Breaking from my usual routine, I thought I'd drop a post here that is unique to Hive. I'll likely being doing this more in the future, but I took some time to explore multiple other Web3 platforms since I wrote a book about them.

Today's post, however, has nothing to do with Web3. It is being posted only to Hive.

I've been playing with a decentralized publishing organization called Adimverse for a while now. A part of what that includes is meeting once a week in a Zoom room with other writers and creators and sharing ideas. We have discussions on the writing process, experiment with writing exercises, and perform other creative activities just to see where things might go.

In a room called Generations, one of the prompts was to write a scene involving a cult. I did that. Then we followed that up with another scene, and then another scene. After three scenes, I wanted to learn a little more about my cult leader character.

As a pantser, I don't always know about my characters before I start writing, and I usually have no idea about the plot, or even what the story is going to be about. I just start writing and let things develop. At a certain point, however, I want to create more structure, so I look at what I've written and think about where it might go from there. That's when I start delving into character development a little more, and plot. When I got to that point with my cult story, I decided to create a character profile. What follows is that character profile.

Character Profile: Buzz

Role = Orbital, neither protagonist nor antagonist, but prominent. Buzz just wants to make friends. Adult friends. He doesn’t like people his own age. Certain adults admire him for his intellect and charisma, and they make him into a cult figure. He isn’t fully aware of this himself but doesn’t mind taking advantage of it.

++The Basics++

• Full name: Randolph William Kane III
• Nickname. Buzz (from age 3, parents and friends of the family started calling him Buzz because he wanted a buzz cut, and got one. He looked so cute.)
• Age: 13
• Current hometown: Hollywood
• Father’s Occupation: Lawyer
• Mother’s Occupation: Plastic surgeon
• Income: Has a million-dollar trust fund
• Skills: Charismatic, intellectual, writes poetry
• Talents: Plays piano, classical music
• Hobbies: Reads comic books, philosophy, science fiction
• Short Term Goals: Get through teenage years
• Long Term Goals: Become a lawyer
• Habits: Likes to talk in the abstract
• Best qualities: Empathetic, super-intelligent
• Worst qualities: Manipulative, borderline narcissistic
• Favorite book: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
• Favorite movie: Rashomon
• Favorite possession: A gold ring on a chain he wears around his neck, a gift from his mom for his 12th birthday
• Greatest passion: Reading
• Favorite foods: Likes trying new cuisine
• Best friend: No friends, loner
• Worst enemy: No real enemies, but kids universally think he is weird

++Physical Characteristics++

• Height: 4’9”
• Weight: 83 pounds
• Body Type: Small
• Fitness level: Average
• Hair color: Blond
• Hair type/style: Parted left, business
• Eye color: Green
• Glasses/contacts?: No
• Ethnicity: Anglo
• Distinguishing features (birthmarks/scars/tattoos): Has a lazy eye
• Quirks: None
• Allergies: None
• Overall appearance/upkeep/style: Dresses nice, but casual
• Limitations/handicaps: None

++Emotional Characteristics++

• Personality: ++Mastermind++
• Attitudes: Live and let live; knowledge is power
• Introverted or Extroverted?: Introverted
• Spiritual Worldview: ++Naturalist++
• Political Worldview: Conservative-libertarian
• Strengths: Self-controlled, adaptable
• Weaknesses: Vulnerable to people he lets into his circle (which isn’t many); can be demanding.
• Mannerisms: Cracks his knuckles when nervous
• Motivations: Be at peace with everyone, remain in control
• Fears: Fear of being alone forever
• Internal Struggles: Wants more friends/admirers, but hard to “open up” to people
• Secrets: Resents his parents for their success
• What makes him happy?: Being surrounded by admirers
• Deepest longing: To be loved for who he is
• If he could do or be anything, what would it be?: Imperial King of the Universe

++History++

• Birthdate: May 20, 2010
• Birthplace: Peoria, Illinois
• Accent: Not much of one
• Family members/birth order (describe relationships): Only child. Parents still married but don’t have time for him
• Childhood: Spent a lot of time in private parochial schools and daycares. He doesn’t like playing with other kids. Father is Presbyterian, Mother is Catholic; so, he has been to both types of schools. Prefers to study/work alone.
• Education: Advanced. Home-schooled since third grade by a private tutor. Works at his own pace, which is fast. At 13, he is doing advanced high school courses and preparing for college work. He’s run off four private tutors so far.
• First jobs: Set up a coffee stand at age 6. “Lemonade is boring,” he said. Sold coffee in the morning before school to people on their way to work. Tried mowing lawns at age 10. Didn’t like it. Now he buys old comic books and sells them.
• Accomplishments: Has managed to earn a decent income selling old comic books and is considering branching out into other collectibles. Understands legal frameworks like a pro.
• Failures: Sports. He tried baseball, football, and soccer. Couldn’t play them because he tried to intellectualize the game dynamics during play.

++How involved in the story++

• What does he want?: Not looking for fame, fortune, or power. He just wants friends, admirers.
• What are his needs or desires?: Wants to be loved and admired, but by people who matter (not other kids). Wants professionals to note his mental adeptness.
• What or who stands in his way?: His parents, society, himself.
• What will he do about it?: Whatever it takes.
• What happens if he fails?: Failure is not an option, but he could go on a killing spree (actually, he’d just manipulate others into doing it for him)
• What sacrifices will he have to make?: A career in a respectable profession
• What fundamental changes do you see coming in him?: Becomes more manipulative and more bold in his requests of people
• What heroic qualities need to emerge for him to succeed?: He must become loveable, but this translates into a manipulative streak

This is a sketch based on my vision of this character at this time. He's not the protagonist of the story, nor the antagonist. He is simply a smart kid who says profound things, but adults he comes into contact with admire him for it and even come to worship him to the point that they will do anything he asks of them. Buzz ironically becomes the leader of a strange cult of adult admirers without trying to become a leader or even aware that the adults are so emotionally attached to him.

Does this sound like a story you'd like to read? If so, like this post, share it, and comment below on what your favorite part of Buzz's personality is.