Paul’s Lists: Storytelling—Creating Characters

 

Character creation is a demanding and difficult task for the storyteller. Here are the books from my own library that I think have helped me the most (and continue to help me the most) in learning this aspect of the writing craft. My top picks? That’s tough. If we’re talking purely about character creation, as opposed to character as it relates to plot, and I could name only 3, then I suppose I’d say The Complete Writer’s Guide to Heroes & Heroines, The Negative Trait Thesaurus, and Forgiveness. And if you’re looking for fun and want to see things in a new light, try Amazing Face Reading, Animal Attraction, and The Astrological Body Types!

The List

• Absent Fathers, Lost Sons: The Search for Masculine Identity by Guy Corneau
• The Adult Children of Alcoholics Syndrome: From Discovery to Recovery by Wayne Kritsberg
• Amazing Face Reading: An Illustrated Encyclopedia for Reading Faces by Mac Fulfer
• Animal Attraction by Roy Feinson
• The Astrological Body Types: Face, Form and Expression by Judith A. Hill
• Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card
• The Complete Writer’s Guide to Heroes & Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes by Tami D. Cowden, Caro LaFever, and Sue Viders
• Creating Character Arcs: The Masterful Author’s Guide to Uniting Story Structure, Plot, and Character Development by K. M. Weiland
• Creating Unforgettable Characters by Linda Seger
• Forgiveness: How to Make Peace with Your Past and Get On with Your Life by Sidney B. Simon & Suzanne Simon
• The Healing Power of Illness: Understanding What Your Symptoms Are Telling You by Thorwald Dethlefsen & Ruediger Dahlke
• King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering the Archetypes of the Mature Masculine by Robert Moore & Douglas Gillette
• The Negative Trait Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Flaws by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi
• The New Birth Order Book: Why You Are the Way You Are by Kevin Leman
• The Positive Trait Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Attributes by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi

Full disclosure: all book links on this page are affiliate links. That means whenever you click on one, you’ll be taken to the relevant book page on Amazon. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission.