In a post on Writer Unboxed, Heather Webb says that which holidays your character celebrates – and how – can reveal a lot about their personality and backstory. “How do we each choose to adhere to our belief systems?” she asks. “Are we steadfast and loyal, or more of a cherry-picker whose beliefs have eroded over time and experience and distance from their origins? What is the nature of these beliefs, and how do they form a deep-seeded part of who we are?”
Beliefs are learned behavior, based on our family’s traditions, our lineage, societal mores, and where we were born. How are these beliefs revealed?
- Customs: “Religious, cultural, and even law-driven customs (often defined by place and location, environment and climate) can differentiate your characters from others,” Webb notes. “While certain genres like fantasy, science fiction, and historical fiction rely on these customs as an essential part of the story, customs are still important in say, a mainstream women-centric story about divorce.”
- Traditions: If you don’t think traditions are important, watch how people react when someone behaves in a way that is out of the ordinary. Traditions link us to our past, provide ritual and comfort, and can honor spiritual beliefs. Does your character keep to tradition or try to shake things up? Does her choice affect others or have an impact on society?
- Morality: While we are taught that morality is immutable, it actually can change over time. “As we age and have more experiences peppered with challenging situations and questions, our views of morality often change and widen,” Webb writes. “How a character grapples with these experiences and their expanding view makes for rich reflection and internal conflict.” On the other hand, a character’s experiences may prompt them to become more narrow and strict, with a black-and-white view of the world.
Besides religious or spiritual beliefs, there are beliefs we hold about ourselves. We may be taught one thing, but learn something different from hard experience. “When your protagonist’s beliefs are tested with a negative outcome, their beliefs often shift, and a reactionary defense mechanism is born,” Webb says. A child abandoned by their parents may come to believe they are unworthy of love. As an adult, this character might become a people-pleaser or might self-isolate, believing that others are unreliable.
Webb concludes with some brainstorming questions around beliefs, including where they originated from, how beliefs affect your character’s choices, and your protagonist’s code of morality.
