What are core values, and how do you pick them for your characters? (Part I of Core Values)
A core value is a fundamental belief your character holds, one that is so obvious to them that they cannot explain it.
A character's decisions will always be guided by their core values.
Some examples:
Integrity means a character will stick to their moral code; often links to the core values of Honesty, Trustworthiness, and Loyalty.
Justice means a character will seek to right wrongs, whether caused by someone else or themselves.
Autonomy means a character needs to guide their own path and not be told what to do by others.
Loyalty means a character will act in a way that will benefit those to whom they are loyal, whether that's a family member, friend, or another individual (or organization) that has earned their loyalty.
Survival means a character will do whatever it takes to keep themselves alive.
Family means a character puts family above all else; strongly linked to Loyalty.
Personal gain means a character will do anything for wealth or other commodities.
Reputation means a character is concerned about how they appear to others and will do anything to make sure others see them as they wish to be seen.
How do you pick core values for your characters?
Core values are the root of all motivation, but there are a lot of ways to figure out what they are. The answer to the titular question depends on how you like to create your characters.
Some writers start with a basic character 'picture,' like "strong-willed airship pilot on an adventure for lost treasure". Other writers start with a character-story hybrid, such as "grumpy, asocial wasteland survivalist who discovers what it means to be part of a found family."
Still others might have an entirely different approach, but these are the two I'll focus on today.
Building your character "values-first"
You may wish to decide your character's core values first to figure out what situations to put them in. Choose 2 or 3 to start.
The "grumpy, asocial wasteland survivalist" character has values already baked into the concept. They value their Privacy/Autonomy and will prioritize Survival, but eventually, their Loyalty will prove more important.
Try this: Write a blurb for each value you've picked that explains how this value affects their life.
Discovering your character's values as you write
On the other hand, you could start writing first and let the character tell you what they value based on their actions.
For instance, let's say your strong-willed airship pilot just turned down a lucrative job because they want to be a trailblazer, not a follower. You didn't know they were going to do that! Here, your character has just demonstrated that they value Autonomy above Personal gain.
Try this: Like in the above example, figure out why your character took a specific action, then translate that into a core value.
Add your answers for both exercises to your character bible for later reference.
How do you figure out your characters' motivations? Tell me!
I welcome additions to this post! If you have another method for figuring out what motivates your characters, I'd love to hear about it.
I'm going to make a few more posts about core values, including "how to keep your characters 'in-character'" and how to create conflict based on core values. They'll all be in the core values tag on my blog once they're up, and I'll edit this post with links as well.
Core Values Series
Part I: What are core values, and how do you pick them for your characters? (you are here)
Part II: How can you make sure your characters stay "in character?"
Part III: How to create conflict based on your characters' core values
“This is Berk” is an iconic quote of the How to Train Your Dragon franchise. Undeniably, Hiccup’s monologues at the start and end of the films and shorts are classic. They provide interesting, witty, humorous, and yet informative descriptions of life on Berk. However, not only do these monologues describe Berk’s situation, but they describe Hiccup’s heart.
Each one of the “This is Berk” speeches Hiccup gives provides us a bit of insight into more than the island of dragon-loving Vikings… it also gives us insight into his thoughts.
Start of How to Train Your Dragon
This is Berk. It’s twelve days north of Hopeless, and a few degrees south of Freezing to Death. It’s located solidly on the Meridian of Misery. My village. In a word, sturdy. And it’s been here for seven generations, but every single building is new. We have fishing, hunting, and a charming view of the sunsets. The only problems are the pests. You see, most places have mice or mosquitoes. We have… dragons.
At the start of the first film, Hiccup gives a rather bleak description of Berk. The best things he can describe are the sunsets and the village’s sturdiness. However, the main impression audiences glean from Berk is that the island is dismal. It is a forbidding place to live, one where only people with “stubbornness issues” would dare stay. Berk is cold and covered in dragons… “pests”… to give an understatement.
However, Berk is not just forbidding and frozen as a location, but it is an unwelcome place for Hiccup personally. Hiccup lingers in a home that is cold and unwelcoming to him, miserable beyond being placed on the “Meridian of Misery.” And indeed Hiccup’s life seems hopeless… Gobber talking to Stoick indeed remarks, “I know it seems hopeless,” regarding the chief’s son. You could even go so far as to say dragons are pests to Hiccup personally… for his inability to fight, stand up, and kill dragons is one of the hindrances preventing Hiccup from being accepted by the other Vikings.
Even Hiccup’s sarcastic delivery of the voice-over provides us insight into his personality. The pessimistic, negativity-oriented introduction to “This is Berk” almost tells us more about Hiccup than the island itself. We learn his character and where he is emotionally before we even see his face.
End of How to Train Your Dragon
This is Berk. It snows nine months of the year and hails the other three. Any food that grows here is tough and tasteless. The people that grow here are even more so. The only upsides are the pets. While other places have ponies or parrots, we have… dragons!
Hiccup still has a lot to overcome by the end of the first film. He has just had a foot amputated, for crying out loud. Furthermore, he still is accustomed to the Vikings considering him an anomalous outcast rather than someone to be respected. In that regard it makes sense that he still talks about the people in Berk being tough and tasteless, or some of the other unpleasant elements on Berk. Life isn’t all fun and games… there are still snowstorms, hailstorms, and tasteless residents.
However, the delivery of this speech here is more tongue-in-cheek than outright dismal. Not only that, but Hiccup identifies a far more meaningful upside about his home than sunsets and sturdiness… he can jubilantly exclaim dragons occupy Berk peacefully. His actions have changed life for the better. Despite losing a leg, you can tell Hiccup mentally is doing far better at the end of the movie than the start. And the last thing he mentions – dragons – is the single most important thing to him. He is excited to have found happiness and friendship in his bond with Toothless.
Start of How to Train Your Dragon 2
This is Berk. Life here is amazing. Dragons used to be a bit of a problem, but now they’ve all moved in. And with Vikings on the backs of dragons, the world just got a whole lot bigger.
Berk has not undergone global warming in the last five years. It still boasts the kind of balmy weather that will give you frostbite on your spleen. However, Hiccup does not need to complain about the snow, the hail, the tasteless inhabitants of Berk, or anything negative at all. Five years later, Hiccup is extraordinarily happy, loving his home so much that he claims, “Life here is amazing.” What a great change this is from when he called Berk “located solidly on the Meridian of Misery”! Instead of a depressed, outcasted young teenager, we see a much happier and well-loved young man. Hiccup can laugh easily amongst Astrid, race with dragons, and receive the love, attention, and pride of his father. So “Life here is amazing” is not an objective description of Berk; it is a subjective description of Hiccup’s cheer. What used to be a bit of a problem is no more; many of Hiccup’s old emotional problems from the time of HTTYD 1 have dissipated into a much better life for all of Berk and for Hiccup himself.
The world has become a lot bigger and greater to Hiccup personally since he has befriended Toothless. There is so much more wonder for him to see and understand now that his life can be shared with dragons.
There is, though, one area in which Hiccup is not comfortable. He is restless. On the cusp of adulthood, he is uncertain where his future will lead him. He does not know what his place will be in Berk, only that he does not feel he is cut out to be Berk’s next chief. Thus, he spends much of his time away from Berk, mapping out the world. The world indeed has become a whole lot bigger for Hiccup since he has ridden on the backs of dragons… he is exploring a great deal of the Barbaric Archipelago, trying to learn who he is. And the world is a lot bigger from a pure psychological standpoint too… as a young adult, Hiccup is thrown into many more problems that he never experienced as a boy. His world – and his responsibilities – have expanded.
End of How to Train Your Dragon 2
This is Berk. A bit trampled and busted and covered in ice, but it’s home. It’s our home. Those who attacked us are relentless and crazy. But those who stopped them, oh, even more so! We may be small in numbers, but we stand for something bigger than anything the world can pin against us. We are the voice of peace, and bit by bit, we will change this world. You see, we have something they don’t. Oh, sure, they have armies, and they have armadas. But we… we have… our dragons!“
There is so much here in this final dialogue from the second movie. I don’t think I could ever talk about it all. Hiccup is speaking about Berk, his home. Hiccup is speaking on behalf of Berk now, the chief over the tribe. And Hiccup is speaking about his heart.
Consider the first sentence Hiccup says. Berk is “a bit trampled and busted and covered in ice… but it’s home.” This is, of course, true of a village which has literally been attacked, nearly demolished, by an ice-spitting dragon. Berk is in a horrible state… but still boasts the comforts of home. The Vikings, stubborn as always, shall endure. We know they have stubbornness issues. We know that the destruction of the past night shall not deter them from progressing forward to a good future.
Similarly consider what Hiccup himself has endured. He has just lost his father to his best friend. His emotions are definitely “a bit trampled and busted,” and it will take him a long time to psychologically recover from the blow to his heart. He might feel numb, icy, on some days, but he will endure. He will persevere. Because there are the comforts of home to celebrate in Berk… the comfort of a best friend who is still beside him… he can stand up and find strength in his home and heart.
And "it’s our home”. This is an important reminder for Hiccup, recognizing that he is speaking for all of Berk now, not just himself. He’s speaking about himself as a chief. Furthermore, it’s the home not only for him, but also for the dragons. The chief and the alpha both preside here.
The next statement Hiccup gives shows his tenacity, his determination to press forward and pursue the good despite the hardships he has endured both inside and out. “Those who attacked us are relentless and crazy,” he says. “But those who stopped them, ohhhh, even more so!” Hiccup has just stood up against Drago. He will continue to stand as the chief of Berk. He is saying what he has already done, what he is steeling himself to continue to do, and what we will undeniably see him do in the third movie. There will be much for him to tenaciously fight for, be it the emotional struggles which have attacked his heart, or the physical war he has experienced against crazy men like Drago.
“We may be small in numbers, but we stand for something bigger than anything the world can pin against us.” This is so true of both Hiccup’s entire tribe and the chief himself. Hiccup has always been the small runt, someone people have looked down upon, Drago even recently telling Hiccup Stoick must feel shame for his son. People might belittle Berk because it is small, and people might belittle Hiccup because he is very young and still a bit scrawny. He certainly does not look like chief material at first glance. Yet Hiccup and Berk have the ideal of peace – a word Hiccup himself uses in the next sentence of his monologue. He and Berk indeed stand for something incredible. Though people might underestimate Hiccup or all of Berk at first, that does not mean they are unimportant. That does not mean that their beliefs and ideas are nothing. On the contrary, they are important to the entire world.
Hiccup again ends his monologue with the exclamation that Berk has dragons. It shows how they can stand and fight; the dragons have fought off Drago and his Bewilderbeast. It shows how they have found peace; instead of fighting against dragons, or using dragons as weapons, the two species live together in harmony. And it shows furthermore that Hiccup still has one very special dragon for him. Hiccup still has Toothless. Despite the horrible tragedy that occurred which threatened to wrench Hiccup from his best friend forever, he still has Toothless. This is not just a blanketing statement Berk has dragons, then. It is a statement of enduring friendship and peace despite the odds.
It’s about him and Toothless.
This speech is thus very personal to Hiccup. He might truly be speaking about all of Berk here. He might be giving a very brave proclamation as their leader that they will stand up against men like Drago, instead seeking peace. He also is talking to himself, pep-talking himself, and talking about himself. And indeed every single time we hear Hiccup say “This is Berk,” we also get a great glimpse of “This is Hiccup.”
Jax wasn't trying to "start shit for no reason". His world was breaking down, he was scared and wanted a taste of normality.
I have some issues with the way people are seeing this scene here. At face value, it does look like Jax just wants to start fighting for no reason and Zooble and Pomni are ignoring him for that.
That isn't what's happening here.
See, Jax's coping mechanism is to keep things predictable, and keep himself in control. All he's ever known in his life was negativity, being yelled at and condemned and shamed for everything he does, and everything he does wrong. He acts out and bullies and abuses because that's what's normal to him.
It's shown right here in this scene,
Jax thought Zooble was going to yell at him. He turned to them, scared, anticipating a scolding or something to the nature of "Get out, nobody wants you here."
But no, Zooble offers him forgiveness and community. He's hit with that reality, the reality that people love him. Zooble is a kind person, not "the grumpy one", and they truly do want nothing but the best for him.
Here he was, antagonizing everyone, thinking they all want him to die. Assigning them roles because he believes they're as fake as Caine is.
Thinking Pomni would laugh at him.
Thinking Ragatha would try to downplay his feelings with her positivity.
Thinking Gangle would agree with Zooble and pin everyone against him.
But no. Jax realizes that the people around him are forgiving and kind and they actually want him around. He realizes that these people... they're actually his friends. That's pretty shocking for someone like him.
He jokes about it, saying "Hah, you guys worry too much!" when they tell him they're worried about him abstracting.
But he opens his eye, and looks at Pomni. The person in the group he trusts the most. Almost as if to ask...
You'd still be worried though, right? You still care about me, right? Even after everything I did...?
In the café scene, Jax was subconsciously testing that. He didn't intend it, of course, because he doesn't have that kind of self awareness. But subconsciously, he was testing Pomni and Zooble. Trying to see if they really were telling the truth.
So, he drops that bitter remark.
"Y'know things were just fine before you and Zooble came along."
But why? Why those words specifically?
Because Zooble and Pomni antagonize Caine. They call him out. And look what happens when that happens! Jax wants to avoid that!
Let's pause for a second, and go over to Ragatha. We're all familiar with her coping mechanism, and she even demonstrates it to Caine!
She's happy, positive, kind, always ready to help, and always ready to give you a little encouragement when you need it!
She's a people pleaser because her mother was a controlling matriarch. She learned that being a little doll, the perfect little daughter, the perfect little friend who never says anything you don't want to hear, will help her survive.
She. Fawns.
And so does Jax.
Jax, no matter how much he denies it, no matter how much he wants to pretend like he's in control, is doing the exact. Same. Thing.
Jax plays by Caine's rules. He gives the circus members their roles. He abides by his own, loyal to being the funny one. He's the perfect plaything, the perfect little cartoon character for Caine.
The perfect circus bunny, performing just for his ringmaster.
And what do Zooble and Pomni do?
They disrupt that. They disrupt that peace. They threaten Caine, they threaten HIM.
Now, let's get one thing absolutely clear here.
Jax HATES Caine. He hates him, he thinks he's a liar, he controls them, he abuses them, he's been stuck here with this controlling overlord that uses him like a fucking puppet for his own sick and twisted desire to stroke his own ego.
I'm sure Ragatha hated her mother as well and never actually cared about her, she only pretended to be positive and happy to appease her and avoid being punished.
Jax pretends to be a sadistic, funny, sarcastic, jerk to appease Caine. To avoid being punished.
"Caine's not gonna do anything malicious, it's not in his nature."
He's scared of what Caine might do to him. So he lies to himself thinking that if he's good enough for Caine, if he's artificial enough, cartoon enough, if he throws away enough of what makes him human, he can avoid punishment.
Now, back to what he said. "Y'know, things were just fine before you and Zooble came along."
Jax waits for an answer, because he wants Pomni to jump at his throat and scold him. He wants to be hurt, he literally uses them to self-harm. After all, his biggest fear is being laughed at by his closest friends.
And to his surprise, they ignore him. They don't engage.
And he's testing Zooble on what they said. Do you really care if I abstract? Even if I degrade you? Even if I'm an asshole to you?
That's the best way to deal with someone like Jax. Just don't engage, as Zooble said. Just ignore him. He wants to use you to harm himself, don't let him do that.
"Okay."
One last offer to give it to him. Let him have it.
But no. Nobody engages.
That is the confirmation in Jax's mind that Pomni and Zooble were telling the truth.
He...can trust them. He can trust Pomni.
So when Pomni starts her plan with Kinger, he jumps up to ask what's going on. Of course he TRUSTS her but he didn't think anything was ACTUALLY going to happen, right!?
Now he's finding out Kinger is actually capable of being sane! He's not a crazy old man!
What the fuck is happening right now!? Gangle is happy, Ragatha is being genuine, Zooble is forgiving, and now Kinger is sane and normal?
And look what Jax does about this information.
He doesn't double down. He doesn't take the bucket off Kinger's head, he doesn't throw a rude joke to catch everyone off guard, he doesn't try to sabotage what Pomni is trying to do.
When he says "Wait!" while Kinger is talking, it's not because he wanted to stop him. It's not because he wanted to distract him or make him crazy again so he'd stop talking.
It's because he remembered that Caine is always watching. He was trying to get Kinger to stop talking because he knew Caine could appear out of nowhere and throw this entire plan out of the window.
So he gets up, and he says,
"I gotta distract Caine so he doesn't listen in on this."
Jax gets up to help them. Jax chooses, on his own volition, under absolutely no pressure or request, to go and volunteer himself to be the distraction AGAIN, despite how much he hated it the first time. Despite how angry he knows Caine is, despite the fact he knows he could suffer greatly if he does.
Just so the others could have a chance.
"I'm never doing anything for you guys ever again."?
Yeah, right, Jax.
This progress is insane for someone like him. And he goes to have a mini panic attack about the fact it's all real, that these really are human beings and not Caine's playthings or his NPCs.
But he still goes to distract Caine. Because he trusts Pomni, he trusts that her plan is going to work.
Because what does Jax accuse Caine of doing?
"You lie to us constantly!"
Honesty is something Jax values so closely that he abandons his coping mechanism and OFFERS to get tortured by the AI overlord just so the others could have a chance.
It's not one of Caine's adventures or some random NPC he's never seen trying to tell him that there's a chance at escaping.
It's Pomni.
He trusts Pomni. Pomni is his friend.
And by extension, he trusts Kinger, and Zooble, and Ragatha, and Gangle, because they're all humans. They're not Caine, they're not AIs, they won't betray his trust like he does. Jax finally was able to break out of his delusion to see that.
While many families around the world are gathering for iftar with full tables and safety, this is our reality.
Here, hunger is not just part of fasting. It is daily life.
We fast from dawn until sunset, but the hardest part is not knowing if there will be anything to break it with.
My family wants to observe Ramadan like Muslim families everywhere. I wish I could comfort them by saying that a warm meal is waiting at sunset, like every fasting person deserves.
My father’s health is getting worse. He urgently needs medical care and proper nutrition.
Watching him grow weaker while we struggle to provide even basic food is heartbreaking.
If you are reading this from anywhere in the world, please know that your support truly makes a difference.
Please stand with my family this Ramadan.
Help us secure food and medical care for my father.
If you cannot donate, please share
📌 Fundraiser vetted (#167 by el-shab-hussein & nabulsi), But we created a new GoFundMe page because GoFundMe suspended the beneficiary’s account on the platform, which put us in a very difficult situation.
Ways That Fear Can Show Up (Without Saying “Fear”)
When it creeps:
• Foreboding — the air feels wrong before anything actually happens.
• Ominousness — silence that feels almost... purposeful.
• Misgiving — your instincts tugging at your sleeve, whispering, "Don't."
When it hits fast:
• Shock — your brain blanks
• Startled— your heart slams, you inhale
• Panic — thoughts fracture; your instincts beg for escape
When it lingers:
• Tension — jaw locked, shoulders up near your ears.
• Anxiety — background noise that lingers in every thought
• Dread — knowing something bad is coming and having to wait for it.
When it turns physical:
• Shivers — cold crawling up the spine.
• Sweat, dilated pupils, skin gone pale — your own body betrays you.
• Weakness — knees like jelly, grip unreliable.
When it overwhelms:
• Terror — too big to think around.
• Horror — something has gone wrong.
• Paralysis — body refusing orders.
When it distorts reality:
• Paranoia — patterns where there are none.
• Suspicion — every sound feels intentional.
• Unease — the sense of being watched without proof.
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