Building Fictional Characters with Personality: Using the Enneagram

Practical Tools, Tips, and Pitfalls for Crafting Memorable Characters

Building authentic and unforgettable characters is at the heart of powerful fiction. Readers connect most when a character’s quirks, flaws, and choices remain consistent, yet still manage to surprise.

One of the best tools for creating depth and consistency is the Enneagram (Enneagram Institute type descriptions). This framework extends beyond standard traits; by exploring fears, desires, motivations, and stress responses, you can bring your character to life, moving from merely “traits on a page” to genuine emotional impact. These insights shape everything, from hobbies and music preferences to conflict responses and personal growth.

Think of the Enneagram as a navigation system for character motivation. When paired together with your plot and themes, personality types transform into living maps, creating characters who feel authentic as they move through their world.

Why Use Personality Models in Character Design?

The Enneagram helps writers make choices about how a character thinks, reacts under stress, and interacts with others. Assigning a type guides everything from dialogue to character arcs. Even unpredictable behavior feels believable because it follows underlying drives instead of being random or convenient. 

For a comprehensive breakdown of building character profiles and why they matter, see this article (Reedsy character profile).

Steps for Enneagram-Based Character Development

• Pick a Type and Take the Test as Your Character. Assign each major character an Enneagram type and complete quizzes from their perspective. This process reveals fears, desires, or blind spots that may not surface from basic profiling.

• Layer on Real-World Detail. Go beyond a label. Consider what the character might wear on a casual day, the hobbies or creative outlets that recharge them, and the music that fills their headphones. Explore how they act when embarrassed or in an argument. Lifestyle choices, reactions, and habits reflect personality just as much as dialogue.

• Map Traits, Values, and Stress Responses. Create or use a reference sheet for each character listing their core values, quirks, strengths, and how they respond under pressure. This simple step supports consistent voice and behavior from scene to scene. 

For in-depth character bio questions, see this template (character bio template).

• Write for Realistic Growth. Allow your characters’ arcs to reflect their type. For example, a perfectionistic Type 1 may grow by learning to allow small imperfections rather than abruptly abandoning their nature for plot convenience.

• Explore Relationships Through Types. Use Enneagram pairings to create tension or harmony. How might a conflict-avoiding Type Nine interact with a bold Type Eight? The interplay of personality types adds dimension to both dialogue and plot.

Other Useful Frameworks

While this post highlights the Enneagram, writers may also explore other systems, such as Myers-Briggs or the Birkman Method. These models can provide additional tools and perspectives for character creation. Each method offers useful angles, but focusing on one at a time ensures your character building remains grounded.

Practical Tips

• Build vision boards or music playlists to immerse in your character’s world.

• Keep a quick-reference sheet of traits and preferences for each character. Novlr offers a downloadable character cheat sheet that’s a handy companion for your own notes (Novlr cheat sheet).

• Dress up as your character or speak in their voice for greater authenticity.

• Anchor traits through actions and let personality differences drive scene-level choices.

If you want more inspiration and walkthroughs, Abbie Emmons’ channel offers great character creation advice (Abbie Emmons on YouTube).

Prefer a digital approach? Dabble Writer’s article provides a character template with over 100 trait ideas (Dabble Writer template).

Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

• Use a type as a foundation, not a box.

• Adapt the Enneagram to your story’s context.

• Let traits guide character decisions and relationships.

Don’t:

• Force every action to fit a label.

• Overload readers with information dumps.

• Ignore how characters change under stress.

Pitfalls to Avoid

• Flat, stereotypical archetypes disconnect readers. Blend traits with life experiences and backstory.

• Avoid turning notes into textbooks. Let personality appear through action, dialogue, and choice.

• Don’t forget that growth and change are part of personality. Show stress and transformation.

Key Takeaways

When used thoughtfully, frameworks like the Enneagram deepen creativity. They turn archetypes into nuanced personalities whose choices and quirks feel alive. Dedicate time to templates, reflective exercises, and real-world observations. A character’s type should be a starting point for exploring their humanity, not the limit.

As you write your next protagonist or side character, move past basic backstory. Ask what they’d wear, what songs they’d replay, how they’d argue, or which dreams keep them awake. Assign a type and build from the inside out: watch how personality threads drive the story forward.

Recent research explores how AI can help build nuanced personalities (arXiv personality research).

Want More Support for Your Characters?

Enhance your writing process with practical cheat sheets and templates designed for fiction writers. Jacquelyn Lee has resources that are available for download—use them for quick reference, inspiration, or deeper character analysis. These tools complement the Enneagram method and make your character building even more seamless.