A Writer's Guide to Characterization: Archetypes, Heroic Journeys, and Other Elements of Dynamic Character Development

I loved this book! It's helpful as a standalone or is a great complement to her other book, 45 Master Characters, where she goes in depth about the mythic archetypes she also discusses here in Part 1 of the book. The book is separated into two parts - Part 1: Archetypes and How They Interact, and Part 2: Animal Archetypes. Part 2 was extremely useful! I find myself now writing mythical archetypes that learn thematic, animal archetype lessons. Adds such a layer of depth to the characters and story and keeps things surprisingly cohesive from scene to scene and page to page, which is extremely important, especially in something as long as a novel. Can't recommend this book highly enough! My characters were all over the place in behavior but by using what I learned in this book (and the other, both are recommended!) I was able to make them much more believable and their characters and behaviors now jump of the page. This totally saved the project that I've been working on for 3 years!!!

I've bought a lot of Writer's tool books. Well over a couple dozen would be my best approximation. Whenever I run into problems with my writing, I turn to them for solutions. However my new problem was characterization for my cast of wacky characters in their adventure. I didn't have the roles I needed and I didn't know what to do. Naturally, I resorted to Amazon, and started digging for a new book to add to my toolbox and ended up scraping be dirt off this one. I ended up taking a gamble. And it paid off.This book goes in depth for character roles for both your protagonist and supporting characters. Thanks to this book, I have been steered back on track as to how to really flesh out my characters in accordance with their new found roles in my story. I will also say that you will see a lot of fake tool books, this book isn't one of them.

Schmidt has created a handy writing tool. While no character will fully fit into one of these archetypes, they create an excellent beginning framework- especially for taking a "hero archetype" and turning it into a villain. From these brief descriptions, you can start layering things on your characters to come out with one that is very well rounded.Another bonus, is that she also includes the ways these archetypes would interact with one another. Unfortunately, it is only listed as male to male, female to female, and then romantically. Reading them you can pick out ways that siblings might interact as well as a parent to child, but it would be nice if there were more specifics about these interactions when it isn't romantic. And I guess even romantic interactions for homosexual characters could be useful as well for a more well-rounded book.The character arcs are also interesting. They give another good framework for starting a plot line for your characters.

This book is simple, to the point and very well written. The author provides insight on relationships based on universal archetypes and the collective unconscious without the academic psycho-babble. It's Carl Jung's work made accessible to authors and anyone interested in psychology. There are chapters on human characters, male and female roles as well as animal archetypes. The various pairs/combinations of relationships are explored, each with a explanatory paragraph that offers one a quick 'ah ha' moment. As an arm-chair Jungian, I have always viewed this approach to be one of the best ways to help understand literature. Victoria Schmidt has done an excellent job. While her audience is writers, the book would be a great companion text for high school and college students looking to 'get what those teachers are talkin' 'bout.'

This is one of the better writer's guides I've read. Ms. Schmidt lays out some excellent archetypes, as she did in 45 Master Characters, and then goes a step further by providing a powerful tool for determining which of your characters fits what.Not sure how your character should react in a scene?A series of questions and the chart provided will guide you through it. Unlike 45 Master Characters, 'Characterization helps you set what percentages of which archetypes your characters are so you can have multifaceted, consistent characters.This guide is a must for any writer in any genre!

I already have the book on 45 Master Characters and found this book helped me put that information to better use. A Writer's Guide gives a clearer understanding of how the different personalities will interact to create the conflict that is vital to telling any story.

A must-have companion to Victoria Lynn Schmidt's "45 Master Characters," this book respects and honors the objective of writers seeking either character-driven or plot-driven narratives. And as an unexpected bonus, armed with these insights, you might better understand yourself as well as those in your life. The author clearly researched this subject, and I feel the relevant advice received is worth far more than the minimal price of admission into her mind.

Another book that I get from Amazon printed on demand after my order as its tag and print date clearly stated.Horribly printed on xerox paper and with laminated cover... Amazon customer service refused that they print on demand...Such a pity for an avid consumer to hear this obvious lie. Out of three books from the same series the 20 master plots was printed okay on the contrary this and 45 master characters were printed on demand. of the two this was even worse as it had a laminated cover too.Sorry to the author for the review. This has nothing to do with the content itself just the way it was printed by Amazon (or whoever affiliate) .

Pour ceux qui lisent l'anglais, ce livre est une véritable mine d'or pour écrire. J'ai pris toute la collection et je peux apprendre beaucoup de choses qui ne me viennent pas toujours automatiquement à l'esprit.

Ich habe mir das Buch zu Weihnachten schenken lassen und war zunächst begeistert. Schreiben ist mein Hobby und ich habe gehofft, hier ein paar Tips zu guter Charakterentwicklung sowie einen Überblick über verschiedene typische Charaktere der Literatur zu bekommen.Ich wurde enttäuscht. Die beschriebenen Typen sind so dermaßen oberflächlich, dass es fast körperlich schmerzt. Besonders aufgefallen ist mir der Mangel an intelligenten Charakteren, also Männer und Frauen, die Intelligenz und Wissen wertschätzen und erweitern wollen, ohne dabei völlig verplant oder ein Arbeitstier zu sein. Zusätzlich werden die behandelten Typen als extrem eindimensional dargestellt.Den Vogel hat die Autorin aber mit dem Kapitel über romantische Beziehungen abgeschossen. Hier teilt sie die Beziehungen in zwei Gruppen: "unproblematisch" und "problematisch". Viele der Beziehungen, die hier als problematisch beschrieben werden, stellen aber die perfekte Grundlage für eine gute Geschichte dar, da sie Konflikte schaffen. Und Konflikte sind nunmal die Essenz einer guten Geschichte. Die Autorin versäumt es hier völlig, auf diese Tatsache hinzuweisen.Wirklich gut und interessant ist der zweite Teil des Buches, welcher bestimmte Handlungsbögen beschreibt, denen verschiedene Tiere zugeordnet wurden (z.B. the dolphin, the bear,...). Die Autorin geht hier unter anderem auf die Herausforderungen und die Publikumswirksamkeit dieser Handlungsbögen ein und listet zudem Beispiele aus Literatur, Film und Fernsehen.Insgesamt gibt es von mir KEINE Kaufempfehlung, dafür ist der erste Teil des Buches schlicht zu nutzlos und sogar irreführend.

This book has proved a useful tool to measure my word pictures by. The inclusion of animals as archetypes gives a shamanic edge to each character profile. Thank you Victoria you've made my writing life that much easier.

Love this book and the other two in the set. Instrumental and I refer to them all frequently

spot on !