Motivation.
This is the powerful emotion that inspires people to get off the couch and grab a tub of ice cream. It’s the only thing that is strong enough to pull me out of a very warm bed when it’s still dark and cold outside. It’s what inspires Harry Potter to defeat Voldemort in Harry Potter, Elizabeth Gilbert to find food, meaning, and companionship respectively in Eat Pray Love, and Frodo Baggins to make the long walk to Mordor in The Lord of the Rings.
UPDATED 5/17/19
Your characters have to want something
Every good book begins with a protagonist who wants something. There’s a reason you don’t generally see books about characters cast about by the whims of fate without any sense of purpose or desire, or, worse, characters who are aimlessly wandering about trying to find their purpose. Even Odysseus, essentially a powerless character blown about by the gods, has a rock-solid motivation: he wants to get home.
Wanting something is what makes protagonists interesting. It’s what makes readers invested in finding out if the character is going to get the things that he or she wants. It’s what makes these characters feel like living, breathing humans. After all, we all want something at any given moment.
Your character does not have to know what he or she wants on page one, but it should be conclusively clear by page 30, preferably earlier. Every step that your protagonist takes after this point should be a step toward this goal, though the forward progress will be thwarted by obstacles and other characters, who have their own set of desires and motivations.
Make what they want complicated
Many stories, especially genre novels, have a built-in motivation that’s kicked off at the beginning, like a parent whose child was kidnapped or a save-the-princess fantasy novel. The character’s motivation is immediately apparent based on the situation they find themselves in.
Better yet is a novel where a character wants more than one thing and these two things are at odds. The main character might want to save the princess, but he might just have his eye on the king’s throne as well, and so he has to decide by the end of the novel which of these two motivations are more important to him.
Better still is a character that wants things that are internally contradictory, so that the character not only has to battle exterior obstacles to get what he or she wants, but the character also has to battle their own conflicting desires.
Competing desires
Here’s a way of illustrating that in A Game of Thrones style.
- Good: Ned Stark wants to help his friend, King Robert, protect the realm.
- Better: Ned Stark wants to help his friend, King Robert, while also protecting his family.
- Best: Ned Stark wants to help his friend, King Robert, while also protecting his family and maintaining his personal sense of honor, but he may only be able to do one of the three.
When I was crafting the plot of Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow, it was important to me that Jacob should have competing desires in the climax. He isn’t just trying to figure out how to get home to Earth, as he isn’t even sure if he wants to go home. He isn’t sure at all about what to do in the end.
Before the climax, I steadily built up the idea that perhaps Jacob’s dad was in outer space. Jacob could continue looking for his dad in space or he could return home with his friends, but he couldn’t do both. He had to overcome his own internal battles to make this choice. He had contradictory motivations.
The desires of your characters will help shape these crucial choices in your novel. Every time you introduce something a character wants, either internal or external—regardless of whether they want to save a princess, seek acceptance from their parents, or snare a white whale—you’re introducing a plot arc.
Hone your plot arcs
A plot or character arc is basically a drawn-out process in which a character wants something and then tries to get it. The arc closes when they succeed or fail in getting what they want.
Every single character you introduce, major or minor, from your protagonist to the pizza delivery robot, should have their own plot arc(s) with defined goals and motivations.
If you’re a planner, write these arcs down and know them by heart. Map them out from beginning to end. You should be able to create a spreadsheet of everyone’s arcs, which are shaped by the things they want and their high points and low points as they try to get them.
If you’re an improviser, make sure that when you’re finished with your draft, you can trace these arcs from start to finish. Look for moments when characters don’t display enough motivation, and consider rearranging some events to make the arcs fit together more cohesively.
The more important the character, the longer and more complex the plot arc(s). For instance, your main protagonist’s and your main villain’s plot arcs should be introduced early in the novel, and you will probably have a rather nuanced view of their desires and contradictions.
We probably don’t need to know about the existential crises of the pizza delivery robot, but it should still show some sort of motivation if it is to be an interesting character.
Why your characters are flat
Motivation is often where writers miss opportunities. Their characters seem flat because there’s nothing beating in their hearts. A character without motivation is an automaton. They’re just going through the motions.
Instead, at every step of the way, on every page, with every exchange of dialogue and every action, the best characters are actively trying to achieve their desires. Every character is motivated. Always ask yourself what they want. Then construct obstacles, whether internal, external, or both, that stand in their way. They’re encountering characters or monsters or inanimate barriers that want something different than they do and that are stopping them from getting what they want.
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Art: Désirs by William Kendall
Bradley Robb says
Vonnegut addressed this in his rules for writing – Every character should want something, even if it’s just a glass of water.
Julie Weathers says
This is one of your best posts ever. Donald Maassesque in scope.
Maass has an exercise. “What would your character never do?”
I thought it was silly at first and then when I tried it, I was astounded at the depth it added to the character. The conflict rose dramatically, just as your Mario description does.
Good job, Nathan. Thanks for posting this on Twitter, btw.
The Screaming Guppy says
Awesome post. Love the Mario plot example!
Crystal says
Oh Nathan! You’ve stolen my heart with that Mario Bros. reference, I love it!
But seriously, great post. It really got me thinking about my novel and whether it had those character aspects in it. It also got me thinking of a brainstorm for another novel to write, so thanks a bunch for the inspiration!
Off to the drawing board 🙂
Crystal
Scott says
As silly as it sounds, it’s easy to lose sight of what characters want, to get sidetracked. This post is a great reminder, Nathan. Thank you.
I’m listening to Harlan Coben’s The Woods right now. It’s a great illustration of what you’re talking about. The main character, Paul Copeland, wants to find out what really happened the night of his sister’s muder some 20 years ago. That point is hammered home over and over again by Coben through out the book. Everything Paul Copeland does, somehow relates back to that desire.
David Eric Tomlinson says
My characters want caffeine.
Anna Claire says
So simple in principle, but so important. I’m starting a new book and you’ve definitely given me a focus for the next few days as I try to flesh out my main character. Thanks Nathan!
Judith Coughlin says
Someone read me one of my stories the other day, and hearing my words in their voice took it right out of my head. And I realized that the reader doesn’t know what I know, doesn’t have the correct cadence of voice, doesn’t have anything that I don’t give him. The reading happened by accident, wasn’t something I ever would have asked someone to do, but the story arc issues you speak to instantly crystalized for me.
K.C. Shaw says
It’s sort of related, although I can’t remember who said it first (I’ve read it lots of places), but every character should think he/she is the hero of the story. Even the bad guy. So any writers out there who want to make a secondary character’s motivation “He really wants to help the hero win!” should rethink that.
RW says
I highly recommend–in addition to Nathan’s excellent description of this issue–L. Rust Hills’ book Writing in General and the Short Story In Particular. Reading his description of the difference between a sketch and a story was one of those “duh” moments for me that get me kick started.
Prairie Chicks Write Romance says
There’s a reason I fight my way through 5000 to 7000 readers a day to get to this blog. This is a great post, Nathan, thank you. I’m bookmarking it so I can come back to it again and again as I navigate my way through my characters’ lives (from start to finish).
Janet
Vancouver Dame says
Motivation was one of the first elements I mapped out when creating the profiles for my characters. It helps define how they will interact with the other characters. This is another great informative post, Nathan, leaving us hungry for Thursday’s post on conflict.
Determining what the conflict will be is one of the things I enjoy most about characterization – whether internal or external. The article Alan Rinzler has on his site about ‘loving your characters’ relates to this somewhat.
Very happy to see this week will include writing topics, since your posts always seem to be right on point.
Marilyn Peake says
I love that you introduced a topic on writing! Wow, nothing like a writing topic to get writers enthused and chatting like crazy.
I’ve been giving a lot of thought to plot arcs recently. On page 217 of the science fiction novel I’m writing, I’m trying to pay very close attention to how the arcs of all the characters, including the minor ones, are progressing. That’s allowing me to move the novel forward much more quickly, and to feel like I’m getting to the heart of the overall story.
One of my favorite novels, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, holds great examples of plot arcs. Every character is unique. Even though an entire family struggles through life in a difficult environment, each one has very different motivations, and their lives end up quite different as a result.
JES says
Such a great post, even if it IS on the one element of writing a book which gives me the worst heebie-jeebies. 🙂
Ash D. says
Wonderful post.
I mean, come on… Who DOESN’T want to work with an agent who uses Nintedo-based examples?!
It just doesn’t get much more awesome than that.
ryan field says
Good post.
Bane of Anubis says
Nathan, Thanks for the great post!
Ulysses says
I’ve critiqued a number of manuscripts, both short stories and novels that suffer from this weakness. Without character desires, the story has no plot. It’s just a series of connected events that don’t lead anywhere. As a young lady of my acquaintance once said of her relationships: “If it’s not going anywhere, why am I involved?”
I’d also stress that wanting something is insufficient by itself. The characters have to take action. They can’t just wander through their lives waiting for chance or fate to drop it into their laps… unless they’re a tragic figure whose inaction leads to the tragedy.
On an unrelated note: Via this blog: https://somanybooksblog.com/2009/03/16/are-we-headed-toward-a-post-literate-world/
A fascinating academic study about the future of writing and reading with some unsettling conclusions. The author of the presentation maintains a web site with more information:
https://www.uoguelph.ca/~mridley/PostLiteracy.htm
Jen P says
Wow. I’ve been writing for ages and was comfortable with plot, character, motivation, and how to make it all fit together and that every single thing has to count, but “plot arc” I’ve never heard of, and it suddenly became visual and so much easier to see in my head. Awesome advice. Thank you. wow.
Emily Breen says
This post came on the day before my query goes off to my agent of choice with the first three chapters and all my hopes and dreams (keeping it all in proportion as you see!).
The questions you ask are so pertinent and have helped me give myself a little credit for all the work I put in on backstory for all my characters – pages that will never see the light of day but which, hopefully, shine through in everything they say, and all they leave unsaid.
Thank you for this post, much more constructive than the ANTM repeat I was watching. Back to reading, reading and rereading synopsis. Scary times 🙂
johnaskins says
Every character has to show agency? But it’s so hard to get an agent!
Dara says
Constructing a good story around what your characters want takes a lot of work. I’m constantly fixing and fine tuning the motivations of my characters; sometimes I have to make them more compelling because they don’t always come across that way.
Awesome Mario Bros. reference too. 🙂
Anonymous says
Intriguing post to think about deeply!
I just pulled out from some writing and have a really big question for anyone:
If a character starts to think they won’t get what they want and gets depressed, loses hope, etc., is that dangerous (for the writing, the reader, etc.)?
(too much of a downer?)
Nathan Bransford says
anon-
At the nadir of a plot arc (which often happens right before the climax), all hope SHOULD seem lost and the character can be depressed and sad, etc. But the character shouldn’t stop trying, or they might lose the reader.
Lafreya says
Great post!! People in my writing group look at me like I’m crazy when I ask them this. They think I’m being picky. I’m sending them here.
Haste yee back ;-) says
Uh…. Nathan,
Some of us have multiple personalities and we not only deal with contradictory wants but wants that are contradictory to the contradiction and with more than one person living in your head you multiply contradictions exponentially, producing contradictions to contradict any contradictions that are contra-indicators of contradictions to any and all outright contradicts!
Haste yee back 😉
(plot a mile in my shoes and you’ll take the same meds)!
MaLanie says
Great post, very helpful. Thank you!
I must admit, I am a little scared to let people see my manuscript. It has become very personal and intimate. My characters are like my family! I feel like I am baring my soul.
This is my first book, will it be this way with every book? Does anyone else out there feel this way about your characters?
Mira says
This is cool, talking about writing.
I’m learning about myself as a writer. Recently I felt liberated when I realized my genre isn’t fiction. I don’t have ‘story’ in my head, although I really admire people who do.
Realizing this was a relief because my fiction writing isn’t very good, and I kept struggling with it. But I knew I wanted to write…finding my genre was like ‘coming home.’
Plot and character motivation, though, is equally as important in my genres of essay/humor/non-fiction. The character voices still need motivation, and the piece still needs conflict to move it along. It’s just set up differently.
Or is it? I haven’t really thought about this much, but it’s interesting to think about character arcs and motivation outside the fiction genre.
Mira says
Speaking of character, I was thinking of starting a blog for characters.
I would call it ‘Come in Character’ and writers could post in their character voices. As a way to practice character.
That way your character could interact with other people in real life. It could really sharpen characterization.
I wonder if a blog like that would interest other people….?
Elyssa Papa says
Really great FYI post on Motivation. Poor Luigi; he always gets such a bad rep.
Anonymous says
Oh Nathan, that’s so helpful!! Thanks!
And, whew! My character is in the final push before the big grand finali
and he is feeling bad and down.
But all hope is not to be lost!
Stay tuned!
😀
(word verification=hinge)
Kristi says
MaLanie – I also just finished my first book and have that same feeling of vulnerability about having my manuscript viewed. I only had my husband, sister, and brother read it (of course, they thought it was brilliant) but was just accepted today into a Critique Group of mostly published authors. I had to submit sample pages of my book and was really nervous about doing so, as I didn’t realize there was actually competition involved in getting into a critique group.
I figure if I can get good, constructive feedback on my manuscript then I’ll have a better shot at getting an agent. Has this worked for anyone? I’m assuming it gets easier with time to have others read your work…is that true?
Anyway, my next step is to win Nathan’s NCAA March Madness contest. I have absolutely no interest in basketball (or knowledge), but would love a query critique from Nathan. 🙂
Anonymous says
Miri,
That sounds like a great idea and fun too!
Justus M. Bowman says
I think you like to see me sweat, Nathan.
Nicholas says
“Best: plumber wants to save the princess while besting green-clad brother with similar goal, but although he is brave he is plagued by the creeping sense that the gamer controlling his every move might want him dead”
Genius example. Makes me wish that book existed.
Deaf Indian Muslim Anarchist! says
well, I don’t see how this applies for every good book. i don’t see what Caulfield Holden wanted.
Anybody?
Nathan Bransford says
DIMA-
I’d say his purpose. But unlike many other books about finding one’s way in life that don’t work as well, Holden is trying to find it every step of the way.
The types of novels that are driven almost purely by an internal desire are extremely difficult to write, but the motivation is there. It might just be beneath the surface.
Luc2 says
Great post. I look forward to Thursday.
Rick Daley says
If you ever flag your blog posts for a “Best of…” anthology, please make sure you include this one.
Mira,
I’d show up at a character blog, I think that would be fun. Evil Editor had a writing contest last week where you had to be a movie character pitching your memoir, the entries were pretty funny (mine was the Matrix one, https://evileditor.blogspot.com and scroll down a bit).
Cat Moleski says
What a timely reminder! I’m polishing up my mss for submission and wondering if a secondary character arc needs completing. Now I know. Will go polish that spot I missed. Thanks!
RW says
I once made a little poster with the basic questions that my character was struggling with and used it as a reminder during my rewrites to get me unstuck and keep me focused. It’s posted here: https://workingonanovel.blogspot.com/2008/03/focusing-questions-and-progress.html
Shaun Hutchinson says
Outstanding post. I especially like the Mario Bros. tie in. Just Awesome.
Jen C says
Ahhhhh, I just had a flash of inspiration when reading your post Nathan. I love when this happens! (And no, the inspiration wasn’t to put a Mario race in my historical novel… although that would be kind of awesome…)
Kristin Laughtin says
Timely post! I’ve been thinking about this for my current WIP, where one of my MC’s motivation for why she goes along with the others’ plan is that they’re simply giving her an opportunity she’s never had to pursue her dream job–but the story was getting mired down because I hadn’t figured out yet why that is her dream job. The others are pursuing this plan because of their ideology, which is very clearly defined, but she’s been giving me more of a struggle than any character I’ve ever written since most of her desire is solely internal, like you mentioned a couple comments above. So I’m going to have to take this post very closely to heart as I proceed.
Also, mad props for the Mario example.
PurpleClover says
Nathan,
Thanks! I’m in the middle of a SciFi Thriller and this helps me remember to keep focused!
But for the villain, do you need the arc to be as visible in the beginning or just know they are after the MC?? I dont necessarily introduce the WHY for my villain until WAY past 30 pages…
Anonymous says
A huge number of months ago, hitting my fourth rewrite at the time, I typed out four pages of what I called “add-ins.”
These are accomplishments, needs, goals, wants, events, growth etc. that MUST happen for each (major, supporting, and minor) character in order to complete the story.
Whew! What a LOT of work!
The *completion* is the most complicated part of the writing so far for me and vital too.
Lady Glamis says
Great post, Nathan! I always think of this as tension. If the character doesn’t want or need something, tension cannot be there. Thanks for a great layout of how the “arc” works!
Marilyn Peake says
MaLanie,
My characters are like my family! I feel like I am baring my soul.
This is my first book, will it be this way with every book? Does anyone else out there feel this way about your characters?
It often feels that way with your first book, but not so much after that. Once I started writing more and more stories, the characters were so vastly different from each other, it no longer felt like I was baring my own soul; it became more about trying to tell believable fictional stories from the perspectives of vastly different characters. I especially love the challenge of writing a story about characters who are not very much like me at all and live in a different cultural setting. I recently wrote a short story about an infant faerie arriving in modern-day China as it begins its industrial revolution. I worked the story partially around fantasy lore that claims faeries can’t tolerate metals, while industrial revolutions involve a great deal of pollution from metal. I was so focused on developing character and plot arcs for the faerie and her adoptive family, researching background facts about China and faerie lore, and so on, that the characters took on a life very distinct from my own. Writer’s angst never seems to go away, however. I’m now constantly concerned about craft and hoping for positive reviews of my writing. 🙂
Melissa says
I’m just trying to figure out what my beagle wants today. She keeps going in my bedroom, then five minutes later, asks to be let out, then five minutes later, wants to go back in. How am I supposed to write like this!
jimnduncan says
So, this should be the lead for your query, I would think. Or at least it would certainly make for a good start to a query. I’ll have to look at mine and see where motivation gets put in, if it’s actually there at all.