Mini-Bio

Mini-Bio exercise from Characters, Emotions and Viewpoint by Nancy Kress

Character Name: Heike

1) Age: 25-28


2) Birthplace: Stolica, Aldebaran


3) Marital Status: single


4) Children and ages: none


5) Living arrangements (i.e. lives with wife and three young children, rents a ramshackle apartment alone, has a tent in nomadic tribe with three concubines):
She lives alone in an apartment that is a floor of an old house. Her old boyfriend, Lars, has a key and spent much time there with her.

6) Occupation, including name of employer if applicable:
Heike has been recently employed as a replacement for the vocalist in a heavy metal band, Ravenfire.

7) Degree of skill at occupation (beginner, really competent, experienced but a bumbler, etc)
She is very talented, with a great voice and vast range, but is limited in experience performing with a successful band.

8) Characters feeling about his occupation (loves it, hates it, regards it as “just a job”, has mixed feelings, is actively seeking other employment, etc)
Heike is excited about her first big break, singing for a popular band. She is eager to fit in and do well with Ravenfire.

9) Family background (whatever you think is important: ethnicity, siblings, parents, social status, clan affiliation, total repugnance toward everybody he knew before the age of twelve, etc)
She is close to her parents. She dearly loved her grandfather, recently deceased, who was an honored wizard. She herself is not a witch.

10) What three of four things does this person value most in life? (i.e. Success, money, family, God, love, integrity, power, peace and quiet)

1. Romantic love, that is open and accepting, not possessive
2. Success in career
3. Creativity

Heike has not experienced a successful career yet. Working in a man's world has been a challenge and succeeding in it is a primary goal. She has endured a relationship with a dominant boyfriend, that hurt her emotionally. As a result, she is further compelled to lead in a male dominated career.

11) What three things does he fear most?

1. being dominated in a love relationship
2. being rejected in her career

See answer to #10.

12) What is this person's basic underlying attitude about life? (i.e. "things will usually turn out all right," or "they're all out for themselves," or "it's best to expect nothing because then you won't be disappointed," etc.)
Work hard to do your best and you will benefit.

She is determined to stand on her own two feet, and not be trodden upon by anyone, after her boyfriend spent years attempting to crush her self-esteem.

13) What does she need to know about another person in order to accept that other as "all right" and trustworthy?
That they accept her as she is and not intend to change her to meet their own needs.

Again, she is cautious to not allow anyone to mistreat her as her boyfriend did.

14)What would cause this person more pain than anything else possible?

Having another person limit her career.

See answer to #12.

15) What would this person consider the most wonderful thing that could ever happen to him?
To find a romantic partner that understands her.

Despite her strong will and independence, she longs for a close relationship that is caring and accepting. She finds her self-determination brings her too much loneliness.

16)What three words would she use to describe herself, accurate or not?

1. hard-working
2. caring
3. supportive

17) How accurate is his self-description?
It is very accurate.

18) What organization most embodies this person's values? (i.e. Mensa, Daughters of the American Revolution her church, Aryan Pride, PTA, etc)
Women's Rights groups

19) Does he belong to this group? Yes / No. If not, why not?
Yes and no. Heike works in a male-dominated career. She has little chance to interact and join forces with other liberated women, but she is a role model for other women.