Writing Excuses 6.2: Internal Motivations

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:46:00 GMT

Posted by: mbarker.livejournal.com

Writing Excuses 6.2: Internal Motivations

From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2011/06/12/writing-excuses-6-2-internal-motivations/

Key points: Character motivation has two aspects: what does the character want? How is that expressed on the page? What the character wants includes their big overall goal, what they need to do to reach that goal, and what do they want to do it immediately right now. Beware caricature and wild shifting. Play immediate needs against overarching goals. Let motivations shift in response to what's happening. One way to express motivation: throw in a thought. Let the reader see what is happening filtered through the character. Be sparing, and establish character well before you need it. "When a character makes a significant action or decision, the reader wants to have all the pieces already so that they can know exactly why the character did that." [Dan] Brandon's advice: use the thought, young writer. But don't overdo it. The descriptive words a character uses can help. Also, consider all five senses. Let another character point out changes. Just make sure you set it up well before you need it.
( lots of motivation )
[Brandon] All right. Mary. I'm going to make you give us a writing prompt.
[Mary] So, writing prompt. Come up with a character motivation. Then, with an action that they need to take that is counter to the motivation.
[Brandon] Excellent. All right...
[probably cut due to time constraints... This has been Writing Excuses. You're out of excuses, now go write.]

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Writing Excuses 6.2: Internal Motivations