Do you know what your character’s motivation is and what combined traits are attached to convincingly have the character reach his/her goal? Hope so. If not, there’s no character arc, sensible action or reason for an audience or reader to care.
Motivation = Goal. Most writers already know that a character needs a motivation (a goal) and must use the most effective character trait combination to help the character reach that goal with an audience rooting for him/her. But it’s not an easy task to do that and something I struggled with in my early days of writing.
When you begin to write a screenplay or novel, you know what story you want to tell and at least who your protagonist is. You also know how you want your story to end – the protagonist reaches his/her goal.
So, before you start writing, make a list of what motivates your character by answering these key questions: What is your character’s goal? What is the one thing your character wants and will get by the end of the story? What goal does your protagonist have that takes him/her on a journey where nothing will stop him/her from getting it?
Here’s some suggestions:
Love
Success
Acceptance by peers
Save the world from disaster
Invent an antidote for all cancers
Achieving their dream career like writing
Now these are general suggestions but they are goals that motivate. Whatever the goal is, your characters must reach it by story’s end and they will, regardless of their obstacles, if you give them the right trait combination.
Traits are adjectives and there are plenty in a thesaurus and the Bible. You must ask yourself what kind of person your character is. I’m not talking about profession although you would probably know what you want your character to be. I’m talking about personality. Are they:
Driven? Relentless? Lazy? Creative? Witty? Courageous? Indispensable?
Whatever 2 or 3 traits you use for your protagonist, it is something inside each trait (action, reaction, etc.) that will lead your protagonist to reach his/her goal. And you must be consistent and the trait must make sense.
In addition to your key traits, you must have your character’s fatal flaw listed. What is a fatal flaw? It’s the one trait that will make or break your character. If you are stuck on determining a fatal flaw and other traits, start with the 7 deadly sins (the flaw that must change) and their opposite traits to achieve:
*Pride – change to Humility (Does she pride herself in helping others so much that she neglects her own needs – getting by with very little – hiding her true self – thus an obstacle to finding love?)
*Sloth – change to Diligence (Does he just go along with the flow, ignoring his own feelings? Denying his anger perhaps? Doesn’t take sides in a fight between colleagues? Overlooked in a job everyone knows he deserved?) Fearful of not finding love? He will have to take action and risks which will lead him to achieve his goal)
*Wrath – change to Patience (courageous but always right – perfect – upset she’s not getting what she wants – a yes or no character – avoids criticism – She must accept the imperfections of the world, in people and herself)
*Gluttony – change to Temperance (does he resist everything? Avoids being alone with himself – Constantly distracted: avoids commitment – no wonder he hasn’t yet achieved his goal)
*Envy – change to Kindness (Jealous, angry that others have a richer life – life or death for her – extreme emotions – loves the drama of life – self-pity – no laughter – well, that’s all got to change. She must appreciate life around her and what she has and be happy with it, realizing the world will still be there for her…)
*Greed – change to Charity (That’s easy. Who wants to be around a greedy, selfish person except the person? Who would want a lover like that? Who wants to work with someone who just keeps everything to himself? The character will have to open up, open his window instead of keeping it shut if he is to achieve his goal and actually find out what he’s missing out on)
*Lust – change to Chastity (a lust for everything: power, love, control. Not an easy character to get along with – doesn’t want to share. Ugh. She loses a lover, confident in her fight to get him back her way, gets things done and goes after what she wants – determined – could be a good thing in the long run but she needs to learn to compromise and stop resisting that her way is the only way even though she may be fighting for a good cause)
Did you notice how several of the traits not only intersect each other but different combinations result in different ways of reaching goals?
Are the flaws and traits you choose the best choices for your character to heroically reach his/her goal, in life or death, and not be hated for it? Hope so.
If not, resolve the motivation-trait battle and let us root for your character and relate to your character’s conquered journey of change.