When it comes to creating characters, there are a few snags that authors commonly run into. One of those is what techniques they can use to create a protagonist that’s flawed, or an antagonist that’s likable.
Here is where the Human NEXUS comes in handy.
Each of the four motivators (Driver, Influencer, Solutionary, and Stabilizer) has a negative side. While it’s easy to use these negative traits as baked in flaws for our characters to deal with, you can also use them as a subtle clue to the reader as to whether or not a character is a ‘good guy’ or a ‘bad guy’.
Treasure Island does this.
As discussed in a previous blog post, the main characters in Treasure Island are easily pegged by their motivators. The main protagonist, young Jim Hawkins, is a Driver. The main antagonist, the affable Long John Silver, is an Influencer. Dr Livesey is a Solutionary. Captain Smollett is a Stabilizer. Here, I will include Squire Trelawny, who was not mentioned in that previous article. He is also an Influencer.
The biggest, and yet most subtle, difference between the protagonists and the antagonist? Long John Silver and his pirate lackeys utilize the negatives of the motivators. The others do not.
Here’s a generalized, broad view of the negatives of each of the four motivators. Drivers intimidate. Influencers manipulate. Solutionaries sabotage. Stabilizers withhold. While Long John Silver does implement every one of these traits at various times in the novel, they are all done for the purpose of manipulation. The other pirates he works with, past and present, are the ones who exhibit most of the other three.
For example, most of the patrons at the Admiral Benbow Inn were intimidated by Billy Bones, who was withholding the map from all the other pirates. Black Dog also intimidated Jim into taking him to Billy. Blind Pew figured out how to solve the problem of getting the black spot to Billy, and tried to sabotage Jim and his mother in their escape. Most of the crew of the Hispaniola sabotaged the mission, killing off anyone who wouldn’t assist in their mutiny. The two pirates left on the ship sabotaged each other, fighting until one of them died and the other was grievously wounded. Israel Hands withheld from Jim that he had a weapon. We could go on and on.
Now let’s look at the protagonists. Jim Hawkins was bold and brash, but he never intimidated anyone. Dr Livesey constantly provided solutions, refusing to sabotage anyone, even the men who sabotaged him. Captain Smollett made sure everything was fair, and always provided all the information he had. He wouldn’t even quit the job, despite his desire to do so, until he’d told the Dr. and the Squire everything he had a grievance with. Once they amended their operation according to his advice, he did not withhold his service. The Squire was as affable as Long John Silver, getting along with most people. He even felt bad at the end for the few mutineers they had to leave on the island. But never once did he manipulate anyone in any form. He never lied, or twisted his words. He didn’t gaslight or stab anyone in the back. He is almost the exact mirror image opposite of Long John Silver.
So if you need to create a protagonist who is definitely flawed, but don’t want to portray them in a harsh light to the audience, make things easier for yourself and utilize this strategy. There are people who will believe the positives of different motivators are flaws. I’ve had plenty of teachers preach about the evils of being too bold or brash, even though these are some of the positive strengths of a Driver. A Solutionary will usually pause while they work through a problem, which a lot of people might misinterpret as mental dullness or procrastination.
So go ahead, use the strengths of a character. Portray them as if they are flaws. Perhaps the character themselves believes they are flaws. But if you keep them away from the negative traits, and only allow the antagonists and minions to use those, you give a beautifully subtle distinction between the ‘good guys’ and the ‘bad guys’ in your story.
To learn more about the Human NEXUS, and which type is your strongest, go to Chris Behnke’s website and take the Human NEXUS test. Take the free version for a short synopsis, or enter code ROlson10off for a discount on the paid version for all the information. Tell us if knowing what motivates you reinforces your writing process, or if it helps you to readjust.
For even more information, or assistance in using this system for character creation, join the newsletter. As a bonus, you’ll also receive a free short story that takes place early in the life of one of the main characters in my fantasy novels.
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