As an artist and author, I suffer from a permanent condition that threatens to keep me stagnant. I can express it in many ways, but I'll melt the idea down into a few choice phrases:
"I'm way better at (insert skill here) now, so I should go back and 'fix' this old piece."
"What was I thinking? I made him (character to the left) prettier than me!"
"This character's motivation is too weak to support a full novel...or is it?"
While all of these stem from some form or perfectionism/self-doubt, the third one may actually need to be addressed.
When I gave an older novel to a new critique partner, they graciously pointed out that my main character's initial motivation was too weak to carry through an entire novel. I wasn't sure I fully agreed until I gave it some careful thought. Did this character truly need more of a push to snag a reader's interest?
If so, how can I fix something like this when the full novel has already been written?
Editing. A great deal of it—even though I've already spent dozens of hours editing this novel.
This is where most authors (myself included) question if the work is worth it. Should I push through with this story, this character's journey, until it's compelling enough to relate to others? Or should I use that time, energy, and focus to work on a different story/project? Could it float on its own as is and still appeal to readers?
That depends.
Lately, one of the most frustrating things for me is when I read a book where I feel the author missed opportunities to:
make characters more relatable
flesh out motivation/drive, linking it to a strong need the character may or may not be aware of
place enough obstacles in the character's path to bring about believable growth
care enough about the character(s) to give them the best possible opportunity to shine
Ouch. That last one hits.
So often I read books where the author doesn't take the time to breathe enough life into their work. It could stem from issues like an overuse of convenient plot devices, weak character motivation (guilty here), too much telling, or an unsatisfying character arc. Since I know what this form of laziness/inexperience looks like in published books, I want to avoid it in my own writing at all costs.
This means either shelving a project until I choose to rework it with the right amount of care and attention (which may be not at all) or keep working it until it's a satisfying read.
That said, none of us can please everyone. Could that particular critique partner have just been picky about what kind of writing they enjoy? Possibly. Do I believe there's still room for improvement on that project? Sure.
The question now becomes: will I work on it now or shelve it for later?
This is the main reason I've been so reluctant to self-publish. Yes, I understand that I will always see the flaws in my own work. As my writing improves, that urge to go back and bring my work up to my current level will persist. But I don't want to wonder, what if? What if I'd taken more time to make, break, and remake that character?
So where to from here?
I do plan to revisit that particular novel and raise the stakes—push the protagonist a little more. How? I came up with a list of questions that should help anyone struggling with a character's motivation. Feel free to ruminate on them while focusing on the first few chapters of a novel.
To what unmet need is this character's main motivation linked?
Can I push that unmet need further?
What deep wounds (emotional, spiritual) does the character have that may help/hinder their journey?
Is the inciting incident strong enough to spur my character out of their comfort zone and toward change?
Why does the character feel the path they choose is best for the current situation?
We could all ask dozens of other questions to help us flesh out those character motivations, but I'll focus on these. As an example, I'll take a character (We'll call them Carrot since it's almost lunch time) who wants to move but has all sorts of duties/obligations in their current home. How could I answer that first question to motivate Carrot to throw all those excuses out the top floor window? Let's brainstorm.
Ex 1: Carrot is eighteen and the oldest of five kids. Their parents work constantly and neglect the children. Carrot has always felt taken advantage of but loves their siblings too much to abandon them. One of the parents calls Carrot lazy and ungrateful when Carrot asks for a night off to see friends. This frustrates Carrot into leaving after dinner. While walking down the street, Carrot ends up helping a stranger carry a heavy package to their car. The stranger is so grateful for Carrot's kindness, they offer Carrot a job as a live-in property caretaker.
This is an offer for solitude and independence—everything Carrot wants on the surface. But the real motivation here is being "seen." This stranger gives Carrot what they really need: recognition. This stems from Carrot's deeper desire for acknowledgment and a desperate need for a break in responsibilities.
Ex 2: Carrot swore they'd never marry someone like their verbally abusive parent. Over six years of marriage, Carrot's spouse gradually displays many familiar traits. Though Carrot has been faithful through shouting matches, drunken beratement, and empty promises for improvement, Carrot can't take coming home to the stressful household much longer. For the past year, one of Carrot's coworkers has been a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, and a lifeline of encouragement. (Anyone cringing yet?) During an office party Carrot's spouse refused to attend, Carrot and their coworker get too close. Too honest. Physical.
This could be the inciting incident for Carrot to come clean and try to reconnect with their spouse or a journey of shame and moral redemption. Either way, the coworker met all of Carrot's emotional needs that Carrot's spouse should have been meeting: empathy, encouragement, and validation that Carrot deserves love despite how others treat them.
Similar plotlines have been used in all sorts of stories. How the story ends depends on how hard the character is willing to work to get what they want. Often times, what the character truly needs is different than what they think they want in the moment. The same is true for us. That's part of why we love stories where characters work against impossible odds toward their goals, even if those goals shift over the course of their journey. Watching them struggle and persevere is motivational and inspiring. The mistakes characters make often mirror our own.
Examine those deep, unmet needs. The further back into childhood they go, the stronger the character's conviction when they're faced with a tough choice.
Keep on smilin'!
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