: Re: What meta-properties should a character have in general? What are the properties a generic main character from a character-driven/psychological novel should have? E.g. relations, motives, personality,

@Kaufman555

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If this is your first attempt, then you actually you don't need anything special, just behavioural loops. Even one would suffice.

Your character will start as fully circling in one loop. As they try to break it, they fall in the next one (or back to the first one) with excruciating internal pain.

A simple example.

Bob likes cookies. He eats a lot of them. He then feels sick and swears he'll never do that again. Four hours later, when he is hungry, he'll look at the cookie jar and tells himself that a last one will not harm him.

You want to focus on the mental loop of self-denial, and self-gratification. Make Bob feel guilty when he gives up his promise, and make him feel righteous when he promises again. And when he tries to break free, wait a few pages and then make him go in a frenzy to the nearest store to gobble cookies on the way home.

As you can see, it is a simple and effective way to crack into your first character driven psychological story.

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