What Your Character Wants (And Why it Matters)

My head has been firmly in novel mode lately. As well as writing my own novel, I am working on some first chapter and synopsis assessments for writers who have entered a competition. I really love this kind of work. It can be enormously helpful to look at how some people write novels (particularly the beginning) well, and how some do it not so well. 

The difference between the good and the bad ones is almost always down to the character that is introduced and the way in which they are introduced. I want to know right away whose story I am about to read, and why I am going to find it both important and entertaining. If everything is vague and I don’t know what their motivation is, then I don’t have any motivation of my own to continue. 

Desire drives story. It’s what keeps readers turning the pages. And, whilst you don’t have to reveal deep desires right away, you do have to give the character something to want on every page, so the reader is aware of it and can either get behind them, or set against them – but in both cases care whether they get it or not.

Getting to an important meeting on time; receiving a phone call with anticipated news; or, as Kurt Vonnegut suggests, even something as simple as a drink of water. 
What comes next is you putting obstacles in the way, but that’s for another time. For now, character is key. 

You can explore who you character is and what they might want by asking these three questions – of them, not yourself. 1. What do you want right now. 2. What are you afraid might happen. 3. What would you never admit out loud.

Try it, and if you like, you can post the answers you come up with – or just tell me if the exercise unearthed anything interesting – in the comments below.

I would also be interested to know if, when you are writing, your character arrives fully formed, or if you discover them as you write? 

If you want to delve deeper into an idea you might have for a novel, I am running a 6- Zoom course (one every 2 weeks)  called “Grow Your Novel” – and the booking link is below. It starts on June 13th and all the sessions will be Saturday 3pm to 4pm.
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Thanks for reading.

Book onto "Grow Your Novel" - 13th June Start