Creating Extraordinary Characters –– Part III
Characters with personality make your readers identify and care about them. There are several ways to determine what your character will be like. Are they introvert or extrovert? Dominant or stable? Sanguine or Phlegmatic? Myers-Briggs, DISC, and Personality Plus are tools writers can use to create characters. Click to Tweet #amwriting #characters
Probably the easiest one is the most complex one. We’ll look at Myers-Briggs personality typing today. There are sixteen personality types for Myers-Briggs, four sets of two. The Myers-Briggs people have put names to their basic types.
INTJ is the “architect.” They’re imaginative and strategic thinkers. They have a plan for everything.
INTP is the “logician.” With an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, they are innovative inventors.
ENTJ is the “commander.” They’re bold, and they like to lead. They are strong-willed, and will find or make a way.
ENTP is the “debater.” They are smart, curious thinkers, and they love to solve intellectual challenges.
INFJ is the “advocate.” They’re quieter, somewhat mystical, yet inspiring and tireless idealists.
INFP is the “mediator.” They’re poetic, kind and altruistic people, always eager to help a good cause.
ENFJ is the “protagonist.” Writers, can you believe it? A type called protagonist? They are charismatic, inspiring leaders, almost mesmerizing their listeners.
ENFP is the “campaigner.” They are enthusiastic, sociable, and creative. Free-spirited, always finding a reason to smile.
ISTJ is the “logistician.” They are reliable, fact-finding, practical individuals. They are trustworthy and no one doubts their word.
ISFJ is the “defender.” They’re always ready to defend their loved ones, very dedicated and warm protectors.
ESTJ is the “executive.” They are unsurpassed at managing things––or people, making excellent administrators.
ESFJ is the “consul.” They’re extraordinary caring, popular, and social people always willing to help.
ISTP is the “virtuoso.” They are bold and practical experimenters, master of all sorts of tools.
ISFP is the “adventurer.” They’re flexible and charming artists, always ready to explore, to experience something new.
ESTP is the “entrepreneur.” They’re smart, energetic, and very perceptive people who truly enjoy living on the edge.
ESFP is the “entertainer.” They are spontaneous, energetic, and enthusiastic. Life is never boring around them.
Do you see yourself in these descriptions? I’m INFP. Introversion, Intuitive, Feeling, and Perceiving.
What’s your protagonist’s character like? Meghan Gallagher is part adventurer, part entertainer. Not sure exactly where she’d end up on the scale. For more information on the personality types of Myers-Briggs, visit www.16personalities.com. Using the Myers-Briggs personality types is one way of outlining your characters, and fleshing them out. Click to Tweet #amwriting #characters
Donna L.H. Smith 