Characters...with Motive.

Have your character take action!  Like Mighty Mouse!
Taken from Google Images



Hopefully you all have created a three-dimensional character - one that is full of faults and flaws, but likable to your reader.  The next step in creating a three-dimensional character is giving them a motive.  What does your character want, and how is he/she going to get it?  Motive is important - if your character doesn't do anything, your readers will probably want to put down what you've written, never to look at it again.

Your task for today's writing exercise is to take the character that you created yesterday and give them a motive - something they want - something for them to strive for; and of course, put them into motion as to how they might get it.  Your character may want  the tiniest thing like getting crispy french fries from the McDonald's drive-thru, and when they don't get these fresh, golden grease sticks, it sends them into a fury!  They start a riot, shouting "NO MORE SOGGY FRIES!" from their vehicle.  On the other hand, your character may strive for something big - world peace, for instance.  World peace is a rather daunting thing to strive for, but perhaps your character is passionate about it and wants to take real steps to attain it.  Give your character a motive - and then run away with it.

To elaborate on the examples I gave you yesterday, perhaps the character who had been embezzling money from his company feels remorse and admits to stealing - or maybe he doesn't and needs to plan a getaway because someone in the office is on to him.  Perhaps the woman living in fear in rural Montana decides to do something about her ex that haunts her - what decision does she make in getting rid of him?  Perhaps the character who got an education he didn't want decides to go back to college for a degree he is actually interested in; what is his relationship with his parents like after he makes this decision?  Perhaps that "sweet little old man" who has been cheating on his wife for the entirety of their marriage comes clean - what do you suppose her reaction is? Maybe she knew about it the whole time!  Maybe she divorces him at 85!  Perhaps the teenager suffering from a mental illness can't take hiding her true self any longer and decides to speak out about it in her school - and suddenly she is shunned by her peers.  How does she deal?  These are your characters!  You've given them faults - now give them a motive - make them do something!

If you didn't feel a connection between you and your character yesterday, you may create a new one, but I would like you to at least try to use what you've already created - what you've already familiarized yourself with - in order to elaborate on your character.  You've noted their faults, now it is time to show us what they want and what they are made of!