Create a Strong Character

Sometimes it helps to use tools to create or strengthen a character. In this swap, you will use a personality type tool to help explore one of your characters.

Step 1: Write a short paragraph about your character. It could be a character you already write and love, a character you write and need some help fleshing out, or a new one you are just now creating for this swap.

Step 2: Take the Humanmetrics Jung Typology Test as if you were the character. Answer as your character would answer.

Step 3: Read about what the type your character got means: Myers & Briggs types and Myers Briggs Type Indicator

Step 4: Write a short paragraph about how this type applies to your character. Did you find it to be accurate for the character? How will this influence the way you write the character when the character is interacting, in conflict, or needs to solve a problem?

Send all of this to your partners via email: the brief character sketch paragraph, the type result the test gave your character, a short description of the type, and your thoughts about applying this type to the character.

This may help you see your character differently or give you something to fall back on when you're writing your character in the future.

Note: This exercise was inspired by the book Plot Versus Character by Jeff Gerke.

Another note: In a previous writer reward swap, I gave Artistic the reward of my hosting swaps for this group, to give her a well-earned break. This is the first such swap coupon she has redeemed!