CREATING CHARACTER MOTIVATION
Why do most of us read romance? For many, it is to delve into the journey of another character, to live their lives, fall in love with their hero or heroine, and basically to identify with them.
This requires strong well-motivated characters.
Before I go any further I have to be sure everyone understands this disclaimer: This is only one way of uncovering characters. Every person, every story has it's own way. If this doesn't work for you, shuck it. If only parts of it work, use those parts. Keep what works, forget the rest.
End of rant.
So how do we give our characters motives strong enough, solid enough, to carry them through a story? Do we simply pick a conflict and assign the underlying motive? Perhaps this works for some. For me, discovering deep motivation requires I get to know my character. Not his physical attributes—though in a romance, we want to know these—but what makes this character tick. It can be difficult or easy depending on your character and your story.
This is the process I often use.
I have an idea of some sort. Perhaps it's a scene, a person, a situation or a nagging question: What would happen if a young woman is forced into a situation that makes her confront her insecurities?
Anywhere is a good place to start.
I then ask and answer these questions about all my main characters.
Who is she—her job or position? Is she a single mom, a career girl, an insecure wife?
Who is she—her family? Does she have siblings? Are they older or younger? What is her relationship with them? Was she raised in a two-parent family or by a single parent? Are her parents alive? What is her relationship with them?
Who is she—her personality? How would I describe her to a friend—extrovert, introvert, loner, busybody? I look for an identifying noun or a noun and adjective—something that will help me focus in; something that gives me a pinpoint description so that I can make sure his/her actions are always in line with his character. Obviously there are more characteristics but this is my focus point. I need something that affects her responses to problems, to relationships, to life. Such as she's a Pollyanna. Or she's intensely secretive. Or she's a nurturer. Be careful not to pick an label and then try and force your characters into the slot. Just get to know them. Use whatever identifier works for you. Of course, I now have to begin to ask myself why is she like this and how does it affect her life?
I now add 10 descriptors to her personality— think adjectives—cheerful, organized, reticent, blunt, honest, caring, nurturing, cautious, uncompromising. And if some of them don't fit with what I choose as her key descriptor, I need to understand why.
I next want to identify her strongest trait. This is the one that leads her decisions. I need to grasp this in order to have a strong character. Is it her sense of responsibility? This may well be the same or similar to her personality descriptor. Or it might be different.
Now what is her weakest trait? Is it the opposite of her strongest? Is her strength responsibility and her weakness caution? Is it honesty vs. bluntness? Do you need to go back and adjust some of your previous entries?
What is her greatest fear? This is one of the most important things to know about my character because I am going to address her fear and make her face it every time I get a chance. And in the end, to create a satisfying ending she will have to confront this fear and put it to rest. For instance, if her greatest fear is loss of control then she is going to have to have a scene where she confronts that. If his is fear of seeing one he loves suffer, he will have to watch the heroine suffer.
I now move deeper, to the heart of my characters. What makes them tick? What are their hang-ups? What keeps them from being whole? What keeps her from being able to accept love?
I look for a basic internal conflict. Deb Dixon calls it motivation. But maybe if we call it desire we can get away from terms that sometimes make us choke. Perhaps her desire is something she doesn't even admit or acknowledge. Think need. The story then becomes a journey in which the character discovers her need, acknowledges it and finds a way to satisfy it. So what does your character desire? What drives her reactions? Perhaps negatively in avoiding it? Remember the character may not be aware of her need, she will not want to change. She will have to be dragged through the story to satisfy this desire or need.
What is my character's reason for wanting this? Motivation. Dig into her back story.
What obstacles keep her from getting this? And creates a conflict. Because we are thinking mostly internal here, think of the internal obstacles. Is it her fear that prevents her from pursuing her need? Is it her circumstances? Is it her idealism? Or perhaps because she has a mistaken idea of what she needs or what would satisfy her?
Explore the obstacles she faces in order to achieve her goal and satisfy her need. Don't be afraid to brainstorm several ideas. Perhaps the first one doesn’t' quit fit. You might need to adjust some of your previous entries. Go around in circles if you need to. Follow rabbit trails. You never know where they might lead. Above all, be real, be honest, be brave.
What is she lacking inside that makes her seek this desire? Does she feel she is unlovable because has her father neglected her needs as a child? Again, you see how these steps build upon one another.
What events created this lack inside that powers her choices and decisions? One event is not enough. Look for three. And only things in her far past are not enough. Make it more real, more in her face or we will wonder why she doesn't just get over it. This becomes a matter of exploring. Write down what comes to mind now. Listen to your gut tell you when your answers are too shallow, too clichéd or when they don't work for the story. Dig deep. Now dig deeper.
Now look at what you've discovered about your heroine (Or hero). What is her journey? It will be unique to your heroine. Choose an emotional problem to overcome. The character doesn't want to grow and change but the events of the story (external story line) and the conflict between the heroine and hero will drag them through this process. Your journey can be something like idealism to reality. It can be a journey from fear to trust. Isolation to belonging. The possibilities are limitless but specific to your character and this story.
This is an ongoing thing. As you continue to work on plot and on your other characters, you will have to make adjustments, especially when you do this for your hero creating a man who is the opposite to your heroine in as many ways as possible. She's cautious. He's reckless. She's idealistic. He's flexible.
As you begin to see them move, make decisions, and retreat when their fears surface, you will change some of your entries.
One way to dig deeper in discovering your character is by journaling as your character. Open a document, turn to a fresh page and begin: My name is ____and I've always believed .... , or I've always wondered ... , or I used to think....
I often don't discover the real, gut-wrenching reasons and answers until I've done the first three chapters or even the first draft but then I can go back and strengthen my ms. This is an organic thing. It changes and grows as I delve deeper into my story and my characters.
Much of this information has been gleaned from various workshops I've taken and combined and molded into a process that works for me. Over the years, I've forgotten the original source of the material. So credit is due to those unnamed writers who helped me discover this process. Thanks for your generosity. |
