Writers, Know Your Archetypes: The Shapeshifter

In Part 6 of my series about archetypes, I will examine the Shapeshifter: 1. As the name implies, a shapeshifter is a character who is not what he or she appears to be, either to the hero, the reader, or both. 2. Shapeshifting may be a literal part of the character. Obvious examples would be …

Writers, Know Your Archetypes: The Fool

This is Part 4 of my series about archetypes. In this article, I will examine the Fool. 1. Don’t assume “fool” is interchangeable with “stupid.” While some fool characters may be stupid, that’s not the essence of the archetype. Elizabeth Bennet’s mother in Jane Austen’s novel Pride & Prejudice is a very silly woman, but …