How to Use the Enneagram to Write Better Characters
Ever used Enneagram personality typing to help brainstorm, outline, draft, or revise your writing?
If not, what in the world are you waiting for?
Stories are about taking a deeper look at the world around us. Usually, that means people. So it would follow that the better you understand people, the better your characters can become.
Of course, using personality typing does not mean you need to stay inside the boxes of specific personality types. (That’s not how people work, so it shouldn't be how your characters work either.)
But I have found that by studying the patterns behind human behavior (hey, that’s what I do with stories, too!), I can gain a deeper insight into their thoughts, behaviors, and ultimately, their transformations.
And isn’t that what a story is?
My First Introduction to Enneagram
I think my first exposure to personality typing was probably found in the pages of Cosmo Girl.
Yes. I fell smack dab into the middle of their demographic (side note, I just learned that Cosmo Girl is no longer a thing).
However, at a young age I discovered Meyers-Briggs, which, along with Enneagram is arguably one of the two biggest personality typing systems out there.
But while I enjoyed flouting my INFJ-ness, things didn’t get really personal for me until I came across the Enneagram. Even if after I took my first quiz, I read the results and thought…no. Not me. (I can't even remember what Type it first assigned me.)
I didn't give up. I dug a little deeper, taking a look into my second highest score--Type 5. (With an Enneagram quiz, you'll receive percentages for all 9 types).
And my whole world opened up.
I watched a video on Type 5’s in film and television and felt so seen. So many of the things about me I had grown up thinking were wrong or were weaknesses, were really just patterns I had developed that are not only normal, but very typical for people in this grouping.
(Incidentally, after reading a more in-depth study into the different types, I also found that my specific childhood experiences are very typical for helping to shape this personality pattern.)
Does this mean I fit into a nice little box? Uh-uh. But I do resonate deeply with specific patterns and traits that are typically found in other Type 5’s.
But let's get back to writing
Just like I resonated with Type 5--it helped me understand my thoughts and behaviors more deeply--you can use Enneagram typing to better understand and flesh out your characters.
Enneagram can be an excellent foundation to get a better insight into the psychology of your characters, so that they can blossom into compelling, three-dimensional people.
What is the Enneagram personality typing system?
If you haven’t heard of Enneagram before, or are not very familiar with it, let me give you a rundown on the basics.
The Enneagram Typing System consists of 9 types, which can be mapped out in a 9-pointed diagram (Ennea is the Greek word for nine and Gramma is something that is drawn).
The circular map is meaningful because each of the 9 types draws from the type to its right and left. (We’re blissfully choosing to ignore all the other arrows for our purposes here today.)
Because of this, you’ll often see that an Enneagram type has a “wing.” This simply means that the principal type (say, Type 5) will take much of its patterns from the right or left (meaning Type 4 or Type 6).
So it would look like this: Type 5w4 (me!)
So really, there are not 9 types, but 18. This will all become clearer as we dive into the types below.
(If you really get into Enneagram, you'll see that there can actually be 27 types - 3 for each of the 9 umbrella types. I don't fully understand this yet, nor have I found it necessary for either my writing or my own personal use. However, I am curious and I do love Enneagram, so I'm learning!)
But back to the wings, because this is where things get really good.
Enneagram Wings
Let’s take 5 again as an example. You’ll see below that I’ve included examples of fictional characters that fall under each type, divided further by their wings.
Type 5 descriptors are often:
Observant
Isolated
Independent
Withdrawn
Curious
Innovative
Intense
For Type 5’s I’ve included Sherlock Holmes, Severus Snape, Belle (from Beauty and the Beast), and Jane Eyre.
I admit, I don’t relate much with Sherlock or Snape. But Belle is my jam. And Jane Eyre happens to be not only my favorite story of all time, but my favorite fictional character of all time. My heroine.
This is because Sherlock and Snape are 5 wing 6’s. Meaning they lean heavily into the Type 6 category:
Reliable
Cautious
Anxious
Precise
Practical
As for Type 4’s, they are more likely to be:
Sensitive
Creative
Moody
Reserved
Self-expressive
See how their core descriptions (intellectual, curious, withdrawn) ring true, but their outward personalities lean more into their wing (practical vs. creative)?
Head, Heart, or Body?
My goal here is not to overwhelm you, but instead to demonstrate the deeper typing that happens when you start to include “wings.”
So while Sherlock, Snape, Belle, and Jane might all be 5’s, Sherlock and Snape can be found in smaller groupings that differ in their personalities from Belle and Jane (who are 5 wing 4’s - like me!).
You can go even deeper than this. The 9 types are grouped into 3 sub-types as well: the Head, the Heart, and the Body. Meaning, at its most rudimentary level:
Head: I am what I think.
Heart: I am what I feel.
Body: I am what I do.
And then there’s even further typing beyond that! But I won’t go there. Mostly because I’m not familiar enough with it yet to do justice, but also because it’s not necessary for our purposes today.
So let’s get practical.
How can Enneagram help your writing?
The first thing I like to do when I’m mapping out a story is to get clear on who my main characters are. Usually, for me, that involves first and foremost the hero and the love interest.
If I can do some brainstorming on what they want, what they’re afraid of, what their biggest flaws are, what their most harmful worldview is, and what happened in their past to help shape all of this (sound familiar?), I’ve already got a solid foundation for my story.
Enneagram can help with this very thing! Often, when you start looking into Enneagram typing, you’ll see under the separate types things like:
(Note: I took this screenshot off the internet years ago and for the life of me, I can’t remember (or find) where.)
Deepest fear
Core motivation
Key emotion
Core strength
Core weakness
Core desire
Core vice
Key lie
Do any of these sound like they might be helpful in perhaps mapping out your character’s transformation? Who they are? How they fit within the context of their story? Their fundamental transformation? Their before and afters?
You get the picture.
And, perhaps the best part is, you can use these tools at any point in your writing process: brainstorming, mapping/outlining, drafting, or revising.
But to do that, you need a basic insight into what the different types are.
That’s what we’re going to cover next.
The 9 Enneagram Types
Type 1 - The Perfectionist/The Idealist
What it Is
Type One’s often see the world in black and white: right or wrong. This includes morality (the right thing or wrong thing to do), as well as practicality (the right way or wrong way to do it). They can appear responsible and perfectionistic, and they can be sensitive to criticism. Also, they are detail-oriented, have high standards, and like to abide by the rules.
But let’s dig deeper. After all, some of the things that define us most as humans are our desires and our fears.
The Core of 1's
Basic Fear: Being corrupt, morally flawed, or in some way imperfect or defective
Basic Desire: To be good, to have purpose
Examples in Fiction:
1w2 (more outgoing and fiery)
Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)
Moana (Moana)
Annie Edison (Community)
Steve Rogers (Captain America)
1w9 (more reserved and easygoing)
Aragorn (Lord of the Rings)
Type 2 - The Helper/The Giver
What it Is
Type Two’s are helpful. In fact, being helpful is what makes them most happy. They are warm, nurturing, and caring, but can also get caught up in people-pleasing. Relationships often define type 2’s, which means you can usually find them surrounded by people. They often enjoy hosting and getting caught up in the lives of others (usually to try and support). And they are gentle, often vocal, and outgoing.
But let’s dig deeper. After all, some of the things that define us most as humans are our desires and our fears.
The Core of 2's
Basic Fear: Being alone, unworthy, or unloved
Basic Desire: To feel loved, needed, and appreciated
Examples in Fiction:
2w1 (more self-critical and withdrawn)
Rubeus Hagrid (Harry Potter)
Peeta Mellark (The Hunger Games)
2w3 (more ambitious and extroverted)
Jessica Day (New Girl)
Anna (Frozen)
Type 3 - The Achiever/The Performer
What it Is
Type Three’s can be summed up fairly well in one word: achievement. They look to distinguish and prove themselves and their significance. They are ambitious, extroverted, charming, and very busy. Because they think achievement is important (and in fact, defining of their self-worth), they can be very image-conscious as part of filling that expectation, which may include a need for attention and admiration.
But let’s dig deeper. After all, some of the things that define us most as humans are our desires and our fears.
The Core of 3's
Basic Fear: Being insignificant, worthless, or a failure in life
Basic Desire: To feel valuable, worthwhile, and significant
Examples in Fiction:
3w2 (more charismatic and friendly)
Jeff Winger (Community)
Caroline Forbes (The Vampire Diaries)
Tom Haverford (Parks and Recreation)
3w4 (more creative and intense)
Tiana (The Princess and the Frog)
Don Draper (Mad Men)
Type 4 - The Individualist/The Creative
What it Is
Type Four’s love being unique. In fact, they base much of how they define themselves on what makes them different from others. They are usually creative (often choosing creative careers) and very sensitive. Because they see what makes them so different from others, they often feel that disconnect manifested through loneliness. In addition, they can be moody and hyper-conscious of themselves around others.
But let’s dig deeper. After all, some of the things that define us most as humans are our desires and our fears.
The Core of 4's
Basic Fear: Being unable to participate fully in life because of who they are (they fear a lack of identity, so they work hard to create one for themselves)
Basic Desire: To feel unique, grounded in their identity, and valuable for who they are
Examples in Fiction:
4w3 (more competitive and theatrical)
Marianne Dashwood (Sense and Sensibility)
Loki (Thor)
4w5 (more introspective and solitary)
Luna Lovegood (Harry Potter)
April Ludgate (Parks and Recreation)
Type 5 - The Investigator/The Observer
What it Is
Type Five’s are very withdrawn and intellectual. But the reason these traits define them so heavily is because they feel an intense need to preserve their energy and gather knowledge in order to feel competent and safe. They are quiet, knowledgeable on specific subjects, independent, and reserved. In addition, it can be difficult for others to get to know them because it takes a lot for a five to let someone in.
But let’s dig deeper. After all, some of the things that define us most as humans are our desires and our fears.
The Core of 5's
Basic Fear: Being helpless or incapable (feeling unprepared to cope with the demands of the world)
Basic Desire: To feel competent, well-prepared for handling daily demands, and in control
Examples in Fiction:
5w4 (more creative and sensitive)
Belle (Beauty and the Beast)
Jane Eyre (Jane Eyre)
5w6 (more practical and cautious)
Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock)
Severus Snape (Harry Potter)
Type 6 - The Skeptic/The Loyalist
What it Is
Type Six’s want to feel secure and completely in control. They like to look ahead so that they can anticipate any potential risks and solve for them ahead of time. They are also defined by their loyalty. Often this is because aligning with causes, institutions, or figures of authority helps six’s achieve their sense of safety (this can be seen played out the “minion” trope - think of Snape (who leans into his 6 wing and feels a need to align with authority) or Dwight’s loyalty to Michael in The Office). In addition, 6's are reliable, cautious, trustworthy, detail-oriented, and often anxious.
But let’s dig deeper. After all, some of the things that define us most as humans are our desires and our fears.
The Core of 6's
Basic Fear: Being unprepared or vulnerable to danger
Basic Desire: To feel supported, secure, and reassured
Examples in Fiction:
6w5 (more intellectual and introverted)
Ben Wyatt (Parks and Recreation)
Dwight Schrute (The Office)
Eleanor Dashwood (Sense and Sensibility)
6w7 (more adventurous and social)
Mulan (Mulan)
Nick Miller (New Girl)
Type 7 - The Enthusiast/The Adventurer
What it Is
Type Seven’s want to have a good time. They are of the mindset that life is meant to be lived to the fullest. They are fun-loving, adventurous, optimistic, charismatic, and extroverted. Seven’s are the life of the party, with an entire ethos that is built around avoiding boredom or predictability.
But let’s dig deeper. After all, some of the things that define us most as humans are our desires and our fears.
The Core of 7's
Basic Fear: Being deprived (missing out) or stuck in a rut
Basic Desire: To feel good and excited or inspired (and therefore satisfied)
Examples in Fiction:
7w6 (more stable and loyal)
Andy Dwyer (Parks and Recreation)
Peter Kavinsky (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before)
7w8 (more playful and assertive)
Peter Pan (Peter Pan)
Fred and George Weasley (Harry Potter)
Type 8 - The Challenger/The Protector
What it Is
Type Eight’s are bold. Think of all of the traits that might go along with that description (assertive, protective, powerful, ambitious, confident, decisive, intimidating), and you’ve got an eight. They are self-confident and resourceful. They likely will not take crap from anyone and are known for telling it like it is.
But let’s dig deeper. After all, some of the things that define us most as humans are our desires and our fears.
The Core of 8's
Basic Fear: Being vulnerable or controlled by others
Basic Desire: To be in control and to feel strong and independent
Examples in Fiction:
8w7 (more enthusiastic and impulsive)
Sirius Black (Harry Potter)
Damon Salvatore (The Vampire Diaries)
Katherine Pierce (The Vampire Diaries)
8w9 (more patient and cooperative)
Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games)
Cece Parekh (New Girl)
Type 9 - The Peacemaker/The Mediator
What it Is
Type Nine’s want both inner and outer peace in their life. To achieve this, they look to maintain harmony, sometimes at their own expense. They typically have calm demeanors and can be a source of stableness. In addition, they are trustworthy and agreeable. But remember, type eight’s are their next door neighbors, which means they’ve got a bit of that temperament and dislike being controlled.
But let’s dig deeper. After all, some of the things that define us most as humans are our desires and our fears.
The Core of 9's
Basic Fear: Being disagreeable or disturbing the peace (at the heart of this is their fear of pushing people away and being alone)
Basic Desire: To feel peace (a lack of unpleasant emotions) and stability
Examples in Fiction:
9w8 (more bold and stubborn)
Harry Potter (Harry Potter)
Pocahontas (Pocahontas)
9w1 (more principled and modest)
Lara Jean Covey (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before)
Jane Bennet (Pride and Prejudice)
Final Thoughts
I could talk about this all day, but this is already a giant post, so I think it's time to wrap up.
Basically, the Enneagram is an extremely useful tool. In writing and in life.
However, keep in mind that it’s flexible and open to interpretation. If you Google any of the characters I’ve included here, you might find others who disagree with the type I’ve assigned. That’s okay!
Remember how I said people are dynamic and never fit into a neat little box? This makes them slippery and hard to nail down. But it's also what makes them so interesting. It makes it easy to love writing about people, because they're both an art and a science. And they're fun to try and understand.
With the Enneagram, I come back to the idea that those who read tend to be more compassionate and empathetic. This is because reading gives us an insight into people’s minds and hearts. Into who they are in the moment and why they are that way.
On the flip side, I’m always saying that story is about transformation. This means people are capable of change. They can surprise you. Traits that once defined them might be wiped from their character for good.
Meet your characters where they're at. Then change them.
I love the Enneagram because it allows me to meet myself where I’m at right now. It helped me realize there was nothing wrong with the fact that I prefer to be alone most of the time or that I feel not only uncomfortable, but unsafe speaking up in front of groups of people if I’m not 100% confident I have the correct answer (five’s hate feeling incompetent!).
But now that I understand those traits, I can also give more attention to them. I can work on them, maybe even change them if I so choose, so that I’m not limited or defined by any one thing.
It’s your job to do this for your characters.
Use the Enneagram to understand them more fully. To have more sympathy and compassion for their deepest fears and desires.
Because getting clear on someone’s fears and desires literally is a straight shot into their core. It helps you gain insight into what specifically makes them feel unsafe vs. secure in a world full of chaos. And that’s all any of us really want.
Of course, six’s more than most.
Additional Resources
The fastest way to write a strong story is with an effective outline that plots your novel’s beating heart.
In Outline Your Novel, you’ll learn exactly what these beats are, why they matter, and how to outline them effectively to make your story sing.
