What Makes That Goal So Important?

When a character starts out a story, he or she has a GOAL. They want SOMETHING. And the reason they want this is because they want things to change. 

The character's goal represents an improvement over their current circumstances, or a return to a situation when things were better than they are now. This is why they hold onto their goal so tightly when they experience setbacks and turmoil throughout the story. 

No matter what the goal is, there is an emotional reason underlying it. 

My favorite example for this topic is "Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris" because it's so simple and straightforward, yet emotionally appealing. It's a book by Paul Gallico, which I read a zillion years ago, and I remember it being made into a movie starring Angela Lansbury. 

The title character is a charwoman who wants to buy a dress from a French designer, and she's worked very hard to save the necessary money. Her goal is to actually go to Paris to buy that designer dress. 

Now when you think about it, it's not likely she'll have any opportunities to wear that dress, because her lifestyle is a simple one that doesn't include gala events. The garment will probably hang in her closet, never to be worn. Is it really worth scrubbing floors all day long for something so completely frivolous and useless?

For me, not so much. (That's why credit cards were invented after all.) 

For this character, though, the answer is an emphatic YES.

What's important to remember is that dress represents beauty, and wealth, and a life that Mrs. 'Arris aspires to, even when she knows the dress will be the only thing she can acquire of that life. Owning that dress means she is more than a simple charwoman.

So you can see how the emotional underpinning of a goal is the driving force for a character's actions. Even if they don't consciously recognize this connection, it is still what spurs them on, even in the face of adversity. It's not a simple, "it would be nice if. . ." kind of thing.  It's a yearning, a strong one. It motivates the character. In some cases, it defines them.

Once you know what a character's goal is, and WHY it is important to them, it is easier to plot your story, because now you know what they are willing to do to achieve that goal. Later, when the character discovers their underlying emotional need has been fulfilled, or it has changed along the way because of their growth, they are finally able to relinquish that initial goal. Even when it has motivated their actions throughout the book.

Recently I couldn't seem to figure out my heroine in the story I was working on. I knew what she wanted to do (retrieve something), but I didn't really understand why, or what that item represented to her. I also couldn't find the right name for her, so I kept auditioning different names, and character traits, when what I actually needed to do was understand WHY she wanted this particular item so badly.

The answer finally occurred to me--in one of those random moments that make me believe writing is 85% magic and 15% voodoo. And once I realized why she was so intent on this goal, and what it represented to her, her name instantly occurred to me, along with her personality. 

She wants to be free of the burden of taking care of her family's craziness, along with the business they want her to run. Even if she can only have this freedom for a short time, she wants to experience a carefree lifestyle, and she decides she can accomplish that by retrieving this missing item.

So now when I get stuck, I'm going to interrogate my characters, to make sure they tell me ahead of time what it is they want, deep down, so that I can make sure they get it. 

Eventually. 

Before that, they're going to have to work hard. And they're going to experience some adventures they never would have anticipated when they set out to achieve their goals. There will be growth, and change, as well as emotional satisfaction.

And while that's happening, hopefully there will be an entertaining experience for readers as well.

So what drives your characters? Are they aware of why they want what they want? What are they willing to do to achieve their goals? 

A lot of folks searching for writing advice end up on this post I originally wrote last year. I thought it was time to make it easier on the search engines by bringing it to the front of the line. Hope you find it enjoyable.

Comments

[Maureen O. Betita]

I think this can be a tricky thing to find, mainly because the goals of our characters often seem a bit of a mystery when it comes to the 'why' of it.

As in the example you gave... I can find goals for my characters and I know they are important to the characters, but I have to really embrace that they have a connection to that goal, even though it may seem a bit absurd to me!

Each character really has their own universe, their own world and when we, the writers, connect with how important that is TO THEM...that's when we get it right.

I guess that is MY goal! And certainly where I find the magic!

[Sabrina]

For now, my heroine and hero are fighting for the same goal - Justice for her father's death.

My hero though, also wants to clear his father's name and win back the heroine.

My heroine wants to not want anything to do with the hero :)

[Donna Cummings]

Maureen, I think it can be tricky to find the "why" of it, but when we do, it shows us the motivation. It gives us clues as to why it's so important to the character.

For example, a character wants to lose weight. Why? For health reasons? Or because they want to look better? Or because their mom was a beauty queen? Once we know that, it gives the story a different spin because the character will make different choices. :)

It's something I find useful to think about. And I agree about the magic. :)

[Donna Cummings]

Sabrina, I think characters can have the same goal, but for different reasons/motivations. They go about achieving this goal in different ways, which can cause conflict, because we all think OUR way is best! LOL

[Terri Osburn]

This is the part of writing that still gives me hives. Goals and motivations. I'm getting anxious just thinking about it. In fact, in all the praise my lovely beta readers gave me on my first MS, a lack of clear motivation was the one constant comment made by all.

*sigh*

I've no idea how to fix this, but doing filling out detail sheets for my characters helps a little bit. I'm getting tangled up in the new WIP because I don't know the characters enough. I need to get those sheets out.

[carrie]

lol....would you believe that this line...

Owning that dress means she is more than a simple charwoman.

just gave me an idea for a new story...involving neither a dress or a charwoman. =) Great article Terri, and one I'll keep in my Characters file...

=)

carrie

[Terri Osburn]

Did I include an article? LOL! (Not that I mind being confused for Donna. She writes so well, I'll take it.)

[Donna Cummings]

Terri, this is a tough one. I struggle with it too, and I think it comes with practice. :) It goes hand-in-hand with having enough conflict, and since we want our characters to have fun, it's not easy to give them obstacles.

I think what helps me is trying to figure out what the character doesn't want to admit about why they want the goal. They might have a surface reason they'll tell others, but what is underneath that. Sometimes it helps to look at why WE do certain things, why WE pursue certain goals.

[Donna Cummings]

Carrie, you rascal -- now I need to know what story idea you got! I'm sure it'll be fun. :) And I like to think the virtual cup of cold coffee I splashed on you in Twitter yesterday also helped. LOL

[Donna Cummings]

Aw thanks, Terri -- I'm sure Carrie was inspired by your comment, and blended the two of us together. :)

[Terri Osburn]

Ask what they don't want to admit. I like that. Hmmmm... I need to start asking questions tonight and see what they come back with. And I was right, running herd on four characters is harder than just two.

[Donna Cummings]

Terri, it's kind of like that saying: "There's the official story, and then there's the truth." LOL So the characters may have an "official" reason for their goal, but the truth is that it means something to them emotionally, to cure a past hurt, things like that.

And yes, it really increases the fun when you have more characters. LOL Some characters' goals are a lot easier to come up with, thankfully. But there's always a pesky one to make up for it!

[Kari Marie]

I've been really looking at this hard for my villains. I can never seem to craft a good one and I think it's because I don't have a strong understanding of what drives them. It's been very interesting. I'm not there yet, but I'm closer than I was before.

[Donna Cummings]

Kari Marie, some characters take a little more digging, to find out what drives them. For some reason I have had a fairly easy time with my villains. I'm not sure what that says about me. LOL But it's good that you're closer--that means you'll get there!