How to Reverse Engineer Tarot

Tarot usually involves a querent asking the cards a question to receive an answer. But what if we as writers try reversing the exchange? Bring answers, seek questions.

The intention behind this is that you already have some answers or some idea of what you want in a reading for a protagonist--what you need is more questions, more ways to complexify the character.

So you’ve already written this character, they have an important place in your story, but they’re just playing a part. How do you push them beyond the simple role they’re playing to get readers to the next plot point? How do you make them more real?

Pairing this method with a Reverse Draw is especially helpful for character profiling. Pull your character’s card--either one you’ve designated as theirs or a random one--and seek questions that will help you branch off from their established character and create complexities.

Try bringing these answers to the cards:

• This is my character’s desire.
• This is my character’s role.
• This is the theme of my story.
• This is the antagonist.
• This is an important motif.
• This is my character’s relationship.
• This is my world.

Allow the cards to interrogate you:

• Why is this their desire?
• How do they succeed or fail at this role?
• How does each element reflect this theme?
• Why are they the antagonist?
• How can you develop this motif?
• How can you complicate this relationship?
• How does each character experience your world differently?