Heroes and Heroines:
I asked all of you to take a look at Tami Cowden’s website and read about the archetypes she’s got there. I want to discuss creating a solid archetype vs. a changing/layered archetype. I’ll use Madison Thorn vs. Joseph Thorn from my novel, This Pale Mortal Shell.
Let’s start with Madison. She is a good, solid Free Spirit. As stated on Cowden’s website, “the Free Spirit just trips along through life, and most of the time, she lands on her feet.” Madison is much more likely to go with her heart than think things through, which is why she is more willing to go along with the stipulations in Tristan’s will. Madison also completely fits this archetype because she is a meddler, and no one meddles quite like a Free Spirit does. Madison pokes around in Joseph’s life and his possessions. She means well, the FS always does! But she’s invading the privacy of a man who really just wants to hide.
Joseph Thorn is a little bit more complicated when we meet him. Joseph is supposed to be a Chief archetype, and he would have been if things had played out differently for him six years ago. The Chief is always sure of himself. He never questions his own authority and really expects everyone else to fall in line on that, too! We can see these qualities best in Joseph when we are at the shop with him and the crew working on the boats. But when we meet Joseph, he is suffering. Therefore, his archetype has become layered with another, the Lost Soul.
The Lost Soul is usually created by tragedy, and Joseph has certainly had his share of that. The Lost soul would, as you might imagine, just as well live alone with his pain, and Joseph is certainly of a mind to do that. But what good romance writer would leave him there like that? Not this girl! When Madison comes along and challenges him, he wants to run. And yet, the Chief in him wants to challenge her right back.
Next time! We’ll talk about villains, and how to create one that people might just love a little!
