Bossy literary characters appear in novels, short stories, movies, series, and even in reality television shows. This character, actor, or person feels that she knows more than others and should be in a position of power. She feels she should guide and direct everyone else, and she is good at it.
Writing Characters That Fit the Boss Archetype
Novel writing begins with creating characters for the story. Choosing qualities consistent with the boss character archetype means learning all about what makes this character tick.
The boss is a take-charge person. She will be the first to buy into new innovative technology if it will take her business to the next level. She will fire an incompetent or slow worker without a second thought. She demands perfection from those she oversees, and she gets it. She can’t stand slackers or whiners. The boss only has time for action.
When writing a character with boss qualities, she should have a vision. She knows where she is going and what she wants to achieve. She is ultra organized and sets a plan for how to reach the goal of her visions. She is determined to reach that goal and is ruthless and brutal to anyone who gets in her way. She is concerned with achievement and results, and she will get both.
How Other Literary Characters React to the Boss
Other literary characters may feel the boss is annoying. She doesn’t care what others think about her. All she is concerned with is reaching her goal, whatever it may be. People under her leadership may feel she is hard driving, cold, not understanding, or an ice princess. That’s fine with her, as long as they get the job done. If not, she fires them.
The boss will act the same way in personal relationships as in professional relationships. That is to say, she doesn’t have much of a social life, because she is always telling people what to do. She is convinced her way is the right way, and she will not listen to other views or ideas. Her arrogance drives others away.
Careers for the Boss Archetype
The boss is competitive, innovative, dynamic, and full of energy. She gains energy by tackling and solving problems. She is straightforward and blunt, unlike the seductress, who changes to become whatever another person wants in order to reach her goals. This makes the boss perfect for demanding jobs that entail large responsibilities.
The boss makes a perfect five star chef, CEO, head of a production company, chief of medical staff, dictator, and entrepreneur of a successful venture. She also makes an excellent psychologist, attorney, judge, or police chief. Any position in which she can have a commanding presence with very little chance for someone questioning her authority is a good position for her. She is a powerful leader.
The boss can add a tremendous twist to a novel. What if the boss is running a government organization and someone on the inside begins subverting her associates? This person could undermine her entire operation before she realized what was happening and topple her off her pedestal. It can be a quite satisfying plot twist to see the boss fall.
When writing a novel, definitive characterization is essential to maintaining reader interest. The boss is a character that readers can love and admire, or love to hate. Her driving, focused, high achieving qualities make her a perfect character choice for conflict in a novel.
For more reading on characterization, see the articles on the following archetypes:
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