It's all in the numbers. I bet you thought I meant word count, number of revisions, or even days of waiting after that query letter goes out. Nope. I recently read a book, make that two books, on numerology and was so fascinated by the whole thing that I didn't just do my OWN numerology blueprint. Oh no. I created one for every person whose full name and birth date I knew. And if I didn't know, I asked. Yeah, I am working at that level of excitement (or mania, depending on your perspective).
And when I ran out of real people, I decided that I would do a numerology blueprint for my Main Character of my novel. I am already keeping a journal after reading in a writing book by James Scott Bell that it was a good way to find a character's voice. And I feel like I am *almost there" but haven't quite nailed it to the level of distinction that I want. So, I went for the numerology blueprint to see what it would tell me.
Would you believe that a GREAT MANY TRAITS of my character as they currently exist were right there in her blueprint???? I was shocked. And there were some that I never considered, but would definitely make my girl more interesting. So, now I am trying to take this information gleaned from the numbers and creatively insert it into my novel. I think that this may be ONE MORE TOOL to help me make my character be her best.
Have you ever tried anything a bit *out there* to help you know your character better? Would you consider something like numerology to reveal aspects of your characters? If so, let me know what you discover. Yeah, I am still curious! My life path is a 3 and we 3s tend to obsess over things and people (usually celebs or the like) or ideas - like numerology - because it is just part of who we are!
I suppose this doesn't need to be said, but if you want to know your numbers and what they mean, email me! I am still so into this I will tell you for free!!!! I need birth date (mo, day, year) and full name as it appears on your birth certificate and the name you go by. You can find my email addy in my sidebar:)
Never thought of using it for a character. Smart thinking, Robin. Anything that brings more voice to a character is a plus.
ReplyDeleteIt has been interesting. James Scott Bell says your MC needs Grit, Wit, and It. I will take an idea from anywhere to arrive at those personality quirks that make your character unique.
DeleteI love Numerology :) I never thought about using it for my writing though! Awesome idea :) I'll be emailing you soon!!! I have read all types of stuff for my novel. Great post Robin :)
ReplyDeleteChanzie @ Mean Who You Are.
I received your email. Expect it to take a while. I am creating a Master Numerology Chart and then filling it in with specific people's data. But, I will do it!
DeleteActually, I've never thought of a "Character Journal" before, but think it's a great idea. While I'm not really a believer in Numerology, I find it very interesting and will be emailing you, shortly.
ReplyDeleteThe character journal has also been enlightening.
DeleteWhat happens if you have many aliases? Maybe that speaks volumes about my personality in itself!
ReplyDeleteI commented on your page...
DeleteI would never have thought about using numerology to create more character depth. Thanks for the idea Robin! Any books or sites to recommend?
ReplyDeleteGlynnis McCants has written two books. One is based more on life and the other on relationships. I would also just see what your library has to offer.
DeleteI've heard of numerology. I'm not sure I can believe in such stuff but I'm going to email you anyway.
ReplyDeleteGood enough. There is actually a science to it. I think that might make it more palatable to you.
DeleteAstrology plays a part in my novels, so, yeah, I did a birth chart for my main character. Well, it was rigged somewhat since I needed a specific outcome for her, but we found a date in the future that would give her amazing qualities for a leader during a tumultuous time. Nothing wrong with trying different methods to get a better picture of your character's personality. :)
ReplyDeleteHey, it is okay to rig your character's chart. Of course, you may find some surprises that can give added depth.
DeleteI must be a 3 too. I can obsess about the strangest things if I'm not careful. Probably why I'm a recovering addict. This has to be the neatest thing I've heard someone do for the development of a character. Good thinking, Robin!
ReplyDeleteElsie
Could be. If you send me your info, I will do a chart for you.
DeleteYeah, I think this has been a good idea!
Quite frankly, I find these posts exclusionary and offensive.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes you insecure writers think you are any better than the rest of us insecure people?
I am tired of us non-writing insecure people being shunned!
If you prick us, do we not bleed?
If you tickle us, do we not laugh?
If you poison us, do we not die?
I say NO MORE!
LC
Hahahaha. You can always post LC. I know I would LOVE to read about your insecurities!!!
DeleteVery interesting IWSG post, Robin! I'm not really into numerology, but I'd always assumed I'm a five (five letters in my first name, five letters in my last name, born on 11/3 => 1+1+3 = 5), but I could be wrong.
ReplyDeleteBut creating complex, REAL, characters is always a tough process, and I support whatever helps you bring them to the page!
You do have two 5s in your blueprint. 5 is the traveler, big idea person, often sales people (on the positive side of their number). 5 is the number to fulfill your soul and also your attitude number. You also have two 3s and that is the creative number. One is your personality number (how others perceive you) and the other your birth day number (another number on appearance to the outside world). The most important number in your name is the 8 which is your power name number and reveals a great deal about your character. 8 is usually associated with finances. If you are living on the positive side, things are clicking along great. If on the negative side, money slips through your fingers. Additonally, 8s tend to be strong, opinionated, and have very specific thoughts on what is wrong in any given circumstance (not a wishy washy number). They are also dependable and direct, but must be careful with their words. Their directness can hurt feelings (even if it is NOT their intent). I don't have your most important number, The Life Path Number, because I need your birth year to get it.
DeleteHi Robin!
DeleteThis is kind of a duplicate of the reply I left you on my blog, but in case you didn't venture back there, I thought I'd put it here, too. Thank you so much for your kind comments about the song I posted. I really appreciate it!
And I find the numerology to be fascinating . I've always found it interesting that I have 5 letters in my first name, five in my last, and that my birth date (11/3) adds up to five (1+1+3).
But truthfully, I really don't know how much meaning I can give to it. Not that I think numerology is entirely bunk, but I do find it -- like astrology -- a bit too vague and limiting. I mean, to try and group all the people in the world into one of only ten types simply because that's all the digits there are? It leads to descriptions like you give, where every "5" can show multiple aspects of the same "trait".
I think the problem is that people look at it from an entirely arbitrary attachment to the base 10 in our numbering system. Just because we have ten fingers and toes does not really give any more significance to the number 10 as a mathematical base than any other. We could easily write "ten" as "10" (base 10), "A" (base 16), "1010" (base 2), "13" (base 7), or any of an infinite number of bases if we chose.
I think in order to truly capture the unique and specific "traits" of each individual, we need a much larger base in order to create enough unique "digits". I would think that a constant found in nature would be logical, since we're talking about the nature of humans. How about using the Avagadro constant as a numerical base for writing digits? That's around 6.022 x 10 to the 23rd power.
This seems like an astronomical number, but it's related to mole units of matter, and as such, roughly describes how many atoms there are in 12 grams of Carbon-12. That's really a very, very small amount considering how much carbon there is in our bodies, on our planet, and in the universe as a whole..
But with a base of 6.022 x 10 to the 23rd power, I believe there would be just enough unique digits to be able to precisely describe the traits of each and every human individual. Current population estimates are just under 8 billion (8 x 10 to the 9th power), and given the increasing, exponential rate of population growth, I would think that the number of "humans" who have ever lived on Earth should be less than twice that.
At any rate, it's far, far less than our Avagadro constant -- we should have plenty of "digits" in our numbering system to be able to create a numerology to fully and completely describe each and every human since the beginning of humans and for the next million years or more. We just have to come up with symbols to use for each digit, and then be able to come up with a way to ascribe traits to each of the 6.022 x 10 to the 23rd power digits.
If we do it at the rate of one per minute, it would take around 10 raised to the 18 years...
Who's up for that? :)
Oh but I hate my first name! LOL
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting way to flesh out a character.
Glynnis says that your most powerful vibrations will come off of the NAME YOU USE. Sound is a measurable vibration that is measured with a number. The creators of the first alphabet worked it so that each letter went with the appropriate sound and number. It is all physics.
DeleteGlynnis McCants says that you glean the best information from the name you USE. So, it's all good.
DeleteThis is so interesting! What a great way to discover who your character is! I love this idea Robin!
ReplyDeleteWe do whatever we must to get there!
DeleteIt has been enlightening!
DeleteI have never tried numerology on myself or anything, but I will admit to playing around with feng shui a little bit. Why not? It just involves decorating the house -- or rather, rearranging the decorations, and that's fun, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteMy husband bought me a Book of Spells for Christmas last year, and while some people might assume that meant he thought I was a witch (!), in fact I used them to look up symbols for my character Evangeline's spells.
That is fun. I am all for trying new things in your life and writing!
DeleteI've used astrology for a character, but not numerology. I've been told I'm a six. I have no idea what that means.
ReplyDeleteThat probably means all of the numbers of your birthday add up to a number that then breaks down to a 6. The Life Path Number. 6s are the Cosmic Parent. It is the nurturing number. 6s usually have children. If not that, then pets. If they are really ambitious they tend to treat their employees like kids. They are the world's teachers and healers. Tend not to argue. Good artistic ability, good managment, speak well, understand law, fine judge of character, lots of insight into personal problems. Do well in a position of responsibility. Of course, this is all living on the positive side of the number. If you are on the negative side outspoken, self-righteous, meddlesome, stubborn, worrier, need constant appreciation, anxious, vengeful, jealous, domestic tyrant (which happens due to jealousy, mistrust, or someone not meeting expectations).
DeleteFascinating idea. How did you decide what your character's birth date is? Pick some random numbers? Most (well, all of us) don't have a choice on our birth date. I certainly would not have chosen December.
ReplyDeleteI chose it early on based upon a critical life event that happened to my MC as a child. Who knew that it would work out so well????
DeleteI create my numerology blueprint in the past, but I don't have it anymore. I don't even remember what it said! I guess I need to get those books again! And I love the idea of creating a numerology blueprint for my characters. I do have a birthday for my most favorite heroine of mine, so I'm going to have to check that out. :)
ReplyDeleteCool! Let me know how it turns out!
DeleteHi Robin,
ReplyDeleteA fascinating angle and it all adds up. One of my character's numbers is 69.
A bit out there in my case is to have a famous Jack Russell dog do my writing for me. It's all good in my surreal world!
Gary :)
It all adds up. Hahahaha.
DeleteI have never heard of numerology. I like any idea that helps you know your character better.
ReplyDeleteAny insight I can get...
DeleteI think it's cool that you put so much time and thought into your characters (as a good writer should, but so many do not). They're in a real world of their own, after all.
ReplyDeleteTrue! They are!!!
DeleteI am confident I know mine. I would be very disappointed if my number was not pi.
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE LOVE LOVE to do your numerology blueprint!
DeleteI got your email and I will send you something when it is done!
ReplyDeleteHow fun that you did one for your character! I don't write, so I don't know what I'd do for a character, but I do suspect it's fun when they take on their own life. :)
ReplyDeleteThe bizarro thing was how many traits my character already had in her chart. That was COOL.
DeleteHow fun is that? I've often thought of writing a journal entry in the voice of my character but I've never thought to do their numerology blueprints or a horoscope reading or anything like that. How interesting! Good luck in uncovering the deeper psychology of your characters (and yourself!) :D
ReplyDeleteI am always looking for ways to understand myself!!!
DeleteAnd, yes, anything that helps to hear the character's voice more clearly or makes them more Real is a huge help.
I love that you are researching and doing numerology! That's so cool! And it's awesome that it's not just a fun pastime for you, but can help you with characterizations. You might even decide to make a future character a numerologist. Anything that helps us write is aces by me, and you've found a great tool!
ReplyDeleteI never thought of that, but you are correct in that every new "skill" we gain can be used in some way later on in our writing!!!
DeleteThis numerologist thing sounds cool. Maybe I'll send you over my numbers and you can try to figure me out. ;0)
ReplyDeleteBring it, girl!
DeleteHaven't tried that or anything else like it. I do know what it is though to find something new and interesting that keeps you occupied for ages.
ReplyDeleteIt is certainly doing that:)
DeleteI haven't tried anything like that, but it sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteIndeed!
DeleteOkay, so you now have gotten me excited about numerology! That is pretty stinkin' cool that the reading came out so closely to what your main character's traits were and that you found new ones too. Hooray!
ReplyDeleteIt is catching!!!! Hooray! And I totally agree about the MC reading. I was surprised, but excited.
DeleteWhile I'm not into numerology, anything that helps you get to know your characters better is a good thing in my books.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely... anything!
DeleteWow, Robin, what a coincidence, and I don't mean that my older sister's name is Robin. I am just starting to get into numerology. And it's weird because I was really into it in my 20s and 30s. The 40s came along and I began ... well, that's not important. I think this is great.
ReplyDeleteAs you probably already know, we live life in cycles... so, you just changed cycles!
DeleteDo you or your character also solve crimes with numerology? It is an interesting concept, and I'm sure you've discovered many unusual details.
ReplyDeleteJulie