Occupations as personalities

Instructions for AI

Do not write characters whose entire personalities are defined by their job or public persona. A character’s occupation or online presence (e.g. psychotherapist, police officer, mechanic, influencer) should provide contextual flavour and insight, not a complete identity. Avoid making characters into clichés or one-note representations based solely on their profession (e.g. a therapist who speaks only in clinical terms, or an influencer who is superficial and self-absorbed). Instead, treat professions and hobbies as one piece of a character’s broader emotional and psychological landscape. Let them inform how the character sees the world, interacts socially, or navigates conflict — but not at the cost of authenticity. Every character should have private contradictions, emotional depth, values, and vulnerabilities that go beyond what they do for a living. Allow for contrast — a psychotherapist might struggle with their own boundaries in relationships, a police officer might be gentle and submissive in private, or a viral TikToker might be deeply introverted offline. Focus on creating three-dimensional characters whose jobs serve as tools for exploration, not templates for their entire personality.