forum Giving Motivation to a character.
Started by @WheresMaldo
tune

people_alt 6 followers

@WheresMaldo

I'm having a little trouble giving my character motivation to set off on her journey. She's been living with her adoptive parents since she was about 5 years old. She loves her parents, her kingdom so much that she went to war to die for them. Now she's been told by her queen that her birth father has called her home and is waiting for her. She was also told that they too are on the brink of war. My character is overly excited about entering another (though in the end she doesn't fight)
Her birth parents have encouraged her to go along with her Queen who claimed she was more then she appeared to be (Not a chosen one story, she's a star formed in the galaxy)

Right now if it were any person in reality they would not go I feel like. What could I do to place more motivation on my character? Any thing help!

@CWTurtleOfFreedom

I mean, so far, you have the motivation of love and appreciation for her family, right? So maybe you could add a desire to die a meaningful death, or something. She seems kinda happy to just…. die…. so I think that’s what I would do. Sorry I’m bad at advice.

Deleted user

Well, the most advice I can give I think would be to offer no other choice. I agree, it seems like a pretty unrealistic decision in modern time, however, as Turtle mentioned she has the motivation of love and appreciation. If you don't think that's enough, then perhaps you could find a way to block the path of where she used to be, and cut off her relations with her past, so that she can only move forward. She could expect guidance from her father perhaps, which would certainly motivate her more! However a move like that would probably impact your story a bit more than desired.. Anyways, I hope I could help! Your story sounds fantastic! :D

@nekh

Honestly, just think what she really wants, because at this point I don't understand. What does your character WANT?

@CreativeChill

@TurtleOfFreedom I think what you mean is that her motivation is legacy. Like, to die like a hero? Because she probably wants to be remembered, and war heroes are remembered. IDK, just a thought :3

CC Heart

Here's a really good (ten-minute) Youtube video that talks about character motivation and how it ties in with the actual character.