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Hardcover The Writer's Guide to Character Traits: Includes Profiles of Human Behaviors and Personality Types Book

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ISBN: 0898799015

ISBN13: 9780898799019

The Writer's Guide to Character Traits: Includes Profiles of Human Behaviors and Personality Types

Name: Excellent Resource!
Item: The Writer&#39;s Guide to Character Traits
Rating: 5
Author: Thriftbooks.com User

by Linda Edelstein and Linda N. Edelstein

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Book Overview

From serial killers to business tycoons to politicians, "The Writer's Guide to Character Traits" profiles the mental, emotional and physical qualities of dozens of different personality types. Featuring a highly accessible format, writers can mix and match the traits of specific personality types to create original, complex characters. Unique personality styles and types are profiled including psychopaths, cult members, overachievers, addicts, amnesia victims, social climbers, career criminals and philanthropists. In addition, this guide includes sections on child personality types; physical disorders that influence personality; and outlines of typical and atypical human development.

Format:Hardcover

Language:English

ISBN:0898799015

ISBN13:9780898799019

Release Date:January 1999

Publisher:Writer's Digest Books

Length:331 Pages

Weight:1.41 lbs.

Dimensions:1.1" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Related Subjects

Non-Fiction Arts, Music & Photography Authorship Fiction Health, Fitness & Dieting Health, Fitness & Dieting History & Criticism Language Arts Literature & Fiction Personality

Customer Reviews

4 ratings

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Excellent Resource!

Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago

This is an excellent reference book, especially for genre fiction writers whose characters often need to fit a "type." This book's incredibly clear lists and excellent organizational layout, help the writer to sketch out the history and details of their characters. (i.e. My villain's a violent control freak, what kind of a mother would he have? or My heroine's a quiet librarian type, what's she like in a relationship?)Since the book is formed primarily from lists, without much extensive text, it is even more helpful to a writer who doesn't want to impede the flow of working on character sketches (or whatever) by reading something extensive.This is a really nice resource.

I love lists that I can reference...

Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago

1) I love lists that I can reference when I need them and that is how this book is organized. It isn't meant to be read from front cover to back but for you to jump around and use the sections you need.2) I'm sure this book could be the size of six volumes but the areas the author chooses to focus on are well selected and very helpful3) I'm finding that to keep some of my character true I can reference different aspects that make up a person and cut & past them into something that makes sense, people can relate to and has some consistency.4) Better understanding what drives an Obsessive personality or an Adventurer is opening up more plot options during my brainstorming session. This is a nice "research" book on people and what makes us tick.

A Truly Unique and Valuable Resource For the Novice Writer

Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago

This is a wonderful tool for beginning writers who are struggling with their characters. The character profiles in this book are like the skeletons of people; they are stock, but they provide a foundation for adding the unique personal idiosyncrasies or personality quirks that the writer fleshes them out with to create one-of-a-kind characters. I also found this book a handy tool in trying to understand the behaviour of people in real life that I have come in contact with.