Capricorn: a serious, disciplined, shy person.
Aquarius: a humanitarian weirdo.
Pisces: an intuitive person who can’t make up his or her mind.
Enneagram Type 1, The Reformer. Trying to make himself or herself, and everything else, perfect.
Enneagram Type 2, The Giver. Always trying to please others. Doesn’t feel like he or she gets enough credit for it.
Enneagram Type 3, The Achiever. Climbing the ladder of success, and looking sharp while he or she does it.
Enneagram Type 4, The Individualist. A romantic who likes to think of himself or herself as different, and who is probably having trouble paying the rent.
Enneagram Type 5, The Investigator. Super smart, innovative, and not the life of the party. Probably not even invited to the party. Wouldn’t have gone, anyway.
Enneagram Type 6, The Loyalist. Responsible, but given to conspiracy theories.
Enneagram Type 7, The Enthusiast. Spontaneous and optimistic, with a complete lack of common sense.
Enneagram Type 8, The Challenger. Sometimes, a brave protector. Sometimes, just a bully.
Enneagram Type 9, The Peacemaker. Thinks everyone should chill out and maybe binge-watch TV with him or her.
Myers-Briggs Type ISTJ: The teacher or boss everybody’s terrified of who turns out to be decent at heart.
Myers-Briggs Type INFJ: The guy who doesn’t say a lot, and when he does, it’s something way out of left field (but kind of brilliant.)
Myers-Briggs Type INTJ: The woman who took it upon herself to update the system everyone’s been using so it’s more logical.
Myers-Briggs Type ENFJ: Believes the world is a beautiful, loving place, and blocks out evidence to the contrary.
Myers-Briggs Type ISTP: Has many hobbies he excels at and keeps them all secret for no obvious reason.
Myers-Briggs Type ESFJ: Organized the biggest social event of the season, and also the second-biggest social event of the season. Both times, everyone went home with adorable gift bags.
Myers-Briggs Type INFP: So quiet, almost nobody paid attention to him, until he went to prison for a noble cause.
Myers-Briggs Type ESFP: Always the first performer at open mics. Turns ordinary, boring events into performances. Alternatively delightful and exhausting.
Myers-Briggs Type ENFP: Rails against conformity, often with good reason, but is occasionally a bit of a jerk about it.
Myers-Briggs Type ESTP: He’s great at taking action. Not so great at thinking through the consequences first.
Myers-Briggs Type ESTJ: An upholder of tradition. Yes, she can be boring, but in hard times, she’s a pillar of strength.
Myers-Briggs Type ENTJ: Wants to boss everybody all the time. To be fair, he’s really good at it.
Myers-Briggs Type INTJ: Can remember everything she ever read and everything anyone ever said or did. Horrible at reading social cues, but impossible to lie to.
Myers-Briggs Type ISFJ: Always has what you need in his backpack. Knows first aid. Bakes the best oatmeal cookies on the planet.
Myers-Briggs Type ENTP: Likes to strike up conversations about philosophy and politics with strangers. Enjoys debating, and never takes intellectual disagreements personally.
Myers-Briggs Type ISFP: Feels awkward and shy when she meets new people, yet seeks out opportunities to do so.
13 Prompts Based on Psychological Disorders
I put this list in the book because I think fiction could use more heroes and heroines who struggle with mental health issues. These issues are too often stigmatized and kept secret, leading the people who suffer from them to believe they are suffering alone.
If you are like many people, you will read through this list and feel that you have at least half of these disorders. This may not be the case. Personalities are messy, and we may deal with all kinds of issues while leading reasonably productive lives. However, if mental health issues are keeping you from enjoying life, please take advantage of any opportunity you have to get the help you deserve and get better.
I’m not a medical professional, so for more complete and accurate descriptions of these conditions, please do your own research with trusted sources.
Bipolar Disorder: his periods of exhilaration, high energy, and high-risk activities alternate with periods of sadness, fatigue, and despair.
Agoraphobia: she struggles with a fear of public places, and activities such as going shopping or attending a party can trigger a panic attack.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: he survived a trauma such as warfare, rape, or abuse. He may suffer from nightmares or flashbacks, and he may have difficulty remembering details of the event. Reminders of the trauma may trigger a response of panic and/or depression.
Binge Eating Disorder: she responds to some strong emotions with short periods of overeating, and during these times, she feels as though she doesn’t have control over her eating.
Insomnia Disorder: for long periods of time, he is unable to get a good night’s sleep and feel well-rested.
Borderline Personality Disorder: she doesn’t have a clear sense of herself, leading to unpredictable behavior and unstable relationships.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder: he has an exaggerated sense of his own self-importance and believes himself to be adored by others. He lacks empathy.
Schizophrenia: she hallucinates, seeing entities or hearing voices, which are often frightening. This inhibits her ability to process information and engage in real-life interactions.
Munchausen Syndrome: he fakes or exaggerates an illness to attract attention and love.
Conversion Disorder: she suffers from pain or motor issues that defy a medical or neurological diagnosis.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: she fixates on threats such as fear of contamination or fear of violence or doom regarding herself or others. She attempts to circumvent these threats through compulsive behaviors such as excessive hand washing and cleaning, counting to a certain number, or other irrational behaviors.
Dissociative Identity Disorder: he develops two or more distinct personalities or identities.
Kleptomania: she has a strong impulse to steal that’s not related to her physical needs or a desire for wealth. She feels rising anxiety until she steals, and she feels a sense of relief directly afterward.
Animal Instincts: 50 Prompts
For this creative exercise, you’ll write a scene or a paragraph about a character who shares qualities with one of these animals…without actually naming the animal. For instance, if you were to choose an armadillo, you might write about a knight in full armor hustling across a road.
rat
scorpion
wolf
bee
puppy
cat
snake
chicken
owl
eagle
dolphin
shark
hummingbird
sloth
bear
tiger
horse
mouse
flamingo
bat
doe
chameleon
weasel
fox
alligator
seal
tortoise
buffalo
gazelle
opossum
bull
rabbit
giraffe
elephant
kangaroo
spider
moth
swan
otter
dragon
prairie dog
moose
duck
camel
squirrel
frog
lamb
butterfly
vulture
penguin
Action Is Character: 50 Action Prompts
Fiction can get boring if the characters aren’t active enough. And in screenwriting, action is vital.
If characters are having a long conversation, it’s a lot more interesting if they’re doing something else as well. In fiction, it also gives you more options for tagging the dialogue. Instead of this, for instance:
“I’m not going,” Darryl said.
You can write this:
Darryl slammed the drawer shut. “I’m not going.”
In the second example, you can picture Darryl and infer his tone of voice. You also avoided having to write “said,” which is good, because when you’re writing dialogue, those “saids” can become repetitious.
Action isn’t always easy to write, though. If you struggle to get your characters to do, well…anything, you aren’t alone!
For this set of prompts, write a paragraph or a scene in which a character is doing the given action. Your character might be alone or with others, and he or she might be talking or silent. You might go into the thoughts or internal monologue of the character.
Breaking into a building.
Washing blood out of a garment.
Playing a drum.
Playing roulette or a slot machine.
Playing with a dog or a cat—fetch, a laser pointer, etc.
Killing a rat.
Butchering a deer.
Chopping wood.
Planting seeds or a tree.
Digging a hasty grave.
Searching for a lost or hidden item.
Putting out a fire.
Vacuuming.
Dancing.
Sharpening a sword or a knife.
Stomping grapes.
Parachuting out of a plane.
Brushing or braiding hair—someone else’s or the character’s own.
Parking in a tight spot.
Getting away from pursuers by car.
Chasing someone on foot.
Sparring with swords…or fists, in a boxing ring.
Shooting at a firing range.
Playing pool.
Singing in the shower.
Blowing glass.
Riding a bicycle.
Smashing a window.
Packing a suitcase or bag.
Unpacking boxes in a new home.
Trying on a gown or a tuxedo.
Shopping at a market.
Deep-sea diving.
Washing or waxing a car.
Tending to a wound—the character’s own or someone else’s.
Woodworking.
Taking an exercise class.
Polishing the silver.
Fishing.
Pitching a tent.
Building a fire.
Crossing on a narrow or precarious bridge.
Cooking, baking, or grilling.
Modeling in a fashion show.
Creating a store window display.
Giving someone a shoulder or foot massage.
Sealing a letter or charter with wax.
Climbing over a fence or scaling a wall.
Tearing down a wall.
Walking into the surf.
True Colors: 50 More Action Prompts
The old adage “actions speak louder than words” is true in fiction as well as in real life. What characters think or say doesn’t tell the readers as much about them as what they actually do. This is why F. Scott Fitzgerald famously hung a sign over his writing desk that read, “Action is character.”
This is a difficult exercise that could result in fantastic characterization in your story. Even if it doesn’t, it can help you improve as a writer.
Here’s how it works: take one of the personal qualities listed below, and write a scene in which a character does something—maybe without saying anything at all—that proves they possess that quality. In other words, write a passage in which the character shows his or her true colors.
patience
courage
selfishness
optimism
charisma
wit
self-control
jealousy
irreverence
punctuality
devotion
cruelty
craftiness
greed
candor
cowardice
audacity
compassion
coldness
incompetence
disenchantment
conformity
decisiveness
endurance
independence
faith
irritability
composure
flexibility
enthusiasm
dominance
honor
intuition
modesty
peacefulness
warmth
self-loathing
sincerity
originality
popularity
intelligence
curiosity
fierceness
professionalism
cowardice
perceptiveness
anxiety
focus
prejudice
workaholism
This, and Also That: 50 Prompts for Complex Characters
Many of the characters who fascinate us in stories—and in real life—have an interesting mix of qualities. They aren’t contradictions, exactly, but just characteristics that we wouldn’t necessarily expect to go together. Similarly, some of the most interesting times in our lives bring on mixed reactions.
Choose one of these combinations and write a passage about a character it describes.
brilliant, but impractical
loyal, but resentful
joking around, but brokenhearted
expensively dressed, but slovenly
burly, but squeamish
polite, but aloof
cheery, but unhelpful
relaxed, but observant
ambitious, but awkward
depressed, but determined
pompous, but kind
lazy, but organized
conceited, but charming
busy, but unproductive
calm, but despairing
rude, but funny
neat, but a pack rat
timid, but vindictive
altruistic, but impersonal
over-dramatic, but persuasive
haggard, but attractive
quirky, but predictable
creative, but money-minded
obsessed, but dignified
sarcastic, but loving
homely, but stylish
fun-loving, but goal-driven
heroic, but bored
immature, but a natural leader
old, but youthful
young, but crotchety
finicky, but sweet
well-bred, but brutish
narcissistic, but honest about it
triumphant, but uneasy
frugal, but generous
social, but always making faux pas
stoic, but tenderhearted
giggly, but wise
evil, but sentimental
grouchy, but encouraging
chatty, but secretive
&nbs
p; soft-spoken, but vulgar
idealistic, but petty
frumpy, but dangerous
disgusted, but amused
exhausted, but excited
innocent, but manipulative
suspicious, but impressed
Clothes Maketh the Man (and Woman): 50 Sartorial Prompts
I’ve seen a few online debates about whether describing characters’ clothing is important. Any type of description can be overdone, but a thoughtful detail about a character’s clothes can give the reader a clue about the character. Of course, it can also lead to false first impressions, with the truth being revealed later. If a character is wearing something that’s unexpected, given the surroundings, that can create a striking image or introduction.
Use one of these prompts to write about a character and what he or she is doing!
a wedding gown that’s seen better days
sneakers splattered in some kind of goo
an oversized tee shirt with a corporate logo
a tee shirt from a tourist destination
a bespoke three-piece suit
gym socks with sandals
a hat with a black veil
a beekeeper’s suit
a full hazmat suit
a fur coat
a flannel shirt
several necklaces worn at the same time
sweat pants
surgical scrubs
a red bikini
a tweed jacket
a bright yellow polka dot dress
a bunny costume
a caftan
a belt with a gigantic belt buckle
bicycle shorts
a chain mail shirt
a schoolgirl’s uniform
a Hawaiian shirt
red stiletto shoes
a ballerina tutu
faded jeans
an all-white suit
a very expensive watch
a fanny pack
a fresh flower in the hair
combat fatigues
lacy lingerie
a festive Christmas sweater
dark sunglasses
reading glasses on a chain
Doc Martens
flip flops
an outfit of head-to-toe black leather
plaid pants
a trench coat
a hard hat
a beret
an argyle sweater
a jean jacket covered in pins and buttons