Too often, it’s easy to tell which motivator an author naturally operates in just by looking at what motivates their characters. (For definitions of each of the motivators, check out this previous blog post using Lord of the Rings characters… Read More »Writing Characters That Reflect You?
A Journey to the Center of the Earth is a title almost everyone recognizes—even those who’ve never read it. Jules Verne’s classic novel has inspired countless adaptations, from movies to modern retellings, proving its lasting impact on literature and popular… Read More »What Modern Authors Can Learn from A Journey to the Center of the Earth
The movie version of The Lord of the Rings is a grand example of all four motivators in operation. As discussed in a previous blog post , each motivator is well represented in the Fellowship of the Ring. But characters… Read More »How Gandalf Avoids the Mary Sue Trap
There are different ways that a Stabilizer can manifest their strengths, and as a result, there are different ways this motivator can be used in fictional characters. In Emma, we’ve already explored how Mr. Woodhouse is a Profound Stabilizer—someone whose… Read More »The Two Sides of a Stabilizer: Mr. Woodhouse vs. Mr. Knightley
Jane Austen was a master at creating characters with distinct motivations. At first glance, some may seem shallow or one-dimensional, but in reality, they perfectly exemplify key motivators found in the Human NEXUS profile system. Take Mr. Woodhouse from Emma.… Read More »Mr. Woodhouse: The Stabilizer in Emma
When it comes to creating characters using the Human NEXUS, there are many inherent strengths. One of those is the weaknesses it provides authors to use in their stories and plots. The novel Emma, by Jane Austin, is a prime… Read More »Hidden Flaws That Make Characters Unforgettable
This week’s article is kind of a follow up to last week’s. There I brought up a technique used in Treasure Island to create a difference between protagonists and antagonists. Using that, you can have flawed ‘good guys’ and likable… Read More »Motivators in The Lord of the Rings
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… Read More »A Technique to Differentiate Protagonists From Antagonists
The more I study classics, the more I see the Human NEXUS at work in the creation and portrayal of the characters. In my opinion, there are four major factors that are like the legs of a stool for fiction… Read More »What Writers Can Learn From Treasure Island Characters
How often are certain episodes or chapters disliked by audiences, because the character acted out of character? One example of this in in the Last Airbender episode The Great Divide. Here’s an example of how applying Chris Behnke’s Human NEXUS… Read More »When Characters are Out of Character