How to Write Better Characters
Dear Storytellers,
If you’re a fiction writer looking for resources that will help you write better characters, 45 Master Characters: Mythic Models for Creating Original Characters by Victoria Lynn Schmidt is an excellent blueprint.
This book goes into great detail about the archetypes of male and female characters (their hero and villain counterparts), creating supporting characters, symbols, and the feminine and masculine journeys with examples of where you may have seen these types of characters before.
I usually prefer when the plot is driven by the characters and not characters driven by the plot and this book focuses on ways to help you do just that.
What is an archetype and how can it help you create characters for your story?
Schmidt uses the 7 master archetypes in Jungian psychology (while adding one extra) and skillfully transforms them to a writer’s perspective, creating a useful tool to understand the very nature of your characters and what drives them in any situation you put them in.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking they’re the same as stereotypes though. Stereotypes limit your characters possibility for growth and can cause recurring static characters we’ve all seen a thousand times over.
Picking an archetype for your character helps you dive deep into the characters psyche and know who they are at their core. Archetypes area characters we’re familiar with but in the sense that they feel real to us and the potential for growth is always there whether they’re on the heroes journey or bound for tragic failure.
Knowing your character’s archetypes means you know what’s most important to them, what they fear and what motivates them. It mean knowing how they will react in any given situation and as a result what choices they will make. This creates endless possibilities to move the plot forward.
Don’t concern yourself with it causing your characters to be too formulaic because “whatever plotline you place your character in, [their] desire will filter into the dialogue and subtext of your scenes and chapters.”
So feel free to get creative with them and remember not to “let archetypes dictate the plot to you.” They’re more like guidelines anyway.
Schmidt thoroughly explains each archetype, what they care about, what they fear, what motivates them, how other’s see them, and how to develop them.
So I highly suggest you check out a copy if your local library has it or you can buy the book here using my affiliate link from bookshop.org. I do earn a small commission if you purchase. I like bookshop because every purchase on their site supports independent booksellers and your local bookstores.
But for now I will give you her summarizations of their assets, flaws, and the main points of their villain counterparts, along with some of the examples she gives of where you may have seen this archetype before.
Without further ado:
Female Archetypes:
Aphrodite: The Seductive Muse
Popular examples would be Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall) in Sex and the City and Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) in Pretty Woman.
Assets:
Loves to be the center of attention.
Has a need to express herself.
Is smart and creative.
Is emotional and deeply feeling.
Loves herself and her body in a healthy way. No eating disorders here.
Loves to dress up and wear alluring clothes.
Enjoys sex.
Enjoys female friendships but sometimes feels ostracized.
Encourages other women to be creative and sexual; inspires men.
Flaws:
Is unable to do things alone.
Lives for the moment, never thinking of or planning for the future.
Falls in and out of love easily- loves ‘em and leaves ‘em.
Is manipulative and flirtatious.
Is impulsive and promiscuous.
Is very self-focused.
The Femme Fatale is the villain counterpart to the seductive muse:
Feels she can trust no one.
Deliberately manipulates others with her sexual promises and usually never delivers unless she has to.
Has no morals.
Has a kill-or-be-killed mentality.
Is a great actress who can summon real tears on command.
Is concerned with money and power, which equal survival to her.
Is unfaithful.
Doesn’t take things personally when sex is involved; she can remain detached.
No one ever know when she speaks the truth.
Is a chameleon who can be all things to all people.
Uses her physical appearance to draw others into her web.
Needs to be the center of attention.
Has rapidly changing emotions behind a face that remains stoic and unreadable.
Is sensitive to criticism.
Artemis: The Amazon
Popular examples of this archetype are Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet) in Titanic.
Assets:
Loves to be outside with animals and nature.
Prefers female friendships to male, but often winds up with more male friends.
Values women and children.
Is a feminist even if she doesn’t say she is in your story.
Is unafraid to be out alone at night.
Is willing and able to fight to the death to defend herself.
Stands up for her causes.
Prefers function to style when it comes to her clothes and appearance.
Wants to be self-sufficient.
Prefers to live with a man instead of marrying him.
Flaws:
Can be very opinionated and thickheaded.
Puts blinders on; everything but the immediate goal at hand is forgotten. Can become irrational because of her need to win at all costs.
Can be boastful.
May take on the the traits of her aggressors in order to feel equal to them.
The Gorgon is the villain counterpart of the Amazon:
Is instinctual and shows no remorse.
Wants instant gratification and justice.
Is blind with fury and rage.
Creates extremely emotional reactions out of proportions to offense.
Isn’t levelheaded.
Acts as dictator, dispensing justice.
Believes truth and law have no place in the heat of battle.
Will sacrifice herself to get an enemy.
Usually reacts from repressed trauma or years of abuse.
Exhibits reckless behavior.
Is aggressive, erratic and irritable.
Athena: The Father’s Daughter
Popular examples would be J.C. Wiatt (Diane Keaton) in Baby Boom or Loretta Castorini (Cher) in Moonstruck. A more modern example that I can think of for the villain counterpart may be Jeong Su-min (Song Ha-yoon) in Marry My Husband.
Assets:
Loves to be in the city.
Prefers male friendships to female.
Values work and career above all else.
Is willing to do anything for the team.
Is self-reliant.
Always dresses for success even when home alone.
Is very smart and intellectual.
Is very confident and self-assured.
Flaws:
Is an avid supporter of patriarchy.
Gets upset with other women who complain about inequality.
Is only attracted to powerful men.
Is a workaholic.
Is always strategizing.
Is unable to fully express her feminine side and be in touch with her body.
The villain counterpart is The Backstabber:
Feels trapped.
Plays off of the sweet little woman stereotype perfectly when it suits her.
Thinks of herself first.
Has no problem destroying another’s life or career.
Relies on the kindness of strangers in her time of need.
Lets other feel good about helping her so they let their guard down.
Is an expert liar until her buttons are pushed and she lashes out, spilling her true feelings.
Is paranoid and feels that others are plotting against her.
Has trouble relaxing.
Can’t confide in or collaborate with colleagues.
Detaches herself from the group.
Demeter: The Nurturer
Popular examples include Carol Ann Brady (Florence Henderson) in The Brady Bunch, Dorothy Boyd (Renee Zellweger) in Jerry Maguire, and Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins by Pamela L. Travers.
Assets:
Spends a lot of time with her children or students or patients, whoever is in her care.
Puts others ahead of herself.
Is driven to help people.
Is wonderful to be around.
Is extremely helpful.
Is a great listener.
Is committed to her family.
Is generous.
Enjoys staying at home most of the time.
Flaws:
Finding her sole identity to be wrapped up in helping or saving others.
Worries constantly about her children.
Is self-sacrificing and takes on too many projects at one time because she can’t say no.
Takes things her family says personally.
Needs someone to care for.
The Overcontrolling Mother is the villain counterpart:
Feels like others are trying to toss her aside and abandon her.
Thinks others can’t survive without her when she’s the one who can’t survive without them.
Will hurt others for their own good.
Butts in when not wanted.
Uses guilt to control others.
Exaggerates when hurt or in need.
Does things not asked of her to seem helpful.
Seems genuinely nice once in a while to throw others off balance.
Lacks self-confidence.
Can’t do anything alone.
Hera: The Matriarch
Popular examples would be Monica Geller (Courtney Cox) in Friends, Mrs. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen along with Lauren Olamina in Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. A recent version of the villain counterpart I can think of is is Elena Richardson (Reese Witherspoon) in Little Fires Everywhere.
Assets:
Loves to spend time with her family, even though they sometimes drive her crazy.
Enjoys entertaining.
Enjoys planning parties and get-togethers for the family.
Is very committed to her marriage.
Dreams about her wedding day often.
Will start start a business to run like a surrogate family if she doesn’t have a family of her own.
Flaws:
Depends on her husband’s or friends’ love for happiness.
Drops her friendships when she finds Mr. Right.
Spies and invades her children’s privacy in order to keep tabs on them.
Sees her identity as wrapped up in her family.
Puts her husband’s image and career above her own.
Can be obsessive in her need for order.
The Scorned Woman is the villain counterpart:
Fears being abandoned by her husband or family.
Is enmeshed with her husband as if they’re one person.
She can’t see him for who he really is.
Fights for control.
Will do anything to save face.
Keeps family problems hidden from others. (Her children may not receive the help they need as a result.)
Exhibits passive/aggressive behavior.
Is impulsive.
Is uncertain about her own identity.
May have suicidal tendencies- at least for attention.
Can be irritable and moody.
Hestia: The Mystic
A popular example is Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow) in Friends or Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan) in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Assets:
Loves to be alone most of the time.
Tries to keep the peace no matter the cost.
Values her home life and solitude.
Works carefully and slowly on one task at a time as if there’s more than enough time.
Is able to resist others who try to manipulate her.
Takes part in a spiritual life.
May be into the occult.
Lives without material desires and expensive possessions.
May be a Vegetarian.
Is into recycling and saving the earth.
Doesn’t care if others see her as eccentric or spacey.
Flaws:
Doesn’t know how to have fun with others.
Lives in isolation even if others are around.
Is shy and somewhat timid at times.
Needs to learn assertiveness.
Lives in her head too much.
Doesn’t really want to be “here” and may dream of other planets or dimensions.
The villain counterpart is The Betrayer:
Usually feels trapped.
Uses the “quiet little woman” stereotype to her advantage.
Thinks of herself first and foremost.
Has no problems taking a life or breaking a commandment because she goes to church and pays her dues.
Relies on the kindness of strangers.
Lets others feel good about helping her so they let their guard down.
Is an expert liar.
Maybe a sociopath (very often a mental illness can be the cause of her deviant behavior.
Is socially inept.
Is afraid to take risks and make friends.
Wants to be alone.
Feels inadequate and fears rejection.
Tries to please everyone around her and may snap under the pressure.
Isis: The Female Messiah
Popular examples would be Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) in The Matrix and Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Assets:
Cares more for others than herself.
Has a healthy sense of who she is.
Has a strong spiritual belief system to pull her through tough times.
Seemed smarter and older than most adults when she was a child.
Is willing to sacrifice herself for the good of all.
Stands up for her beliefs no matter the cost. Renounces material possessions.
Lives in tune with nature.
Has an inner strength that never dies.
Flaws:
Tells people the truth even if it’s harsh.
Pushes people beyond their limits to help them grow.
Doubts herself.
The villain counter is The Destroyer:
Sees things in black and white.
Is unemotional about hurting one to save many (she sees the spirit not the flesh).
Feels the pain of transformation is necessary.
Loves to challenge people and push their limits.
Is harsh wielder of justice.
Punishes for the greater good of it all.
Knows some things can’t be explained.
Won’t try to reassure others or play favorites.
Persephone: The Maiden
Popular examples would be Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) in I Love Lucy, Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston) in Friends, and Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone) in Clueless.
Assets:
Loves to play and go to parties.
Is close to her mother or otherwise distraught if she isn’t.
Switches friends and interest often; loves variety.
Doesn’t have plans for her future beyond Saturday night.
Seems very innocent and gentle.
Can be a wonderful listener.
Can help people through trauma.
Can be sensitive and psychic.
Flaws:
Depends on someone else for her survival and freedom.
Needs attention and loves the spotlight.
Has trouble committing to one relationship.
May not understand the consequences of her actions.
Walks around with rose-colored glasses as if nothing will happen to her.
Keeps her opinions to herself to please others.
The troubled teen is the villain counterpart:
Hates rules and authority (she’s antiestablishment).
Is depressed, angry, and selfish.
Steals and fights.
Has a death wish and takes a lot of risks.
Is vulnerable to cults and resistance groups.
Uses superficial charm to manipulate others.
Is loyal to fellow criminals.
Likes to hurt her family because they hurt her.
Can’t love or care for other living things.
Has buried her true self.
Feels entitled and special, above the law.
Fantasizes about her own future success.
Is irresponsible.
Male Archetypes
Apollo: The Businessman
Popular examples include Commander Spock (Leonard Nimoy) in Star Trek, Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) in Jerry Maguire, and Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) in Pretty Woman.
Assets:
Likes blending into the team at work.
Is concerned about his image at work and is a neat dresser.
Has a strong will to get things done.
Is a logical and strategic thinker and can be a great analyst, detective, and teacher.
Thrives on order.
Finds work and new ideas to be his only passions.
Can be loyal and trustworthy.
Loves to help others when he can use his expertise.
Flaws:
Obsesses about his career.
Gives his attention only to those who can further his career.
Has trouble expressing his emotions.
Can be arrogant.
Identifies with the aggressor when attacked and perpetuates the cycle of violence.
Doesn’t handle rejection well.
Lacks spontaneity, hates chaos, and is inflexible.
The villain counterpart is The Traitor:
Feels undervalued.
Wants respect and recognition for his efforts.
Doesn’t have any loyalty once he feels abandoned by the group.
Will do whatever it takes to bring order back into his life.
Wants to teach others a lesson and doesn’t and doesn’t feel he’s a villain at all.
Can’t sit still and accept rejection.
Betrays only those he feels betrayed him.
Is obsessive in his need to organize and work out his plan of attack.
Views people as pawns in a game of chess.
Likes long drawn-out attacks that challenge him as well as his opponent (he may even befriend his rivals).
Ares: The Protector
Popular examples would be Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) in Rocky, Detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) in Die Hard, Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) in Top Gun.
Assets:
Is very physical as opposed to mental.
Forgoes career success for fun and travel.
Will fight to save those he loves, never giving up.
Will fight for a good cause when others are afraid to stand up.
Loves to sing, dance, and make love.
Searches for the next big thrill, challenge, or risk.
Flaws:
Physically reacts to an attack without thinking.
Acts as if he’s fighting for his survival all the time.
Lives on the edge.
Has trouble considering the consequences of his actions.
Is merciless in his actions and believes in an eye for an eye.
The villain counterpart is The Gladiator:
Feels abandoned.
Lusts after the roar of the crowd.
Craves blood, death, and battle.
Is out of touch with his caring emotions; only feels rage and anger.
Has frequent temper outburst.
Has a poor self-image.
Can’t stand to be alone.
Wants to feel, and danger is all that he can feel.
Takes risk to compensate for feeling so empty inside.
Pushes others to take risk with him.
Puts innocent people in danger.
Plays the victim when confronted about his behavior.
Doesn’t expect to live long.
Welcomes a valiant death.
Hades: The Recluse
Popular examples include Angel (David Boreanaz) in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel along with Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) in Casablanca.
Assets:
Prefers to be left alone most of the time.
Longs for the next project or idea to occupy his time.
Could easily live the life of a monk.
Has a rich inner life.
Is psychically sensitive.
May long for a small family unit.
Can be philosophical and highly intelligent.
Can be a very loyal companion.
Can be reliable since he’s always in the same place.
Doesn’t play the games people play or get involved in their dramas.
Is very discerning.
Flaws:
Is unexpressive and able to withdraw easily.
Is afraid of his emotions and seems devoid of feeling.
Has trouble talking to people.
Is very pessimistic.
Holds grudges.
The Warlock is the villain counterpart:
Is antisocial.
Is out for his own gain.
Doesn’t care how his actions affect the world.
May experiment with the occult to gain power.
Is afraid of rejection.
Has no intimate relationships.
Can’t feel or express real love without dominating the other person.
Thinks society is a joke and that he doesn’t have to live under its rules.
Wants to be in control.
Likes to intimidate others.
Hermes: The Fool
Popular examples are Joey Tribbiani (Matt Leblanc) in Friends, Joel Goodson (Tom Cruise) in Risky Business, and Buck Russell (Jon Candy) in Uncle Buck.
Assets:
Loves to play practical jokes.
Is easy going.
Is adventurous and inquisitive.
Can go on adventures alone.
Is charming and playful.
Has a strong imagination and is always full of ideas.
Acts and dresses young for his age.
Hates to plan out things ahead of time and tends to be very spontaneous.
Can be a wonderful friend, focused on only you when he’s around.
Loves children because he’s youthful himself.
Flaws:
Is impulsive and reckless, without limits.
Is terrified of commitment.
Can pick up and disappear for long stretches of time.
Takes extreme risks because he feels invincible.
Can’t handle responsibility or a traditional job.
The villain counterpart is The Derelict:
Is like an expert con man, hustling for a quick buck.
Hates authority figures and views his father as a checkbook.
Doesn’t care about other people’s feelings.
Is an embarrassment to his family.
Is self-centered.
Is irresponsible and lacks ethics.
Feels above the law.
Lacks empathy.
Is arrogant and confrontational.
Easily succumbs to addictions.
Expects others to bail him out of a crisis.
Runs when the going gets tough.
Dionysus: The Woman’s Man
Popular examples would be Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) in When Harry Met Sally, Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) in Dirty Dancing, and Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) in Titanic.
Assets:
Shuns money and power for freedom and dreams.
Loves all women regardless of appearance.
Is chivalrous and gentle.
Was close to his mother as a child, although she may have passed away when he was young.
Loves to experience new things in life.
Is erotic and sensual.
Is looked down on by other men for his free lifestyle.
Is psychic or into the paranormal.
Is a smooth talker with a sharp wit.
Is very supportive and always ready to offer his advice.
Flaws:
Needs to be around women.
Has trouble maintaining male friendships.
Has trouble committing to women and career goals.
Is searching for the impossible ideal of a woman who can be both his mother and his wife.
Is irresponsible and flighty.
Can be unambitious and unmotivated.
The Seducer is the villain counterpart:
May be a stalker if rejected.
Loves to play head games with women, coming on strong and then leaving them cold.
Likes to be the one to end relationships.
Often ends relationships when the woman seems to love him the most.
Will be with several women at once and often chooses to be with friends and sisters at the same time to create more turmoil in their lives.
Feels entitled to attention from the women helps.
Thinks when a woman says no, she’s deliberately trying to hurt him- he’ll show her who’s boss.
Is a ticking time bomb no one knows about until it’s too late.
Is extremely sensitive and can’t handle rejection.
His face remains stoic, not giving away his anger to warn anyone.
Often mistakes obsession with love.
Osiris: The Male Messiah
Popular examples would be Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in Star Wars and Neo (Keanu Reeves) in The Matrix.
Assets:
Questions authority.
Is disciplined.
Has a healthy sense of who he is.
Stands up for his beliefs no matter the cost.
Has a strong spiritual belief system to pull through tough times.
Is willing to sacrifice himself for the good of all.
Renounces material possessions.
Has an inner strength that never dies.
Flaws:
Needs to learn about the inequalities in the world.
Is strong willed.
Tells people the truth even if it’s harsh.
Pushes people beyond their limits to help them grow.
The Punisher is the villain counterpart:
Gives harsh criticism to his followers.
Will curse a man to teach him a lesson.
Wants to break other’ egos and spirits.
Feels his word is law.
Won’t try to reassure others or play favorites.
Feels the pain of transformation is necessary.
Pushes people beyond their limits.
Poseidon: The Artist
Popular examples include Jim Stark (James Dean) in Rebel Without a Cause, Othello in Othello by William Shakespeare, and Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Assets:
Loves to create and change things.
Is spontaneous and instinctual.
Could be a great creative artist.
Is full of passion and intensity.
Loves his family and friends despite how he acts around them.
Will seek revenge for harm done to him and his family.
Is very street-smart as opposed to book smart.
Flaws:
Expresses himself without regards to the feeling of others.
Has trouble controlling his emotions.
Invades other people’s boundaries.
Takes things to extremes.
Is obsessive and relentless in his need for revenge.
Imagines situations to be worse than they really are.
Is self-centered.
The Abuser is the villain counterpart:
Beats his wife and then brings her flowers to apologize.
Plays head games with people.
Is irritable and unpredictable.
Is a ticking time bomb.
Disregards the safety of himself and of others.
Can’t control his emotions and flies off the handle.
Is driven to revenge and will hold a grudge for years.
Has no boundaries.
Doesn’t understand the word “no” because he always gets his way.
Is reckless and full of rage.
Zeus: The King
Popular examples would be Tony Soprano, Sr. (James Gandolfini) in The Sopranos, Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) in Star Trek, Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz) in I Love Lucy, along with Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) and his son Don Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) in The Godfather I and II, respectively.
Assets:
Needs to have a family, group, or company to rule over.
Enjoys many activities and time away from his family.
Is skilled at forming alliances.
Spoils his friends and family with gifts.
Is a great strategist.
Can be very loyal and giving.
Is very decisive and confident.
Is the strongest man to lean on.
Flaws:
Always needs to be in control of others; loves to dominate.
Feels entitled to a separate life outside of his family and marriage.
Feels his wife should take care of all the day-to-day family issues so he won’t be bothered.
Enjoys instilling fear in others.
Has trouble expressing emotions and sees them as weaknesses.
Has trouble asking for help.
Is very stoic and quiet.
The villain counterpart is The Dictator:
Is obsessed by the need to control and rule others.
Is passive-aggressive, allowing someone to make a mistake so he can punish them later.
Can be a tyrant.
Is a harsh wielder of justice.
Creates meaningless laws just to wield power over people.
Is extremely judgmental.
Is frequently absent from his families life.
Instills fear in others by his name alone.
Humiliates others and forces them to degrade themselves for mercy.
See how using archetypes gives your character room to grow? Let’s say you choose the Mystic as your archetype. She could be a witch in a supernatural show or a librarian in a drama. As a matter of fact she could be both in whatever medium you use to tell your story.
In developing your character within one of these archetypes there are a few things worthy of note:
“The best tests a character can come up against stem from fear.”
“The fears a character possesses comes from the psychological aspect of their archetype mixed in with their past experience.”
“Archetypal characters must learn something from the experiences you give them so they become much more than just their archetype.”
“Essentially, we may have many archetypes within our personalities but one is usually dominant. Within each archetype I ask, “What happened at an early age to cultivate this archetype in your character? There is usually an event during the developmental years that causes us to adapt to survive, the way we adapt shows our dominant archetype. When we are under any type of stress, this dominant archetype always takes over.”
Another thing you may have noticed is that the male and female archetypes can be very similar with just a few differentiating traits, like how the Protector has a lot in common with the Amazon. The same goes for the Recluse and the Mystic.
If you have a type of character in your head you know you want to write, this can help you decide on whether to approach writing your character from a masculine or feminine perspective. It can also help you determine how to have your characters interact, which we will look at in future articles.
Do you recognize any of these archetypes in the stories you consume? Leave a comment about which below.
P.S. If you made it this far thanks for reading.