CHARACTER TYPE AND TROPE THESAURUS

QUEEN BEE



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HELPFUL TIP:

Using a trope or archetype helps readers quickly understand a character, but stopping there creates a weak and predictable figure. Instead, add depth with a unique backstory, emotional wounds, and related fears and flaws. You can also break expectations with an unusual job, relationship, secret, or positive trait.
DESCRIPTION:
An attractive and popular girl or woman who uses her status, control, and powers of manipulation to maintain her social standing or put people (especially other females) in their place.

FICTIONAL EXAMPLES:
Cersei Lannister (A Song of Fire and Ice series), Hilly Holbrook (The Help), Regina George (Mean Girls), Heather Chandler (Heathers), Kathryn Merteuil (Cruel Intentions)

COMMON STRENGTHS:
ALERT, AMBITIOUS, ANALYTICAL, BOLD, CHARMING, CONFIDENT, DECISIVE, DIPLOMATIC, EXTROVERTED, INTELLIGENT, OBSERVANT, ORGANIZED, PERSISTENT, PERSUASIVE, SOPHISTICATED, SPUNKY, UNINHIBITED

COMMON WEAKNESSES:
ABRASIVE, CALLOUS, CATTY, CONFRONTATIONAL, CONTROLLING, COWARDLY, CRUEL, DISHONEST, FUSSY, GREEDY, HAUGHTY, HOSTILE, HYPOCRITICAL, INFLEXIBLE, IRRATIONAL, JEALOUS, JUDGMENTAL, MANIPULATIVE, MATERIALISTIC, MELODRAMATIC, POSSESSIVE, PUSHY, SELFISH, SPOILED, STUBBORN, VINDICTIVE

ASSOCIATED ACTIONS, BEHAVIORS, AND TENDENCIES:
Being assertive and confident
Valuing status and power
Taking great pains with her personal appearance
Being able to work a room
Enjoying attention and being in the spotlight
Being skilled at identifying other people's weaknesses
Emphasizing her femininity through dress or behavior
Being socially adept
Using her looks to influence others
Staying current with fashion trends
Seeing other women as competition
Manipulating others to get what she wants
Twisting the truth or sharing half-truths if it suits her purposes
Exploiting other people's weaknesses
Being cruel; not caring about other people's feelings
Skillfully using words to hurt
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FEARS THAT MIGHT LIMIT THE CHARACTER:
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SITUATIONS THAT WILL CHALLENGE THEM:
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INNER STRUGGLES TO GIVE THEM DEPTH:
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CLICHÉS TO BE AWARE OF:
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TWIST THIS TROPE WITH A CHARACTER WHO...:
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UNEXPECTED OCCUPATIONS FOR THIS CHARACTER:
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CREATE SOMETHING NEW:
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