Character Motivation: What is Her True Journey?

Some people believe that we incarnate in the world to heal a specific wound that, at birth, we forget. Most of us spend our lives unconscious of this deeper destiny.

The opposite is true when writing a story. What happens throughout the story makes it impossible for the protagonist to remain unconscious. The Crisisin the Middleforces the protagonist to consciousness. This gives her the ability to face the greatest challenge of the entire story — the Climaxat the End and not only survive but to triumph.

The Climax at the End usually hits a scene or chapter from the last page of the project. By then, the protagonist has learned everything she needs to know, scene-by-scene throughout the entire story, to do what she came here to do.

The End feels inevitable because every scene that comes before the Climax has led the reader scene-by-scene to that very moment.

Consider the following:

1. What is your protagonist’s true journey? Purpose?
2. What is it that only your protagonist can do? Deliver? Conquer? Overcome?
3. What is the gift only your character has (granted they have to go through all the trial and challenges throughout the story to get there, but…)?
4. Why your character?

(Excerpts from the Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories).

Today I write.

For more: Read my Plot Whisperer and Blockbuster Plots books for writers.