Characterization Spread (Tarot for Writers) - Aeclectic Tarot Forum
Aeclectic Tarot
Tarot Decks Talk Tarot Learn Tarot Tarot Readings Tarot Books

  Aeclectic Tarot Forum > Tarot > Tarot Spreads


Reply
 
Thread Tools
ArwenNightstar 
Citizen
 
ArwenNightstar's Avatar
 
Join Date: 17 May 2003
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 1,403
Characterization Spread (Tarot for Writers)


Characterization Spread

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Aspiration~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Major Weakness~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Major Strength
Fear~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Hopes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Quirk~~~~~~~~~~~~
Career~~~~~~~~~~~~Family~~~~~~~~~~~Drives
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Adult Defining Moment~~~~~~~~~
Grade School~~~~~~~~High School~~~~~~~~College
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Child Defining Moment~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mother~~~~~~~~~~~~Childhood~~~~~~~~~Father

Positions
Mother - relationship with mother
Father - relationship with father
Childhood - What was the character like as a child?
Defining Moment - What memory still haunts the character? Or thrills?
Grade School - What influences did Grade School leave on them?
High School - What influences did High School leave on them?
College or First Job - What influences did college or their first job leave on them?
Defining Moment - What memory still haunts the character? Or thrills?
Career - What path have they chosen?
Family - what is the prevailing family dynamic for the character?
Drives - What drives the character to do what they do?
Quirk - What is a main quirk everyone notices about the character?
Fears - What is something that they fear
Major Strengths - Where is the character the strongest?
Major Weakeness - Where is the character the weakest?
Hopes/Aspirations/Dreams/Goals - What is the character yearning for?

NOTE: This spread is very tweakable. I would love to hear feedback from those of you who try this out in your writing.



__________________
Blessings
Arwen Nightstar
President, American Tarot Association
ArwenNightstar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-11-2004 Ask a Professional Tarot Reader     Top   #1

Support the Forum
via Google Adsense
 
 
 

  #ADS
Suriel 
Citizen
 
Suriel's Avatar
 
Join Date: 18 Apr 2004
Location: La Petit Prince's planet
Posts: 883

Hi, ArwenNightstar

It's a nice spread, indeed. Though,well, I'm wondering..what if I want to narrate a character who is only, let's say, 7 or 8 years old? By then, what cards would have come out at the High School, College at First Job..?

Love,
Suriel



__________________
What if you slept?
And what if, in your sleep, you dreamed?
And what if, in your dream, you went to heaven and there plucked a strange and beautiful flower?
And what if, when you awoke, you had the flower in your hand?
Ah, what then?
--Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Suriel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28-11-2004 Ask a Professional Tarot Reader     Top   #2
Alissa 
Citizen
 
Alissa's Avatar
 
Join Date: 13 Aug 2002
Location: Perched with ravens, New Mexico
Posts: 4,668

Quote:
Originally Posted by ArwenNightstar
Positions
Mother - relationship with mother
Father - relationship with father
Childhood - What was the character like as a child?
Defining Moment - What memory still haunts the character? Or thrills?
Grade School - What influences did Grade School leave on them?
High School - What influences did High School leave on them?
This seems like overemphasis on childhood for myself, as a writer. But most of my characters are adults, or nearly. A child such Suriel mentions would probably need this much background.

I would probably shorten it to Mother/Father/Defining Childhood Moment.
Quote:
College or First Job - What influences did college or their first job leave on them?
Defining Moment - What memory still haunts the character? Or thrills?
Career - What path have they chosen?
Family - what is the prevailing family dynamic for the character?
College/First Job suggests early adulthood, as well as a shift of focus from family to career. I like that.

Next is a second defining moment, one meant for the late adolescent to experience, but for myself, I question if we need it.

Career is good, but Family? My assumption is this would be the family a character builds on their own (wife, kids) but it could be an unneccessary rehashing of all the childhood stuff.
Quote:
Drives - What drives the character to do what they do?
Myself, I would drop this question. It seems repetitive to me, given the positions coming up next.
Quote:
Quirk - What is a main quirk everyone notices about the character?
I really like this! This allows us to see the character through another character's eyes. Opens it up from first person mentality, to third person.
Quote:
Fears - What is something that they fear
Major Strengths - Where is the character the strongest?
Major Weakeness - Where is the character the weakest?
Hopes/Aspirations/Dreams/Goals - What is the character yearning for?
Here is the interior map of the character, which is good. But the one thing I couldn't help but notice was missing was anything related to emotions, romance, sex, and partners. A position for this character's "love potential" (I hate that term, don't use that... I'm just trying to think of the right words here)?

Nice spread! I think it could be slightly tightened up and shortened, but it's neat!



__________________
Will Tarot for couture
Alissa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-11-2004 Ask a Professional Tarot Reader     Top   #3
ArwenNightstar 
Citizen
 
ArwenNightstar's Avatar
 
Join Date: 17 May 2003
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 1,403

Quote:
Originally Posted by Alissa
Nice spread! I think it could be slightly tightened up and shortened, but it's neat!
Alissa, thank you! I used this in my Tarot for Writer's workshop that I just completed for my RWA chapter.

For me, knowing things about my character's childhood gives them a more 3-D personality. I like complicated characters. :-)

I love the time that you took to really look at this spread. I agree that it needs tweaking and tightening up. I am going to look at your suggestions and see which ones work for me. I think that most of them will. :-)



__________________
Blessings
Arwen Nightstar
President, American Tarot Association
ArwenNightstar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-11-2004 Ask a Professional Tarot Reader     Top   #4
Alissa 
Citizen
 
Alissa's Avatar
 
Join Date: 13 Aug 2002
Location: Perched with ravens, New Mexico
Posts: 4,668

It's a very workable spread for characters - depending on what information the writer needs, you can tailor the spread for your own writing project. Cool!



__________________
Will Tarot for couture
Alissa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-11-2004 Ask a Professional Tarot Reader     Top   #5
Suriel 
Citizen
 
Suriel's Avatar
 
Join Date: 18 Apr 2004
Location: La Petit Prince's planet
Posts: 883

Thank you so much ArwenNightstar for introducing such a good spread, and also Alissa for defining it perfetly

I have tried out this spread.....I have posted the reading at :
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread...024#post402024

Give some two cents maybe
P/S: I'm thinking about narrating a writer as a main character..

Thanks,
Suriel



__________________
What if you slept?
And what if, in your sleep, you dreamed?
And what if, in your dream, you went to heaven and there plucked a strange and beautiful flower?
And what if, when you awoke, you had the flower in your hand?
Ah, what then?
--Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Suriel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2004 Ask a Professional Tarot Reader     Top   #6
Reply


Bookmarks

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time now is 04:23.

  Explore Aeclectic Share Aeclectic
  · Tarot Cards
   The Top Ten
   Browse A - Z
   List All Decks
   Sort the Decks
   View by Theme
   View by Category
   View by Publisher
· Learn Tarot
   Tarot FAQ
   Tarot Meanings
   Reversed Meanings
   How to Read Tarot
   Articles & Essays
   Tarot Interviews
   Compare Imagery
· Tarot Books
   Tarot eBooks
   Tarot Jewelry
   Tarot Bags
   Tarot Boxes
   Oracle Cards

· Free Readings

· About Aeclectic
   What's New
   Newsletter
   Introduction
   Support Us
   Sitemap
· Facebook
   Twitter
   Link to AT
   Postcards
   Community
   Links

· Home
Aeclectic Tarot  © 1996 - 2013. Created, owned & maintained by Solandia.