45 Master Characters
Mythic Models for Creating Original Characters
by Victoria Schmidt
Writer's Digest Books, 2007
ISBN 978-1-59963-534-7
$16.99 paperback, 288 pages
Read an excerpt
Author Victoria Schmidt discusses character archetypes and how they can help you develop your characters.
About the Book
Create unforgettable characters your readers will love. 45 Master Characters will make your characters and their stories more compelling, complex and original than ever before.
You’ll explore the most common male and female archetypes—the mythic, cross-cultural models from which all characters originate—and learn how to use them as foundations for your own unique characters. Examples culled from literature, television and film illustrate just how memorable and effective theses archetypes can be—from “Gladiators” and “Kings” like Rocky Balboa and Captain Ahab to “Amazons” and “Maidens” like Wonder Woman and Guinevere.
The mythic journeys of heroes and heroines—the progression of events upon which each archetype’s character arc develops—are also examined. Building a “journey” into your character’s story will enable you to stop worrying about what happens next and get on with telling your tale. It’s a power-packed method for creating characters that stand the test of time!
