“The Lover: Lovers are romantics who are all heart. They’re highly relational and are guided by their passions.” (Becca Puglisi, The Difference Between Character Archetypes and Tropes)
Writing Exercise: Embodying the Lover Archetype Through Action and Subtext
Key Techniques to Practice
Action-Based Characterization: Revealing a character’s archetype through what they do rather than exposition. Emotional Subtext in Dialogue: Using layered conversation to express emotional undercurrents without stating them outright. Internal Conflict Within Archetype: Showing how devotion or passion can lead to contradictions or consequences.
Writing Prompt (500 words)
Write a scene between two characters: one is clearly a “Lover” archetype, guided by passion and emotional connection. The other may challenge or threaten that dynamic. The setting is a transitional space (airport, train station, ferry terminal, gas station at night) just before a separation—physical or emotional. The scene must include:
– A specific gesture that reveals the Lover’s deepest need without words
– A conversation in which the Lover avoids saying what they truly feel
– A moment when the Lover’s actions contradict their intentions, exposing internal conflict
Do not name the archetype or describe feelings directly. Let the reader infer the Lover’s emotional core through behavior, voice, and rhythm.
Evaluation Criteria for Success
– The Lover’s archetype is clearly and uniquely embodied through actions, not labels
– Dialogue reveals emotional subtext and tension without explicit exposition
– The scene ends on an emotional beat that leaves the relationship unsettled or changed
– Emotional tone is consistent, layered, and avoids melodrama
– The setting amplifies mood and character stakes, not just decoration
Strong Response Example
A woman watches her partner check the train schedule again. She offers him a thermos she filled with his favorite coffee, which he accepts distractedly. She says, “You’ll want to drink it before it gets cold,” then hesitates, not adding, “like us.” He thanks her, promises to call, and she smiles while untying his scarf and folding it into his coat pocket—something he’ll find later. As the train approaches, she begins to say something but doesn’t finish. Instead, she walks away before he boards.
This shows: subtext-driven dialogue, action that conveys intimacy and fear of loss, an unspoken internal struggle.
Weak Response Example
He turned to her. “I’m going to miss you so much. You’re the only one who understands me.”
She sobbed. “I love you more than anything! Please don’t leave!”
He hugged her tightly. “I’ll call every day. You’re my whole heart.”
This tells the emotion rather than shows it. It flattens tension, overuses direct expression, and lacks character-specific behavior.
Follow-Up Questions for Workshopping or Revision
– What physical action in the scene conveys the most emotion? Can it be sharpened or made more revealing?
– Where does the character hold back? Is that silence or avoidance loaded with meaning?
– Are there any lines of dialogue that state what could instead be implied?
– Does the setting serve as a metaphor or emotional amplifier?
– What contradiction exists between what the Lover says and what they do?
Recommended Reading
Excerpt from The End of the Story by Lydia Davis — especially scenes in which the narrator’s emotional dependency is revealed through fragmented memory, omission, and circular logic. Davis demonstrates how a Lover archetype can both yearn and erode under the weight of their own longing without stating it directly.
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