Category Archives: Characters

The Origin of Archetypes

Posted on July 13, 2017 by Melanie Anne Phillips

Another excerpt from our book, Archetypes – Characters, Narrative and Mind – If archetypes represent basic human qualities, each assigned to a different character, then how would such a convention of story structure come to be? The answer lies in the manner … Continue reading →

Posted in Archetypes | Comments Off on The Origin of Archetypes

Characters: Lost In Their Own Spotlight

Posted on July 7, 2017 by Melanie Anne Phillips

True of people; true of characters: When hit with great personal grief, how many of us stop to think about how all those around us are coping – especially those whose approach to life is to keep it all inside? … Continue reading →

Posted in Character Psychology | Comments Off on Characters: Lost In Their Own Spotlight

Know Your Story Points – Main Character “Approach”

Posted on May 25, 2017 by Melanie Anne Phillips

Some of the characters you create as an author will be Do-ers who try to accomplish their purposes through activities (by doing things). Other characters are Be-ers who try to accomplish their purposes by working it out internally (by being … Continue reading →

Posted in Main Character | Comments Off on Know Your Story Points – Main Character “Approach”

The Main Character and Duality

Posted on May 6, 2017 by Melanie Anne Phillips

Consider the Main Character and the Influence Character who, it would seem at first blush, are as opposite as they can be in regard to  some underlying philosophical perspective, world view, belief system or moral code. But in fact, they are … Continue reading →

Posted in Main Character | Comments Off on The Main Character and Duality

The 8 Archetypes

Posted on April 25, 2017 by Melanie Anne Phillips

From my “classic” 1999 video series on story structure: Part 20: The 8 Archetypes

Posted in Archetypes | Comments Off on The 8 Archetypes

Forget Your Protagonist – Who’s You’re Main Character?

Posted on April 13, 2017 by Melanie Anne Phillips

By Melanie Anne Phillips For just about any story you read, you get a sense of who it revolves around – who is it really about? Who is the character whose shoes we stand in, through whose eyes and heart … Continue reading →

Posted in Main Character | Comments Off on Forget Your Protagonist – Who’s You’re Main Character?

The Main Character’s Problem

Posted on March 22, 2017 by Melanie Anne Phillips

This is the nature of the Main Character’s struggle in a story. He has either built up an understanding of how to try and solve problems that no longer fits, or he has built up an understanding of what causes … Continue reading →

Posted in Character Psychology | Comments Off on The Main Character’s Problem