TALENTED DEFINITION:having a marked (often innate) ability, usually in a creative, athletic, or artistic field CATEGORIES:achievement, identity SIMILAR ATTRIBUTES:accomplished, adept, expert, gifted, proficient, skilled POSSIBLE CAUSES: Having a natural aptitude in a given area Being exposed to many different experiences and activities Dedication and perseverance A deep, passionate love of a sport, type of music, art form, etc. ASSOCIATED BEHAVIORS: Gravitating towards activities that emphasize one’s skill Pushing oneself to always improve Perfectionism Exhibiting a strong work ethic Associating with people who can further one’s career or increase one’s advantage Learning everything possible about one’s area of giftedness Trying new tricks and techniques to increase one’s ability Competitiveness Being goal oriented Not being satisfied with the status quo Worrying about the motives of others:Do they like me for me or for what I have to offer? Growing up too fast Seeking out successful mentors and coaches Comparing oneself to others Worrying about one’s image Idolizing and studying successful icons in one’s field of giftedness Quickly outpacing other same-age athletes or artists Having difficulty accepting a loss gracefully Perseverance Becoming cocky or haughty Losing one’s love for the talent; feeling like practice or training is a job Fearing failure because one’s family is invested in one’s success Making one’s talent the highest priority in one’s life Setting aside anything or anyone that would be a distraction from one’s talent Becoming devastated by a loss or setback Demanding to be treated like an accomplished talent Taking pride in one’s skill Experiencing burnout Feeling defined by one’s talent and wanting something more ASSOCIATED THOUGHTS: This is what I was made to do. I want to be the best. If I don’t make first chair, I don’t know what I’ll do. No one can beat me at this. Great, another recital. I wish Mom and Dad would let me quit piano lessons. ASSOCIATED EMOTIONS:anticipation, anxiety, confidence, disappointment, doubt, eagerness, elation, envy, insecurity, nervousness, pride, smugness POSITIVE ASPECTS:Talents make characters well-rounded; they add dimension. With so many skills to choose from, they provide innumerable opportunities for creating unique characters. Talents, along with their other attributes, can make our characters valuable in group and social settings by giving them something to offer, whether it be practical (cooking, sewing, carpentry) or entertaining (singing, painting, acting) in nature. NEGATIVE ASPECTS:Talented characters can come across as smug, disdainful, and overconfident. They are often envied for their abilities and can easily become targets. Those with talents might wonder whether people are showing true interest in them for who they are or only because of their abilities. As such, it’s not uncommon for very talented people to be insecure, untrusting, and lonely. EXAMPLE FROM POP CULTURE:Questions about his personal life aside, no one can contest Michael Jackson’s giftedness. His vocal abilities and natural stage presence at age five were nothing short of amazing. He was an accomplished songwriter, penning the lyrics to many of his #1 hits, and could dance in a way that few could or can to this day. Unfortunately, talented people are as flawed as everyone else, and his personal life was marred by legal difficulties, questionable medical procedures, and other strangeness. But even after his death, his undeniable talent remains.Other Examples from Pop Culture:Michael Jordan, Michael Phelps, Fred Astaire, Aretha Franklin, John Williams, Steven Spielberg TRAITS IN SUPPORTING CHARACTERS THAT MAY CAUSE CONFLICT:easygoing, gullible, jealous, lazy, prejudiced, vindictive CHALLENGING SCENARIOS FOR THE TALENTED CHARACTER: PLOTLINE: Meeting another talented person who has no work ethic PLOTLINE: Discovering that one’s talent is an impediment to achieving one’s goal PLOTLINE: Rejecting one’s talent to pursue a passion in an area where one is unskilled PLOTLINE: Facing criticism from parents or caregivers who don’t appreciate one’s talent PLOTLINE: Dealing with pushy parents trying to live out their unfulfilled dreams through one’s gift