Inner Drives: How to Write and Create Characters Using the Eight Classic Centers of Motivation

by Pamela Jaye Smith

Inspiring and practical, Inner Drives goes to the very source of character motivation and action. Explores the fascinating world of archetypes, mythology, and the chakra system.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

239 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2005

Reviews

[Gregory Buia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides a simple explanation of the psychology of motivation. This 8 part explanation can be easily understood and learned, providing the reader with a quick and easy way to understand human motivation.

A person who reads this book can learn how to show, rather than tell, the full range of human motivation using symbolism and plot elements. This book provides the tools necessary to communicative effectively to humanity in general through written or not written language. It is an invaluable reference for any creative professional. A large part of its genius is that it can be quickly internalized, and then referred back to for specific details.

The framework used is the classical Indian system of the chakras. She goes beyond explaining the basics in 3 critical ways. First, the author provides a physiological explanation of how these energy centers exert their effects through individual glands of the lymphatic system. This explanation, presented in the front of the book, takes this subject out of the realm of the creative and symbolic and into the realm of hard science. Having established this, the author then goes on to A) illustrate the principles through a comprehensive study of the symbolism used to establish both the interior and exterior of a character and their environment. Finally, Smith provides the reader with examples of chakra's depiction in art and archetypes, and includes sections of how the reader may immerse themself in each chakra for the purpose of creation and understanding.

While I originally purchased and used this book for character development, the most wonderful discovery I made while reading this is that we are all characters in real life, and that this simple and comprehensive book about characters is also a simple and comprehensive book about me.

[Rhonda Rae Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so happy to have revisited this book. Apparently I wasn't ready for the deeper message when I first went through it. There is so much here it's like a college course and yet is presented in such a way that everything applies.

If you are writing anything or just want to know more about yourself and those that you interact with daily, give this a try. Take is slow by reading the front and back...then go through by reading the intro on the chapters in the center. Then read through again taking time to make notes and ponder what is really being said. Then you can go back and work through the exercises.

Truly an excellent presentation and knowledgable material...I will keep it handy and use it as a reference or reminder when in need of character inspirations.

[Sarai · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book opened my eyes to some new ideas for characters to add extra depth with my writing. It had great ideas but some of the teaching I didn't buy into. I like how it is broken down with each section and how the motivation is created but I found it hard to translate into actual writing.

[February Four · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a very overview kind of book, for all that it dumps details on you endlessly. I understand/grasp the concepts! I don't need to be convinced of them. What I can't get is the way to transition. The book tries, but I'm afraid I'm pretty dense.

[DiDi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm LOVING this book! I already use chakras and archetypes to create characters, but this is adding so much more to character creation and subtext.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my 2nd time reading, and it's an excellent resource for writers to build believable characters.