Discover Your LOTR-Inspired Creative Type

Make a journey of self-discovery, and find out which of these 13 characters you most resemble in your creative life

Mae govannen, friends! Josh here. This week’s newsletter is a guest piece from

Rian Casey Cork

: artist, writer, and founder of

The Gargoyle

— a newsletter and podcast exploring themes of authenticity, creativity, and curiosity. Find Rian on Instagram! Also, check out Rian's humor writing for Ye Olde Tyme News.

In today’s piece, Rian invites us all on a journey to discover more about ourselves through a LOTR-style creative typology index. I enjoyed reading it and seeing which of the types I most closely resembled and am excited for you all to do so as well!

A parting note: this post may be cut off by your email provider part of the way through the index of types. To access the full version if this happens, click on the title at the start of the email, the “view in browser” or the “read in app” links above, or “view entire message” down below.

Discover Your LOTR-Inspired Creative Type

Make a journey of self-discovery, and find out which of these 13 characters you most resemble in your creative life

by

Rian Casey Cork

Author’s Note: This post is dedicated to my brother, who would have turned 35 last month. To know him was like knowing Merry and Pippin rolled in one person. Cheers, bro. Thank you for all the memories, and for sharing your love of LOTR with me.

What is the creative journey but the hero’s journey by another name? When we dare to create — and share our creations with the world — we answer “the call to adventure,” just like the heroes (and villains) from stories like The Lord of the Rings.

Like Tolkien’s characters, we too must face dragons, fight battles, and confront doubts along our unique creative journeys – each step of the way going “further than [we’ve] ever been from home.” The challenge is daunting, and the risks are real; but so are the chances that one day, our creativity may soar like Great Eagles.

In this spirit, I invite you now to make a journey of self-discovery, by exploring and reflecting on the following 13 LOTR-Inspired Creative Types. Where do you see your own creative attributes, strengths, and vulnerabilities among the characters listed below? Remember, you may see yourself in more than one person.

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Creative Type: Aragorn
Attributes: Commitment, endurance, fearlessness.

Strengths: “Aragorn” types are dynamic self-starters who thrive when given free reign. Once they commit to a project, they’re all in. They’ll press on even when the road ahead looks murky… or fang-filled. They especially excel at navigating themes of exploration and identity.

Vulnerabilities: Temptation to stay “under the radar” can prevent “Aragorns” from embracing their fullest creative potential. Transitioning from “underground” to the spotlight is a struggle.

Creative Encouragement: Truly, your toughest battles are the ones you fight within. Take heart and press forward! You will put all the pieces together, and realize your true identity on this creative path you’re forging.

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Creative Type: Arwen
Attributes: Boldness, compassion, discernment.

Strengths: “Arwen” types have a knack for shepherding difficult creative projects over the finish line. Fiercely inventive, they also excel at nurturing budding-yet-fragile ideas and concepts into mature, hardy potentialities. They are skilled at handling themes of destiny, love, and sorrow.

Vulnerabilities: Desire to please family or uphold tradition may be at odds with this type’s deeper, more unconventional creative yearnings – potentially causing sincere identity crises.

Creative Encouragement: Your sensitivity is a gift, not a weakness! Fear not; your discerning heart will help guide your next steps. Dare to be bold. Stand your creative ground.

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Creative Type: Boromir
Attributes: Charisma, humor, strength.

Strengths: “Boromir” types have confidence and swagger in spades. Their creative work is broad, expansive, inclusive, and galvanizing. They’re brilliant when handling themes of humor, humanity, and redemption.

Vulnerabilities: This type can be tempted (and tempt others) into taking shortcuts and “quick fixes” which instead create more work for everyone, disrupting creative collaborations.

Creative Encouragement: Know thyself – and do your shadow work! Beneath that darkness you fear within, light wants to emerge through you into the world.

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Creative Type: Frodo
Attributes: Intuition, inventiveness, resolve.

Strengths: “Frodo” types astonish by completing projects which precious few would dare even begin. Blessed with keen intuition and inventiveness, they are masters at navigating character, psychodrama and psycho-spiritual themes.

Vulnerabilities: Their absolute dedication may create tunnel vision – making the creative journey harder than need be. Of all types, “Frodo” types run the highest risk of losing their own identity in the creative process.

Creative Encouragement: Yours is “the long haul.” Care for your physical self as you travel these thousand miles! Eat, drink, rest, and laugh. Keep friends near – they bring out your best work.

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Creative Type: Galadriel
Attributes: Curiosity, intuition, vision.

Strengths: “Galadriel” types command attention, turning in performances few can ignore. Their work allures, compels, penetrates, and unsettles. They are masters of the dramatic – able to oscillate from transcendent hope to profound despair and back again.

Vulnerabilities: Megalomania is a sincere vulnerability for this type, as is their creative output (when unchecked and unedited) descending into mere melodrama.

Creative Encouragement: You work best when you are giving gifts rather than seeking prizes. Strive to make even your most intimate pieces self-emptying in nature.

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Creative Type: Gandalf
Attributes: Experience, humility, optimism.

Strengths: Like a trusty backstage mechanic, this type maintains a deep “toolbox” and know-how when it comes to their craft. “Gandalf” types can work effectively in a variety of settings; they will also firmly stand their creative ground when necessary.

Vulnerabilities: This type can easily get lost in thought and thus miss what is obvious to others. When stressed, they become unraveled, disorganized, forgetful, and miss deadlines.  

Creative Encouragement: Leave the minutiae to others. Play big – to your own hard-won strengths. Don’t get so busy mentoring others that you forget to tend your own inner flame!

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Creative Type: Gimli
Attributes: Confidence, fierceness, warmth.

Strengths: “Gimli” types love to mix it up and thrust their creative work “into the arena.” Their strong fighting spirit propels them from challenge to challenge, often with ringing success. They excel at harnessing fierce energies and emotions into creative, productive purposes.

Vulnerabilities: Energy-wise, “Gimli” types are better in short bursts rather than marathons. Once their energies are spent, they must get time to refuel. At their worst, a “short fuse” can lead to frustration and blowups with creative partners.

Creative Encouragement: You know yourself and what you’re capable of. Beneath that tough exterior, you have surprising depth – and capacity to plumb the depths of the human experience. Explore at your own speed, and your own comfort.

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Creative Type: Legolas
Attributes: Assertiveness, focus, intensity.

Strengths: “Legolas” types are efficient, prolific artists – with elegance and style to spare. Though they seem to walk on air, they can surprise you with deep-rooted capacity for expressing feeling – particularly around themes of grief, loss, and memory.

Vulnerabilities: Natural aloofness, plus a certain aura of invincibility, can potentially make this type’s creative output seem unrelatable and inaccessible. At their worst, “Legolas” types may sacrifice raw authenticity for muted, “on-brand” aesthetics.

Creative Encouragement: Though you might hail from ivory towers, you haven’t remained there. Bravo! Down here on the messy battlefield of the creative life, friends will help you get mud on your face (and your hair) and help you access and express your raw feelings.

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Creative Type: Merry
Attributes: Inclusivity, inventiveness, mischievousness.

Strengths: “Merry” types have a style that is both inviting and subversive. Their bard-like and humorous approach to creativity makes audiences feel at ease – and free to be themselves. When the mood strikes, “Merry” types can also be surprisingly inspiring and heroic.

Vulnerabilities: “Merry” types may be tempted to stay in the realm of The Joker or The Fool. Setting aside their tricks and pranks for a purpose larger than themselves can lead to significantly more impactful creativity.

Creative Encouragement: Don’t discount your gifts – or their ability to affect others. As you grow, so will your humor, humanity, and playfulness. Don’t be afraid of change; your best parts will always find expression!

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Creative Type: Pippin
Attributes: Liveliness, openness, unpredictability.

Strengths: Like their “Merry” pals, “Pippin” types possess appetites for mischief; yet deep curiosity and sensitivity flow beneath the thrill-seeking surface. At their best, “Pippins” can stun with creative work incorporating rhythm, lyricality, and distinct sense of time and place.

Vulnerabilities: Sensitivity makes “Pippins” vulnerable to harsh feedback, particularly from mentors. Their over-active curiosity can also get them into volcanically-hot water, requiring rescue by aforementioned mentors.

Creative Encouragement: You are keenly sensitive to the darkness that surrounds us all. Yet you also know there is light and music in the world which can never be extinguished. Sacred flame leaps within you… can you dance with it?

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Creative Type: Sam
Attributes: Generosity, compassion, consistency.

Strengths: “Sam” types often resist their own creativity, preferring to assist or coach others instead. When they finally do “find their voice,” they astonish. “Sam” types are great storytellers across mediums – gifted at embodying arc, rhythm, and movement in their works.

Vulnerabilities: It can take a lot for “Sam” types to fully claim and own their voice. Sometimes, they must be pressed into extreme situations to discover just how powerful they really are. Until they grow to believe in themselves, they are vulnerable to rejection.

Creative Encouragement: Your support of others is an art form in itself. Yet there is something special within you, that cannot come into the world through anyone else. Learn to be okay with putting all the baggage down and making space just for your own work.

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Creative Type: Saruman
Attributes: Ambition, ruthlessness, savviness.

Strengths: “Saruman” creative types don’t wait for opportunities – they find and seize them. Distinctly talented, their work often draws attention from “big-time” publishers and tastemakers. At their best, “Saruman” types can convey raven-like wisdom and insight about the world and its inhabitants through their creative work.

Vulnerabilities: Seeking “greatness” can blind this type to what is already “good enough” in their work. Thus, ruthless perfectionism can arise – and dominate. Other creatives frequently experience “Saruman” types as exceedingly difficult to collaborate with.

Creative Encouragement: Dream big – but stay grounded! Real friends will keep you accountable and affirm that “good enough” is truly good enough.

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Creative Type: Treebeard
Attributes: Cautiousness, discernment, dynamism.

Strengths: “Treebeard” types take ages to decide what projects they’ll commit to – or whether they’ll commit at all. But once they say “yes” to the creative calling, their work can be landscape-altering. They often just need a hobbit-sized dose of inspiration.

Vulnerabilities: The risk for this type is inaction – fueled by distrust of others, and deep-seated fear of being insignificant or forgotten. Rather than jump in (and possibly fail), “Treebeard” types may be tempted to stay on the sidelines.

Creative Encouragement: Your pain and fear are more universal than you know. On the other side of doubt and uncertainty, you’ll find the connection and camaraderie you’ve always craved. Raise your voice and get out there.

To Discuss:

1. Which of the creative types do you most closely identify with?

2. Which part of the description did you find most personally relevant and impactful: the discussion of strengths, the identification of vulnerabilities, or the creative encouragement?
   

3. What other types and characters could you see added to this index?

Appendices

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