What is My Character's Motivation?

If you ask yourself only one question about your characters, let this one be it. Of course, this one question will lead you places, so think of it as the classic Lays Potato Chip question. You won't be able to stop at just one. The fun part about characters is not necessarily what they say or do. It is about why they do it.

People behave in strange ways. They pick up strange behaviors along life's rocky trails. Embodying your characters with quirky or interesting traits can be hard work, but it becomes easier as you build the bio for your character. The bio builds depth, but it also helps you create believable character motivation.

The motivation can be shallow or deep. That's your call. An example of a shallow character motivation would be the clueless parents of Richard Head who, understandably enough, hates his name and its abbreviation. Imagine the teasing poor 'Dick' must endure, day in and day out at school. How would this affect him? How would the teasing mold him? Resentment toward parents? Of course. Anger towards his classmates? Absolutely. You can build an entire character bio from this one 'shallow' factor.

But you don't want to create a shallow motivation, do you? No. You want to go deep. Very well. So, where do you go? The bookstore is a good place, but the internet is free. If you do a search for Adult Children of Alcoholics you will come up with a number of websites that discuss the characteristics of people who grow up with one or more alcoholic parents. Frankly, the kids of alcoholics are different. They develop a number of interesting characteristics as they grow up and these remain with them as adults. They like to please. They often blame themselves when things go wrong – even when it is not their fault. Most adult children of alcoholics do not even understand the reasons (or motivation) behind their behavior.

The same situation is true with people who grew up with a parent who was physically abusive. These children are literally molded in a particular fashion and these imprints follow, and affect, them all of their lives.

As you build your character bio, you can do a little research. It can range from minor motivational forces (growing up left-handed, as a red-head, or as a middle child) to the tragically complex, like the ones discussed above.

Homework assignment: Do a little research. How are those who have been adopted different from other children? How might this experience affect your character? What if your character was 'sent away' to boarding school at the age of eight? How might your character have been affected by this experience? What if your character's father was a thief? How would this affect your character's view of the world / relationships with family members?

Happy Writing!

Bob

Attention: Free Writing Classes at Your House!

If you want to learn from some of the best writers in the country, all you have to do is turn on your TV. Granted, you have to be selective. It is, after all, known as the boob tube, but there is some good stuff there. Trust me.

One of the shows I like is Burn Notice which airs on the USA network. I enjoy the show for its entertainment value. It is funny, innovative, filled with clever dialog and interesting tidbits about spy craft. I also like to watch the show simply to watch its writers work. They're good.

There is a front story and a back story. The front story changes every week. It involves Michael Weston discovering a victim or some poor unfortunate in need of his particular talents. The back story moves slowly across multiple seasons. It seems that Michael as been 'burned.' For some unknown reason his spy 'agency' has dumped him in Miami. No cover, no credit cards, no income. For most of us in the mundane world this is called a layoff, but I suppose Layoff Notice wasn't a sexy enough title for the show's execs.

Anyway, the backbone of the story revolves around Michael's attempts to find out who 'burned' him and why. He's up against some sophisticated bad spy guys. They would have to be pretty good since Michael is no slouch at what he does.

Woven around the back story is what I refer to as the weekly problem du jour. In this past week's episode, Michael saves a pair of orphans from a bad-ass gangsta. It is not so much what he does as how he does it. The show creates suspense by having the back-story plot insert itself at a critical moment thus complicating / endangering the planned rescue. It works out every week, though.

The show blends lots of proven TV techniques. Michael has a loyal sidekick, Sam. They form a pretty effective pair reminiscent of Starsky and Hutch and Crocket and Tubbs. Then there is Fiona. Fiona is Michael's on-again, off-again (no pun intended) sexy love interest. Presently things are heating up between the two, but Michael is complicated and Fiona has 'issues,' so the show's writers get to play with some interesting character elements as well.

Even if you do not think you will like the show as I've described it, it is worth watching just to see how the writers handle the plot, scene changes, escalating tension and characterization. The writers also include an effective narrative voiceover by Michael in which he speaks directly to the viewer. 'If you need to build a bomb all you have to do is…' 'A spy is always on the lookout for…'

We care about Michael because he's been done wrong by his agency. We care about the character even more because he's a nice guy and cares about other people. He's a great spy, but has relationship issues with his family and Fiona, so he is even a more sympathetic, and thus interesting, character.

So, remember, class is in session. USA Network. Burn Notice. Check it out.

Happy Writing.

Bob