As a hero, Kelly is the life of the party. He is a freewheeling, unpredictable rebel. He can inspire other rebels who will probably be the ones to see the problem through to the end. But Kelly will take credit for it. He makes a good spy or charismatic leader.

As a villain, Kelly is pure chaos. He is the ultimate showman, a grifter, a thief, or a conman. 

Next week we meet Greer.

You can download free character information sheets:

Character Worksheet

Mannequins Under Pressure

Sixteen Lovers

16 Heroes and Villains: Greer

 

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. 

GREER

As a hero, Greer comes up with the solution to the mystery, the cure for the disease, or the weakness of the aliens. He may not convince anyone unless he is highly respected in his area of expertise.

As a villain, Greer designs bombs or plans catastrophes to prove his theories to the dim-witted. He is the hacker who hacks to prove someone’s system is flawed.

Greer hates redundancy and incoherence. He seeks to understand the universe and natural laws. He easily grasps ideas, principles, and behavior. He is analytical, imaginative, quiet, thoughtful, a critical thinker, and an extreme introvert. Greer can explain complex theories and principles and offers detailed explanations. He pushes for more information and is frustrated when you can't provide it. He is better on paper than in person. His intelligence is generally respected. People are surprised by his quick wit and sly humor he uses to diffuse tense situations. Greer picks up on contradictory statements, no matter how far apart they were uttered. He has a facility for language and has strong intellectual scanning and recall. He could have a photographic memory. Greer often appears to be off  in the ether but retains everything that is said. He has no time for highly emotional or illogical people. He could have inside knowledge to destroy someone or expose a plot.

On the dark side, Greer fears being a failure. He second-guesses himself. He hates raw emotion. He can be self-absorbed and aloof. He ignores rules and authorities he doesn't agree with. He just wants to be left alone to do his thing. He lacks interpersonal skills and has weak emotional intelligence. He can be abrasive and rude. He does not trust easily. He can be an intellectual snob, which makes other people hostile and defensive. He won't care. He turns against those who violate his core values. 

If insulted Greer responds with clever, crushing criticism and people are shocked by his outburst. If you lose his respect, you are cut off. He can seem out of touch with people. He cares about what you know and when you know it and whether it is useful. He tells you what he thinks, delivers objective opinions, and is focused on true or false. He doesn't care if you agree or why you are upset. He never offers or needs praise.

Greer becomes rigid when opposed. He shuts down in face of emotional outbursts and is immune to criticism. His sarcasm feeds the flames. He represses negative emotions until he blows. He becomes withdrawn and resentful when pushed. He prefers to go around an obstacle rather than confront it head on.

Greer understands ideas and systems. He goes with his gut and ignores evidence. He thinks before he acts and prefers open-ended solutions. He delays making a decision to avoid offending people he cares about. He won't go along with the prevailing belief system. He trusts his own opinions and those of people he considers intelligent. He is more interested in potential, focusing on the big picture rather than the details. When pushed, he makes impersonal, rational choices despite the human cost. All options are considered, even if the facts don't support them.

Greer isn't impressed by status, titles, or position. He likes other people to reinforce his decisions. He is not interested in leading or following. He follows rules he agrees with and ignores those he does not. He is impatient with bureaucracy, rigid hierarchies, and political correctness. Everyone is equal to or less than, never superior. He has no trouble ignoring or dethroning an authority he does not agree with. He  won't protest or lobby. He ignores anything and everyone unless they affect him personally.

Greer comes up with innovative solutions then leaves it for others to enact. He is not attached to a plan or an idea. Everything is exploration and he is willing to modify or adopt someone else's plan if he respects them. He will modify a plan he sees as flawed without asking. He prefers to work alone and easily blocks distractions, becoming lost in work and oblivious to his environment. He improvises and adapts and gets the job done in his way and on his schedule. Deadlines are suggestions. He rushes in to avert chaos.

Greer prefers solving the problem to rehashing it. He will correct you if he thinks you are wrong. He is not interested in what happened or who caused it, he just wants the problem solved. He is more concerned with what could happen than what is happening.

Greer's natural allies are Joss, Morgan, Shelby, and Cam. His nemesis is Nevada. He enjoys the company of  the few who share his interests and intellectual conversations. He is not nurturing or effusively social and limits his circle to a trusted few. He hates being center of attention. He can be charming in a quiet, reserved way. Those who like him like him a great deal. Everyone else makes fun of him. He is usually easygoing and relies on his inner circle. He becomes easily isolated. He values intelligence and rationality and isn’t drawn to overly emotional characters. He isn’t interested in manipulating people or playing games. 

Greer ignores people who are vastly different and is suspicious of their motives. He has little patience with mushy feelings and woo-woo stuff. He finds it hard to step out and connect with other people. He isn’t interested in belonging to groups of any kind. He would not appreciate being toyed with. He banishes people who lose his confidence and trust. He feels passionately but isn't good at verbalizing it. He forgets birthdays and special events.

As a hero, Greer has the expertise and analytical capacity to solve any problem. He will have to leave his lab to do it. He is not a maverick but a very effective weapon when you need strategy and knowledge to solve the problem.

As a villain, Greer is the remote, logical alien who could decide humanity needs to be obliterated for their stupidity. He thinks he is the smartest man alive. That is both his strength and his weakness. He is a strategist but isn't a physical fighter. He would need minions to do the dirty work.

Next week we meet Taylor.

You can download free character information sheets:

Character Worksheet

Mannequins Under Pressure

Sixteen Lovers

16 Heroes and Villains: Shelby

 

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. 

SHELBY

As a hero, Shelby draws people together to achieve a common goal. She is an optimist who fights for good. She makes a good cop or elusive superhero.

As a villain, Shelby’s definition of good is dangerous. She launches a war in the name of love. She overthrows people who violate her belief system.

Shelby believes everyone has something to contribute. She truly believes good will win the battle against evil. She views the world through rose-colored glasses and works in the background to achieve her goals. She pursues the ideal job, mate, friends, and home situation.

She spends more time helping others than taking care of herself. She won't give up on something she believes in, but her approach is mild. She would help take on a corrupt or oppressive group. She has strong values and is suspicious of people who don't share them.

She is aware of the evil in men's souls. She is a deep, idealistic loner but would sacrifice herself for the good of humanity. She is focused on the emotional subtext of the situation and intuits how people feel. She uses it to her advantage. She interprets and creates symbols. She is tuned into body language and turn of phrase and interprets what isn't said. She may cling to the system but help overturn the figurehead. 

On the dark side, Shelby is highly introverted and lives more in her head than in the world.

She is congenial until crossed which makes her harsh and rigid. She keeps changing things in the hopes of making them perfect. She is a toxic enabler and refuses to see flaws in those close to her. She can be resentful and vindictive. She is highly critical of herself and strives to be perfect. She projects her perceived imperfections onto others. She is so self-sacrificing, she is often overlooked and marginalized. Shelby could turn to evil if violated. She could plan global destruction. Her version of good might not be in everyone's best interest.

Shelby ruminates over slights, real or imagined. She represses and erupts. She is highly emotional and critical when pushed. She is emotional and critical when anxious. Shelby is firm in her opinions and relies on her small, trusted flock. She is a good profiler. She is not interested in long, detailed analysis. Nitpicking makes her cranky. She is an active listener and picks up on motive. She is frustrated by trivial types. Intuition guides her. She values feelings over facts. She manipulates people by appealing to their emotions. She can be argumentative. She can seem absent-mined but is always thinking and evaluating. She is focused on what is and what could be, preferring the idealized version. Information is good or bad. She dismisses impersonal debate and intellectual theorizing.

Shelby ignores information that is counter to her beliefs, especially when it comes to people she cares about. She tells you how she feels, wants you to agree with her and understand how she feels about the conflict. She wants you to acknowledge she is upset. She focuses on the big picture and glosses over details. Shelby prefers to think things through before sharing them with her small circle of trusted friends. 

Shelby avoids confrontation and runs from open conflict. She can get caught up in emotional arguments. She seeks win-win solutions and prefers hunches to evidence. She listens to other people's opinions based on her assumption of their intelligence. All options are considered. She wants reinforcement. She panics when confronted with too many options but hates limited options. She decides based on self-interest and loved ones and puts other people before herself. She is never quite satisfied with any choice. She chooses only when forced. She is more focused on the future than present.

Shelby has no problem with open rebellion if she feels it is the only course of action against "the enemy." She enjoys a protest. She would trample over anyone who stood in her way. They would not see her coming. She modifies rules that don't suit her. Authority is based on how well they fall in line with her principles and beliefs. She challenges authority if she deems them "bad." 

She prefers to work alone and hates interruptions. She thinks before she acts. She doesn't like to plan, but is innovative with solutions. She is weak at making them happen and follow through. She is more interested the idea than the execution. She prefers to gain consensus before acting. She isn't attached to a plan and is willing to go along with someone else's. She improvises and adapts on the fly and changes tactics easily. She does everything at the last minute and just good enough. Deadlines are a suggestion. She takes calculated risks and focuses on what needs to be done. She would rather act alone that wait for someone else to do it to keep it from dragging on. She can't handle criticism and blames herself for everything, but justifies it to others.

Shelby's natural allies are Blair, Greer, River, and Dallas. Her nemesis is Arden. Shelby can be relaxed and fun to be around if you are part of her inner circle. She holds herself in reserve except with a select few. She comes across as somewhat aloof to those who don’t know her well. She has a sharp wit and a unique outlook. Shelby can be warm and caring. Once trust has been established, she is devoted and true. She is perceptive and aware of what other people are feeling. She needs space and respects her friends' need for it. She may have unrealistic expectations and is easily offended. This makes maintaining friendships difficult if the friends can’t measure up to her standards.

As a hero, she can sniff out evil and can work within or outside of the system to take down an enemy.

As a villain, she is a mercurial figurehead. Her belief system may be faulty but she will defend it to the death. She could easily arrange global destruction if humanity disappointed her. 

Next week we meet Joss.

You can download free character information sheets:

Character Worksheet

Mannequins Under Pressure

Sixteen Lovers

16 Heroes and Villains: Joss

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. 

JOSS

 As a hero, Joss is an intrepid man of action. His physical risk-taking makes other people slightly nauseated. He makes a great sniper, special forces soldier, or superhero.

As a villain, Joss is deadly to anyone who crosses him or in defense of someone he foolishly believes.

Joss is loyal, despite his better judgment. Just give him a plan and he'll work it. He is a skilled maverick and an expert in his field. He’ll do anything for his close band of brothers. Joss follows the path of least resistance He doesn't need time to prepare and operates alone. He is highly aware of the physical situation, but blind to emotions. He makes keen observations and uses the information when needed. He notes flaws and attempts to correct them.

On the dark side, Joss's rash decisions make him vulnerable to predators and can result in catastrophe. He needs wide personal space and prefers to operate independently. He can drift toward paranoia. He enacts nefarious plans and does not care who it hurts.He is highly territorial and dangerous when crossed. He won't warn before he tears someone apart verbally or physically. He is an unpredictable villain. He thrives on risk and beating the odds and is easily bored.

Joss is rigid when threatened. He suspects people who think or behave differently and assigns them malicious motives. Joss is terse and nonverbal with a dry sense of humor. Some find him thick-skinned and tasteless. He is better at nonverbal expression. He isn't very interested in other people. He keeps his opinion to himself but erupts inappropriately when opposed. If he wants your opinion, he'll ask for it. He tunes out people who attempt to control him. He is rational and analytical but his logic is fuzzy. He doesn’t often share his thoughts. He thinks before he speaks and confides in a trusted few. He ignores sources he does not respect. Joss tells you what he thinks, delivers objective opinions, and is focused on whether information is true or false. He doesn't care if you agree. He doesn't care if you are upset. He focuses on the problem at hand and wants to solve it, not whine about it. He turns cold in the face of emotional outbursts. He can be unpredictable, unstable, and impulsive when pushed. He listens in information gathering mode. He evades answering questions by asking more questions. This frustrates other people when they need a direct answer. He doesn’t feel he owes anyone an explanation and never asks for permission.

Joss blocks out everything but what he believes, which makes his views narrow. He makes impartial decisions quickly and easily. Joss relies on experience and focuses on the details instead of the big picture. He makes impersonal choices regardless of the consequences. All rational options are considered. He prefers to keep his options open and is never quite satisfied with a decision. Procrastination can take the problem out of his hands. Joss is not a crusader. He doesn’t care if he fits in and is never truly invested in a belief system.

Joss can be insubordinate. He ignores structure, rules, and regulations. He is loyal to his band of brothers, but ignores superiors. He is annoyed when interfered with. If rules don't impact him, he doesn't care. He'll go around someone who tries to impede his progress. He won't waste time arguing with them. He will deal with the issue unilaterally.

Joss hates mindless routine, sitting still, reflecting, reading, and idle chit chat. He loves the adrenaline rush. He is spontaneous and flexible and operates on a smaller safety margin than ordinary men. He hates being tied down and ignores schedules. Joss is not a planner, but can work a plan. He is pragmatic. He pushes limits and volunteers to go first. He remains calm under pressure and acts while others debate. Joss doesn't manage people or come up with a battle plan. He follows orders but changes the plan without a second thought if the situation calls for it. He is good in fast changing situations. He focuses on the present, the not past or future, and lives moment to moment. He blocks out distractions to focus. He struggles with multiple courses of action. Just tell him what to do and let him do it. Deadlines are suggestions. When things go wrong, he ruminates over what happened and whose fault it is.

Joss's natural allies are Greer, Kelly, Blair, and Francis. His nemesis is Taylor. He enjoys others like himself. He is drawn to whoever shares his passion of the moment. Joss is an exciting catalyst. He encourages others to embrace his risk-taking hobbies. He has an affinity for sports but also an artistic appreciation. He is tolerant of most people and is valued by friends. He has many different sets of friends, but not intimate friends. He makes day-to-day efforts to keep a friendship going as long as it is interesting. Friends are confused and hurt when he drops them without notice or explanation. He isn’t good with long-term commitment. He won’t tolerate anyone he perceives as boring. He is often found with extroverts because of his leisure activities, but they quickly tire him. He doesn’t have time for the navel-gazing introverts. He avoids confrontation until someone violates a core value then punishes with cutting criticism.

As a hero, Joss is the perfect action hero, spy, renegade soldier, or CIA agent.

As a villain, he is a reckless, relentless sniper or hitman. He won't lead the enemy, though he could by default, but he is a very effective weapon. 

Next week we meet Kelly.

You can download free character information sheets:

Character Worksheet

Mannequins Under Pressure

Sixteen Lovers

16 Heroes and Villains: Hadley

 

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. 

HADLEY

As a hero, Hadley picks up on things others miss. She joins the cause and cheers everyone when things go wrong. She is an exciting catalyst.

As a villain, Hadley is a dangerous gossip. She is a gadfly who leads you into temptation and leaves you there to suffer the consequences.

At her best, Hadley attempts things others fear and is calm in a crisis. She overturns what she disagrees with and can gather followers. She likes making other people happy. She prefers to give rather than receive. She lives in the moment, never considering yesterday or worrying about tomorrow. She is highly observant and a terrific negotiator. She can head off interpersonal conflict before it becomes a serious problem. She injects good will and makes everything sound exciting. She rallies people to a cause. She is good with spin and keeps up to date on fads and trends. She is an excellent storyteller. She is spontaneous, impulsive, and entertaining. Her social life is her life. She loves parties. Hadley is sensitive to the emotions of the people around her. She can be highly empathetic.

On the dark side, Hadley indulges in pranks that can go very wrong. She acts just to shut people up. She outwardly complies, but inwardly rebels. Hadley is always vaguely dissatisfied with everything. There is always something more exciting looming on the horizon. She could turn morbid and inject ill will and cross pollinate her negativity. She ignores problems and never admits she is at fault. She could turn against someone without them knowing it if they violated a core value. She rarely stops to calculate the cost of her actions. She isn't serious, focused, or scholarly. She is not competitive and has no sustained attention.

Hadley is impulsive when pushed. Stress makes her unreliable. She is self-protective.

She cuts herself off from people who disagree with her. Her opinions are fluid. She goes with the flow. She is uncomfortable with gifts and compliments. She loves talking about other people. Her wit is biting but she doesn't mean any harm. She isn't interested in nitpicky details. Facts rain on her parade. She only cares about the information she needs in the moment. She relies on facts not ideas. Her advice is based on shallow information. She comforts others whether they need it or not. She can get emotional cues wrong. She flits from topic to topic and group to group. She treats everyone as an equal. She is upbeat even when things go wrong. She lands on her feet without effort. She is optimistic and relates to everyone. Hadley tells you how she feels and delivers sentiments. Information is good or bad. She wants you to agree with her and understand how she feels. She wants you to acknowledge she is upset.

When stressed, the world is a dark and dangerous place with people out to get her. She dismisses information she does not want to hear. Controlling people make her more erratic. She shuts down and leaves in the face of criticism. She is capable of scathing retaliation. She represses then blows. Hadley encourages people to work together and looks for reinforcement.

She likes to talk things over with anyone and everyone instead of thinking them through. She is open to the opinions of strangers. She decides first and reevaluates only if she has to. She relies on experience. She goes with evidence not hunches, facts not impressions. She focuses on details and misses the big picture. She is swayed by emotional appeals. She chooses only when forced. She prefers other people to make decisions for her. She changes plans when a better plan comes along. She is truly happy with any choice. She modifies the rules to suit herself. She only follows the rules she agrees with. She usually works inside the lines, but isn’t afraid to go outside of them. If you talked about it, you promised it. She lashes out angrily in the moment with words she can't take back. She retreats when criticized or restricted. 

Hadley comes up with original plans but she is easily distracted and lacks follow through. She prefers to do rather than listen. She is responsible on a day to day basis, but isn't a planner. She won't make the plan happen or deal with the outcome. She does things last minute and just good enough. Plans and deadlines are suggestions. Hadley rehashes the emotional impact instead of solving the problem. She blames the world at large when things go wrong. It is never her fault. She bluffs with bull. Her rationalizations are shallow.

Hadley's natural allies are Kelly, Dallas, Blair, and Nevada. Her nemesis is Cam. Hadley is generally well-liked and can laugh at herself and others. She is bubbly and popular. Almost any type could be drawn into her orbit. She is drawn to other extroverts who live in the moment. Her love for the friends she admires and trusts runs deep. She is very warm and caring. She offers comfort and concern when needed. She goes out of her way to be nice. When she loves, she loves mightily. She is quick with her brand of advice. She lives for a good time and ensures her friends have one too, perhaps too much of a good time, be it food, alcohol, or frolicking.

The more serious, single-friend introverts are hurt when she moves on. She isn’t interested in the intellectual types or devil’s advocate debaters. She draws the ire of people who find her too flighty. Others are insulted by her blunt honesty. She isn’t good with long-term commitment. If a character thinks they are best friends forever, they are hurt when Hadley dumps them. Everyone is a friend until they annoy her.

As a hero, Hadley is popular and followers eagerly join her cause. She is a convincing storyteller. She ignores limitations and restrictions. Nothing is off the table in her fight against injustice.

As a villain, a restricted and trapped Hadley becomes a dangerous time bomb. She will do anything to gain her freedom and doesn't care what she destroys in the process. She can be deadly in retaliation.

Next week we meet Shelby.

You can download free character information sheets:

Character Worksheet

Mannequins Under Pressure

Sixteen Lovers

Mastering Character Design