Although I write contemporary women’s fiction (always with an element of romance) I didn’t want to throw my readers off by titling this article Science Fiction, but I was tempted. Why? Because I use science to create fiction. Okay, I can almost hear the audible huh? from across cyberspace but stick with me for a minute.
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior. In fact, I have a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science, but it’s really just psychology. I’m a bit of a psychology geek, if I’m going to be truthful. When I was growing up, my mom made a blanket generalization and it stuck in my mind, “All psychiatrists become psychiatrists because they’re trying to figure out what’s wrong with them.” She might’ve had a point, but that’s like saying all mothers become mothers because they love children, and we know that’s certainly not true.
But back to the science of psychology. When I create a story, I start with the characters. Even if I have a germ of an idea for a plot, character development is crucial to pull it all off. Before I even begin writing a novel, I get lost in my personality profiling books (I have quite a few), and my favorite is Discovering your Personality Type by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson. I don’t know of anyone under the age of 70 who hasn’t heard of the Enneagram—I even have a book geared toward Christian Enneagrams. If you’ve never taken the test to discover your type, here’s your opportunity. However, if you’re not completely honest, it won’t be accurate.
Type One: The Reformer—principled, purposeful, self-controlled, and perfectionistic
Type Two: The Helper—demonstrative, generous, people-pleasing, and possessive
Type Three: The Achiever—adaptive, excelling, driven, and image-conscious
Type Four: The Individualist—expressive, dramatic, self-absorbed, and temperamental
Type Five: The Investigator—perceptive, innovative, secretive, and isolated
Type Six: The Loyalist—engaging, responsible, anxious, and suspicious
Type Seven: The Enthusiast—spontaneous, versatile, distractible, and scattered
Type Eight: The Challenger—self-confident, decisive, willful, and confrontational
Type Nine: The Peacemaker—receptive, reassuring, agreeable, and complacent
If you think of the nine types laid out in a wheel—like a huge psychology pie—then One butts up against Nine. Therefore, if you’re a One (alas, like I am) then you could have a wing of a Nine or a Two. For those of us not too thrilled with our Type, it gives a little grace. Some people may be a mixture of types, but one should stand out above the others.
What I love about understanding the different personality types is that I can also see where my characters default to when they’re not emotionally healthy—and what fun would it be to write them as a character if they are? We all tend to have our moments of instability, and the Enneagram is a great resource for me.
In my soon-to-be-released novel, Illusions (Book 2 in the Apple Hill Series) the main character, Corey, is a Type Nine. It makes her the perfect personality to be a pastor’s wife—until the life she’s so carefully protected comes tumbling down around her, and she becomes anxious, suspicious and disengaging (more like a Type Six). Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?
One of the motivators for me to become familiar with personality types (aside from my inherent geekiness) is that I didn’t want the main characters in all my novels to be cookie-cutters of each other. Years ago, I had a favorite secular author (who shall remain nameless) because she was a great storyteller. However, I realized rather quickly that every main character was the same—just plopped into a different story. I didn’t want that to happen with my books.
And as for books… Illusions is now available for pre-order. For a limited time you can get the ebook for only .99, and you also get a novelette I wrote (Gilded Cage) as a pre-order gift if you fill out the necessary form for the publisher. If you purchase the paperback, Gilded Cage is already included. The release date is April 28th.
Comments 4
Jennifer! Can’t wait for your next book, the first was a real page turner!! Thank you for sharing your writing gift with us! ❤️
Author
You are so welcome, Kathy. I’m thrilled that writing has opened the door to relationships I might not otherwise have! Thank you for all your support and encouragement.
Jennifer,
Good read! The test you linked in your article, basically confirmed a more extensive one I took about 15 years ago at our church denomination conference. Surprising them then, and pretty similar now, I am fairly closely matched in 3 more seemingly contradictory numbers; 8, 1, and 5, respectively. They attributed that in part to my early childhood “survival” adaptations, honed and balanced by God’s grace and mercy bringing ongoing healing and wholeness to a very broken daughter.
Bringing your “science” to characters makes them more “real” and true. Miss you both!
Author
Lynn,
So good to know the test is fairly accurate! Sounds like you’re very well rounded. We hope and pray you and your family are doing well. We miss you!