dramatic need is the engine that powers the character through the
story line.
The second thing that makes good character is point of view.
Point of view is defined as the way a person sees, or views, the world.
Every person has an individual point of view. Point of view is a belief system, and as we know, what we believe to be true is true.
There's an ancient Hindu scripture titled the Yoga Vasistha that
states, "The World is as you see it." That means that what's inside our
headour thoughts, feelings, emotions, memoriesis reflected
outside, in our everyday experience. It is our mind, how we see the
world, that determines our experience. As one Great Being puts it:
"You are the baker of the bread you eat."
Point of view shades and colors the way we see the world. Have
you ever heard phrases like: "Life is unfair," "You can't fight City
Hall," "All life is a game of chance," "You can't teach an old dog new
tricks," "Life is unlimited opportunity," "You make your own luck,"
or "Success is based on who you know"? These are all points of
view. We all have points of view, singular and unique, individual to
the personal experience and expression of each person. It should
be mentioned that a point of view is acquired through personal experience.
If your character is a parent, she/he could reflect a "parent's"
point of view. Or he/she could be a student and view the world from
a "student's" point of view. A housewife has a specific point of view.
So does a criminal, terrorist, cop, doctor, lawyer, rich man, poor
manall present individual and unique points of view.
Do you know what your character's point of view is?
Is your character an environmentalist? A humanist? A racist?
Someone who believes in fate, destiny, and astrology? Does your
character believe in voodoo or witchcraft, esi* that the future can be
revealed through a medium or psychic? Does your character believe
that the limitations we confront are self-imposed, like Neo in The
Matrix7. Does your character put his faith in doctors, lawyers, The
Wall Street Journal, The New York Tiniest His/her belief in Time,
People, Newsweek, and the evening news?
Point of view is an individual and independent belief system. I
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