Character Trait: Aspiring

To engage your reader, it's important to always show not tell the traits of your characters. The character trait of Aspiring refers to a person's strong desire or ambition to achieve something significant, usually in a specific field or area of interest. An Aspiring character is someone who strives to improve themselves, learn new things, and achieve their goals, often with great determination and perseverance. This trait is often associated with individuals who are motivated, driven, and focused on their personal growth and development.

Possible causes of being aspiring

You might want to weave these into your character's back story to build a more believable character.

• A need for recognition and validation from others
• A desire for growth and self-improvement
• An innate curiosity and drive to learn and explore new things
• A belief in the power of hard work and dedication
• A role model or mentor who embodies the traits of an Aspiring person
• A strong sense of ambition and a desire to achieve greatness
• A passion for creativity and innovation
• A fear of stagnation or complacency

For detailed feedback on aspiring characters and other aspects of your writing, try ProWritingAid's character arc evaluator.

Behaviors associated with being aspiring

You may be able to show your character's trait of aspiring by using these.

• Surrounding oneself with supportive and encouraging individuals
• Setting ambitious goals and working towards achieving them
• Continuously pushing oneself outside of their comfort zone
• Being open to feedback and constructive criticism
• Being resilient in the face of setbacks and obstacles
• Pursuing one's passions and interests with dedication and enthusiasm
• Seeking out new opportunities to learn and grow

Attitudes associated with being aspiring

You may be able to show aspiring through their attitudes.

• Openness to feedback and criticism
• Eagerness to learn
• Ambition
• Willingness to take risks
• Curiosity
• Perseverance
• Optimism
• Determination
• Enthusiasm
• Passion

Thoughts and struggles associated with being aspiring

Here are some ideas for things your aspiring character may think or struggle with.

• Struggling to stay motivated and disciplined, especially during periods of creative block
• Struggling to balance their passion with the practicalities of life (e.g. paying bills, maintaining relationships)
• Battling imposter syndrome and feeling like a fraud
• Comparing themselves to others in their field and feeling inadequate
• Dealing with rejection and setbacks, and feeling discouraged as a result
• Doubting their abilities and constantly seeking validation from others
• Trying to find their unique voice and style amidst a sea of competition
• Feeling like they don't belong or aren't good enough in their chosen field
• Wrestling with the fear of failure and the possibility of never achieving their dreams

Emotions associated with being aspiring

Here are some ideas for emotions your aspiring character may experience.

• Perseverance
• Willingness to learn
• Optimism
• Passion
• Eagerness
• Ambition
• Hopefulness
• Determination
• Enthusiasm

Facial expressions associated with being aspiring

Here are some facial expressions your aspiring character may exhibit.

• A tendency to lean forward in anticipation
• A posture that is alert and attentive
• A confident nod
• Wide-eyed with excitement
• Slightly raised eyebrows
• A focused gaze
• A tendency to use hand gestures to emphasize points
• A hopeful smile
• A determined look
• A serious expression with a hint of eagerness
• A slightly open mouth, as if ready to speak or ask questions

Body language associated with being aspiring

Here is some body language your aspiring character may exhibit.

• Constantly looking for opportunities to improve oneself
• Standing up straight and appearing confident, yet humble
• Making eye contact and actively listening to others
• Appearing motivated and driven, with a sense of purpose and direction
• Fidgeting or nervous movements due to eagerness or anticipation
• Taking notes or jotting down ideas to keep track of goals and progress
• Smiling and expressing enthusiasm
• Asking questions and actively seeking feedback from others

For detailed feedback on aspiring characters and other aspects of your writing, try ProWritingAid's character arc evaluator.

Behaviors associated with being aspiring

Here are some behaviors your aspiring character may exhibit.

• Being open to feedback and constructive criticism
• Pursuing one's passions and interests with dedication and enthusiasm
• Setting ambitious goals and working towards achieving them
• Surrounding oneself with supportive and encouraging individuals
• Being resilient in the face of setbacks and obstacles
• Seeking out new opportunities to learn and grow
• Continuously pushing oneself outside of their comfort zone

Growth and evolution of aspiring characters

Here are some ways that your aspiring character may grow and evolve over time.

• Overcoming obstacles and adversity, becoming more resilient
• Learning from their mistakes and using failures as opportunities for growth
• Developing a sense of independence and self-reliance
• Learning to adapt to new situations and environments
• Learning to communicate effectively and assert their needs and desires
• Developing a stronger work ethic and becoming more disciplined
• Learning to take risks and step outside of their comfort zone
• Developing a sense of empathy and understanding for others
• Developing a sense of responsibility and accountability for their actions
• Discovering their true passion and purpose in life
• Overcoming self-doubt and gaining confidence in their abilities

Stereotypes of aspiring characters to avoid

Try to avoid writing stereotypical aspiring character like these examples.

• Making the character too focused on external validation or approval
• Giving the character a lack of self-awareness or self-reflection
• Giving the character unrealistic or unattainable goals
• Portraying the character as being too dependent on others for success or validation
• Making the character too perfect or flawless
• Portraying the character as being too naive or clueless
• Making the character overly ambitious to the point of being ruthless or unethical

Negatives of being aspiring

Here are some potential negatives of being aspiring. Note: These are subjective and some might also be seen as positives depending on the context.

• Frustration with rejection and setbacks
• Struggle to balance writing with other responsibilities and commitments
• Lack of confidence in sharing work with others
• Lack of experience and knowledge in the craft of writing
• Pressure to conform to market trends or genre expectations
• Insecurity and self-doubt about writing abilities
• Difficulty in finding a unique voice or style

Positives of being aspiring

Here are some potential positives of being aspiring. Note: These are subjective and some might also be seen as negatives depending on the context.

• Aspiring individuals tend to be more goal-oriented and determined to achieve their objectives.
• Aspiration encourages individuals to explore their passions and interests.
• Aspiring individuals tend to be more optimistic and resilient in the face of challenges and setbacks.
• It motivates individuals to strive for personal and professional growth.
• Aspiration provides a sense of direction and purpose in life.
• It fosters creativity and innovation as individuals seek new and improved ways to achieve their goals.

Verbal expressions of aspiring characters

Here are some potential expressions used by aspiring characters.

• "I envision myself"
• "I am working towards"
• "It is my goal to"
• "I would like to"
• "I aspire to"
• "My dream is to"
• "Someday I want to"
• "I hope to"
• "I am striving for"

Relationships of aspiring characters

Here are some ways that being aspiring could affect your character's relationships.

• Supportive: Aspiring individuals may surround themselves with people who encourage and support their goals.
• Inspirational: Aspiring individuals may look up to those who have achieved success and use them as inspiration to reach their own goals.
• Competitive: Aspiring individuals may view others as competition and strive to outperform them.
• Mentor/mentee: Aspiring individuals may seek out mentors who have already achieved success and can offer guidance and advice.
• Collaborative: Aspiring individuals may seek out like-minded individuals to collaborate with and achieve their goals together.
• Envious: Aspiring individuals may experience envy towards those who have already achieved the success they are striving for.
• Resentful: Aspiring individuals may feel resentful towards those who have achieved success without putting in as much effort as they have.

Examples from books of characters who are aspiring

• Harry Potter from "Harry Potter" series by J.K. Rowling
• Frodo Baggins from "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien
• Sherlock Holmes from "Sherlock Holmes" series by Arthur Conan Doyle
• Jay Gatsby from "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Hester Prynne from "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne
• Elizabeth Bennet from "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
• Holden Caulfield from "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger
• Katniss Everdeen from "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
• Atticus Finch from "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

Writing exercises for writing aspiring characters

Here are some writing exercises you might try for learning to write aspiring characters.

• Create a list of obstacles that your character might face in achieving their goal, and write a scene where they overcome one of those obstacles.
• Have your character encounter someone who is already successful in their field, and write a scene where they learn from that person.
• Write a scene where your character faces a setback or failure related to their aspiration, and show how they respond to it.
• Write a scene where your character has to make a difficult choice between pursuing their aspiration and something else they value.
• Write a character backstory that explains why your character is so driven to achieve their aspiration.
• Write a scene where your character is practicing or honing a particular skill related to their aspiration.
• Have your character encounter someone who is critical or unsupportive of their aspirations, and write a scene where they stand up for themselves.
• Create a list of character traits that are necessary for your character to achieve their aspiration, and write a scene that shows them displaying those traits.
• Write a scene where your character receives recognition or praise for their hard work towards their aspiration.