enneagram – Almost An Author

WRITERS Chat Recap for February, Part 1

Writers Chat, hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Bethany Jett, is the show where we talk about all things writing, by writers and for writers!

“Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it.”

Enneagram and the Writer, with Jean Wise

Personality types are intriguing for most of us. It helps us to understand why we, or those we love, act the way we do. In this episode, Jean Wise—spiritual director, blogger, and author—presents an overview of the nine core personality types of the Enneagram. She shares some of the strengths and weaknesses of each type. Jean also shares that being familiar with personality types will help us understand ourselves better but might also explains personality may have an influence over what we write. Knowing more about personalities, the good and the bad, will also help us as writers to develop deep, realistic characters that our readers will love or love to hate. If you’re intrigued by personality profiles or just want to make your characters more life-like, then this is the episode for you.

Watch the February 4^th replay.

Book Proposals & One Sheets

In this episode, Bethany Jett, co-owner of Serious Writer, Inc. and Johnnie Alexander, novelist, share their insights on book proposals and one sheets for both fiction and nonfiction. Bethany shares a template her company uses for nonfiction proposals. Johnnie explains the template she used for fiction which landed a contract for her Misty Willow Series. During this episode two from the audience share their one pages and Johnnie and some of the others in the audience critiqued the one pages. Bethany reminded us that these needed to have a picture, author bio, comps of the book, and either a short synopsis or back cover blurb. This is a must see episode whether you are attending a conference in the near future or not. A wealth of information is in the one hour episode. Check it out.

Watch the February 11^th replay.

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Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. Here’s the permanent Zoom room link.

Participants mute their audio and video during the filming then we open up the room for anyone who wishes to participate with our guests. The “After Party” is fifteen-minutes of off-the-record sharing and conversation.

Additionally, you can grow your network and add to the conversation by joining our Writers Chat Facebook Group.

Discovering Personalities of Historical Characters with the Enneagram

My recent novels are about two women who lived four thousand years ago, Hagar and Sarah. Their stories are told in the Bible, and I believe I will meet them in heaven someday. Looking at it like that, you realize the responsibility you incur, as a historical novelist, to portray your characters as close to right as possible.

[bctt tweet=”How do you identify the personality of a character who existed? #writers” username=””]

I use a personality profile called the Enneagram, a set of nine distinct personality types, with each number on the Enneagram denoting one type. Each type has exceptional talents and foreseeable difficulties in being who they are. Nine different ways to approach your character arc. I use the Enneagram as a map to the internal journey and transformation of my characters. It shows me what motivates them, what their basic fear is, their desire (what they want), and how they respond to conflict.

Type One: The Reformer. Leads with integrity but hindered by demanding perfectionism.
Type Two: The Helper. Generous and positive but can be people-pleasing and possessive.
Type Three: The Achiever. Inspiring and successful but status conscious and materialistic.
Type Four: The Individualist. Creative and intuitive but moody and self-conscious.
Type Five: The Investigator. Visionary and intellectual but isolated and distant.
Type Six: The Loyalist. Courageous and committed but defensive and anxious.
Type Seven: The Enthusiast. Adventurous and spirited but impulsive and unfocused.
Type Eight: The Challenger. Self-reliant and strong but controlling and intimidating.
Type Nine: The Peacemaker. They bring people together but can be stubborn or passive.

Look for clues in your research.

Before I began writing about Sarah, I searched the Bible for clues regarding her personality. Sarah was loyal to God, her husband, and known for hospitality. But also doubting and lashed out at Hagar when she perceived her as an enemy.

Sarah fit Type Six, the Loyalist. Ironically, and what made her arc interesting, the biggest fear of a Type Six is abandonment. As a writer, that gave me inner conflict for Sarah when her husband abandoned her to two kings.

Healthy sixes are warm and friendly, traits needed for hospitality. But the unhealthy side of their personality make them hysterical, suspicious, and paranoid. Acting out from anxiety, they blame others and complain to third parties about people they are frustrated with. Exactly what Sarah did when she complained to Abraham about Hagar. Given Abraham’s permission to do whatever she wanted with the haughty handmaid, Sarai mistreated Hagar, so Hagar ran away.

Perfect for a writer’s toolbox.

The Enneagram is a helpful tool for identifying the personalities of real-life historical people. Because you make them deep and real. It also works when you want to craft memorable characters from scratch that readers relate to. How they react in the world, grow, learn, and change, gives a writer genuine conflict to keep booklovers turning pages.

For more information visit my Facebook page: @authorkdholmberg.

KD Holmberg is an author, blogger, and freelance writer. She is a member of ACFW, Word Weavers International, and a founding member of the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild. She is represented by Hartline Literary Agency. A retired flight attendant, she has traveled and lived all over the globe. She and her husband, Keith, love to golf and live in South Carolina. You can find more about her: Facebook @authorkdholmberg, twitter @kdeniseholmberg, and kdeniseholmberg.blogspot.com