Friday, February 4, 2011

Character Traits, I’m a Guinea Pig


First, Francine over at Romancing the blog gave me the most wonderful book review. I'd love it if you take a look. Francine is my heroine!

Yes, I am going to use the various parts of my own personality not only to fulfill the requirements of the Stylish Blogger Award I presented to others yesterday but also to give some points on character.

Not only my character, but traits you can exploit to build your own characters.

1. Compassionate Mama: Yup, that’s me.
A. Character type: The Nurturer…she loves to take care of others and will put their needs ahead of her own.

2. Whiner Butt: When I’m stressed and too tired I start to complain and view the world in a negative way.
B. Character type: The Nurturer…is self-sacrificing and takes on too many projects at once. She takes what her family (and others), say personally.

3. Practical Realist: I hate paying the bills, but if I don’t, no one else will either, so I have no choice.
C. Character type: The Matriarch…her strength makes her the rock everyone leans on in the family.

4. Artistic Impressionist: I long for a space that’s all mine to create worlds, characters and draw or paint.
D. Character type: The Mystic…is motivated by aesthetic balance-a sense of order in life, a sense of being connected with something greater than herself-is what drives her. She has a spiritual need to connect or create.

5. Buried Time Traveler: Time slips past me at a pace that sometimes surprises me while I am focused on getting things done that matter to me.
E. Character type: The Mystic…is motivated by the reward of being left alone; having free time and obtaining security are great motivators. She’ll do anything to sustain a quiet and calm home life.

6. Hysterically Historical: When I’m over stressed to the point of not sleeping, I am prone to having hysterics at odd times and in varying places. That’s my history.
F. Character type: The Maiden…she loves to play and do outrageous things.

7. Wall Flower Predator: If there is a nice corner at a party or function where I can hide and not be noticed, then I will find the flower in the wallpaper.
G. Character type: The Mystic…Is shy and somewhat timid at times. Needs to learn assertiveness.

And just to top off all of that a few final Mystic flaws…or are they? Lives in her head. Doesn’t really want to be “here” and may dream of other planets of dimensions. LOL

All character types are taken from 45 Master Characters and how to build them, by Victoria Lynn Schmidt.

Are you still here? Now for the survey:
10 Questions:

1. If you blog anonymously, are you happy doing this? If you are not anonymous, do you wish that you had started out anonymously, so that you could be anonymous now?

I blog to reach out to other writers and readers. It would be pointless to be anonymous.

2. Describe an incident that shows your inner stubborn side.

I am stubbornly staying up tonight to get this blog post ready or I face not being able to sleep.

3. What do you see when you really look at yourself in the mirror?

All the mirrors in my home have been spray painted black to avoid personal scrutiny.

4. What is your favorite summer cold drink?

Iced Tea year around and purified water. I live on both.

5. When you take time for yourself, what do you do?

I forgot what that feels like…well, see the above character flaws and you will know I crave being alone so I can create alternate worlds and fabulous characters. Now to figure out how to go there.

6. Is there something that you still want to accomplish in your life? What is it?

I want to be gloriously happy and at peace with myself and others…besides that, well, a success at writing and art would be nice.

7. When you attended school, were you the class clown, the class overachiever, the shy person, or always ditching?

I was shy…and wanted to hide.

8. If you close your eyes and want to visualize a very poignant moment in your life, what would you see?

Delivering my children…the first took hours and I almost bleed to death. The second was hysterical because a nurse was pushing me to the room at a run while yelling, “This lady is having a baby!”

9. Is it easy for you to share your true self in your blog or are you more comfortable writing posts about other people or events?

I am blunt and honest to a fault in and out of blogdom.

10. If you had the choice to sit down and read a book or talk on the phone, which would you do and why?

You’ve got to be kidding, I’m a writer…read, then read some more and after that write.

As a famous cartoon character would say…”That’s all folks!”
Nancy

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the awards. I can identify with lots of what you say. I can relate to nurturer, too. I don't see the point in anonymous blogging/commenting. It seems somehow creepy to me to lurk about in the shadows, but that's just me. You gain so much more from being yourself 'out there' I reckon. :O)

Will Burke said...

I can relate to a lot of that, Time Alone is a reward that I work towards, often writing, or just puttering around while listening to music or Podcasts.

N. R. Williams said...

Thank you Madeleine and Will. I think character traits are something so inherit in us that we sometimes over look the obvious.
NR

Misha Gerrick said...

I really enjoyed the Q&A. It's always interesting to get to know you better.

:-)

Joanne said...

These are always fun ways to get to know our fellow bloggers. Thanks for sharing, and Happy Friday to you :)

Jules said...

So why have we seen none of this art? I love honesty a trait I really seek out :) Nice spin on the normal, question and answer, Nancy :)
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

N. R. Williams said...

Thank you Misha and Joanne.

Jules, I've been so busy with my book, first edits and then promotion that I didn't have time for art. That will change soon.
NR

W.B. said...

Congratulations on the awards, Nancy! You deserved all of them. :)

Southpaw said...

Congratulations. I enjoyed how you put together the characters that match you.

N. R. Williams said...

Thank you W. B. and Holly. I thought it would be more fun to do a character trait comparison.
NR

Michael Di Gesu said...

Congrats on the awards!

So much Nancy to learn about. I really like to now my blogging buddies and awards are the best way to do it....


Michael

Carol Kilgore said...

I really like learning about other writers. We're all so different, yet we all do the same things. Have a wonderful weekend.

Lydia Kang said...

Congrats on your award, and thanks for sharing that characterization list you concocted. It was so fun to read!

N. R. Williams said...

Thank you Michael and Carol.

I'm glad you enjoyed the character traits, Lydia.
NR

Kay L. Davies said...

I agree, blogging anonymously would be pointless. I started my blog to showcase the book I'm writing. When I hit Writer's Block, I started posting to writing memes and photo memes in order to maintain some creativity, but the missing chapters of my book are always in the back of my mind. Posting to memes helps me get past the guilt of no new chapters, and I'm confident the words will begin to flow again.
-- Kay
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

N. R. Williams said...

Absolutely Kay, what ever will help stimulate your creative side is a good thing.
NR

Marian Allen said...

Congratulations on the awards! Thanks for sharing so much of yourself with us. HUGS!

Marian Allen

M Pax said...

I wish I was a better artist. I sometimes paint anyway. Been teaching myself acryllics from a book. lol

I'm just getting over a bout of panicked hysteria. I thought I lost my wallet. Thank the universe it was in the car.

The Yard Bard said...

Loved the Q&A, especially number seven. If I could have spent the class hours inside my desk, I would have.

Golden Eagle said...

Congratulations on the awards! :)

It was great to learn more about you.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Ciara said...

What a great day to visit your blog. I got to know so much about you! :) Thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm glad we met through Alex.

Dominic de Mattos said...

Thanks for sharing Nancy - it was lovely reading a bit more about you!

I have my copy of 45 master characters sitting next to my bed waiting to be read - but it has to wait in line!

Sorry I haven't been to visit recently. Still trying to catch up with myself!

:Dom

N. R. Williams said...

Thank you Marian, M, Yard, Golden, Ciara, Dom and Colene. It's always nice to come home and log on to find such nice comments.
NR

Pat Tillett said...

Congratulations! Also a great post with interesting and thought provoking answers...

Denise Covey said...

Congrats on the awards, most deserved recipient! I loved reading about you. Some of it cracked me up. I loved the character sketches.

Denise:)

Publication Party!

Unknown said...

Guess I'm going to give congrats on the awards even though for a moment I thought: since I couldn't think of anything original to say, I wouldn't.

Melissa Gill said...

Congrats on the award. So great to find out more about you.

N. R. Williams said...

Thank you Pat, L'Aussie, Kay and Melissa.

I knew you would think it was funny L'Aussie.

Kay, even though it may not be original, it is always appreciated.
NR

Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O.J. Barré said...

Nancy, sounds like you are a fellow HSP! I did a blog post about it last year while researching a character. How wonderful to discover that I'm not alone and 20% of the population are sensitives. If you're not familiar, go to my blog and search on HSP.

Congrats on your award. I LOVE your goals. And thanks for the insights in to you. And characters.

Are you entering Christine's blogfest tomorrow?

~that rebel, Olivia

dolorah said...

Cool insights on characters and yourself. So nice to get to know you a bit better. I didn't know the stylish blogger award came with posting criteria. Hmm.

I read Francine's review of your novel and it is spectactular. Can't wait to get a Kindle and read it :)

.........dhole

N. R. Williams said...

Hi Olivia, I'll swing by and check out that post. Especially since I don't know what you're talking about.

I would be honored Donna. I will have a print copy available soon. So, stay tuned.
NR

Margo Benson said...

I love reading these Q&A pieces, I feel I'm really beginning to know a fully dimensional person, not just someone in the ether. Thanks for sharing, Nancy.

Thank you too, for the award :-) soooo special!

N. R. Williams said...

You're welcome Margo.
NR