by Lindsey Brackett @LindsBrac

I hope you’ve enjoyed these short introductions into the Enneagram and have found the information useful to typing your characters (and maybe yourself). My favorite thing about the Enneagram is no one is ever all or nothing. By carrying tendencies of the nine different types, we are all incredibly complex and wonderfully made—just like the fictional people we create to inhabit our stories. 

The biggest takeaway I have for my study of the Enneagram is this—our behavior is motivated by a deep, inner desire. Truth is, sometimes we don’t even know ourselves what motivates us, but we know we identify with certain personality traits. I encourage you to use this tool for both self-examination and character study. After all, as a fiction writer, there’s nothing more fun than discovering halfway through a manuscript that your character is actually motivated by something much richer than originally imagined. 

As we close out our Enneagram understanding, we’re looking at Nines. Enneagram Type 9 is best known as the Peacemaker and with that title alone, you might be tempted to create a wimpy, limp character who just agrees and pacifies everyone around. While this stereotype might be easy to caricature into a side character, I invite you to reconsider the Peacemaker. When you look into the underlying motivations of Type 9, you’ll discover a complex character likely deserving of a much bigger role than you envisioned. 

Healthy Nines are often categorized as:

• agreeable
• understanding
• patient
• supportive
• genuine

But you’re missing out on their inner workings if you expect a Nine to always be easygoing and even-tempered. In fact, since Nines avoid anger and conflict because they find it draining, they often smolder for a long time without knowing why. Which can lead to some pretty fierce explosions.

The Nine you don’t see is:

• downplaying or ignoring their own needs
• dislikes being ignored
• adapting to the interests and hobbies of others rather than embracing their own
• resigning themselves to dissatisfaction
• passively resisting being controlled by others by attempting to control the situation themselves (and you thought their peacemaking was altruistic!)

Sensing a conflict with the peacemaker in your story yet?

Truthfully, Nines are delightful people who crave stability. They dislike conflict and do strive for peace—admirable qualities. At their best, Nines recognize they are laying their own needs on the sacrificial alter of conformity. They become self-assured, kind people who offer their gift of reconciliation to others. 

Now that’s a character I need in every corner of my life—and story.

Hope you’ve enjoyed these quick looks at the Enneagram types! You can find me on social media if you have more questions. 

For more Enneagram Study:

Modern Mrs. Darcy

Enneagram.net

The Enneagram at Work

Enneagram and Coffee

Eclectic Energies 

Enneagram Types of 99 Fictional Characters 

Integrative 9

Don’t miss the rest of the posts in this series!

• Part 1: How to Use Enneagram to Type the Characters You Write
• Part 2: THE PERFECTIONIST: How to Type Your Characters with the Enneagram
• Part 3: Enneagram Type 2—How to Use Enneagram to Type the Characters You Write
• Part 4: Use Enneagram to Type the Characters You Write – Type Three
• Part 5: Use Enneagram to Type the Characters You Write – Type Four
• Part 6: Use Enneagram to Type the Characters You Write – Type Five
• Part 7: Use Enneagram To Type Your Characters – Type Six
• Part 8: Type Your Characters – Enneagram Seven
• Part 9: Type Your Characters – Enneagram Eight
• Part 10: Type Your Characters – Enneagram Nine

Because she’s a type 4 and therefore always seeking the unique, Lindsey P. Brackett writes southern fiction infused with her rural Georgia upbringing and Lowcountry roots. Her debut novel, Still Waters, released in 2017 and was named the 2018 Selah Book of the Year. Her latest novel, The Bridge Between, released in 2019. Someday she hopes to balance motherhood and writing full-time. Until then, she’s just very grateful for her public school system.

Connect with Lindsey and get her free novella, Magnolia Mistletoe, at lindseypbrackett.com or on Instagram @lindseypbrackett.