The Enneagram: It's great for dialogue and swell for pick-up lines

The Enneagram suggests people fall into nine
possible personality types.

Would you like a model for crafting stronger characters and better dialogue in your fiction, in addition to a chance to know yourself better? Of course you would. That's why you're here!

As I mentioned earlier this week, while writing my first novel, I realized my dialogue needed to be stronger. So, I picked up a book by Gloria Kempton that introduced me to the Enneagram. It's one of the newer personality systems in common use and emphasizes psychological motivations. Primarily a diagnostic tool of one's emotional outlook on life, it also may help point out fixations undergirding them--unless of course one has no fixations.

The Enneagram is also useful because it helps you see more clearly how other people see the world very differently from you. For that reason, it has become particularly popular within the self-help and personal growth movements, but other professions use it as well -- therapists, teachers, psychologists, managers, and writers. When I wonder why I behave the way I do, I reflect upon my Enneagram number (#4), and the reason is readily clear -- that's how #4's roll!

Kempton suggests using the Enneagram as a tool to help develop characters. Rather than creating a complex personality chart for characters, which some writing coaches advocate, she advises writers settle on a personality for a character (ideally, your characters should be well differentiated) go to an Enneagram chart, and pick a number. You'll know your character, where she comes from, and can write more authentic dialogue as a result.

Here are personality types in the Enneagram, which also can be found at http://www.9types.com/.

#1 Reformer - I do everything the right way.
#2 Helper - I must help others.
#3 Motivator - I need to succeed.
#4 Romantic - I am unique.
#5 Thinker - I need to understand the world.
#6 Skeptic - I am affectionate and skeptical.
#7 Enthusiast - I am happy and open to new things.
#8 Leader - I must be strong.
#9 Peacemaker - I am at peace.

Each of the types has a link to a more complete description in case you already recognize yourself as one of those types. You can also take a short test at http://www.9types.com./newtest/ if you'd like to be sure of what type you are.

by Leonid Afremov

I'm #4, the Romantic, sometimes called the Artist, who is motivated by a need to experience her feelings and to be understood, to search for the meaning of life, and to avoid being ordinary. Bingo. C'est moi.

I knew as much immediately upon reading Kempton's book, and the 36-question Internet test confirmed it. I also learned that I was somewhat a #3, a bit of #7, and because I was a middle child, I have a pinch of #9 in me as well, which hasn't yet been drummed out by the callous and cruel workaday world.

In fiction, a #4 is good character choice because he or she always adds conflict. Let's face it, who doesn't tire of the drama queen? Though entertaining,  #4's can also be annoying.

Another type that drives conflict is the Skeptic (#6), also called the Questioner, because questions can ratchet up the tension in any scene. Imagine a boss character as a questioner: "Who gave you the authority to do that?...Where were you?...Why were you late this morning?..." You get the idea.

I'd love to know what number or numbers are dominant for you? And if your dialogue needs work, I heartily recommend Kempton's book called, Dialogue: Techniques and exercises for crafting effective dialogue.

"Hi, there. What's your Enneagram?"

Prefer to be more organic about your character development and not corralled by numbers and types? It's a free country. At the very least, I've given you a new pick up line next time you're looking for love in a fern bar.

Tip of the week: Gloria Kempton's dialogue book . . .

While writing my first novel in 2005, I remember being scared to write dialogue. Imagine that--a world-class talker afraid to give her characters something to say. My early attempts were weak until I read a book by Gloria Kempton called Dialogue: Techniques and exercise for crafting effective dialogue.

 

I tried lots of the exercises in the book. You could say I read the thing like an evangelist reads his Bible. In a short period of time, my dialogue improved--a lot. Okay, there was lots of upside opportunity. However, I know my dialogue has become one of the strongest elements of my fiction writing. In the 2008 NWA Novel Contest (I placed fifth), receiving perfect marks from both judges in dialogue, and not just because I love to put words in people's mouths.

 

One of the most useful tools in the book, besides both good and bad examples, was using the enneagram to help identify and differentiate characters. Once you've assigned them an enneagram designation, you have a really clear idea of what sorts of things should be coming out of their mouths and why. More on the enneagram later this week.

 

I used Gloria's book as a springboard to embrace a weakness and turn it around into a strength. What craft books have you used to help address your writing weaknesses?