Shoving our characters into action sometimes takes a stick of dynamite. Or discovering what motivates them into pursuing a worthy goal. When a character yawns and claims, I’m not interested, we writers haven’t done our job. Before you reach for the matches to light that stick of dynamite, let’s talk about what we can do before page one to create a strong character our readers will love, a character who initiates action and will take the reader on an unforgettable journey.
Think about the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone to make a new friend. The process took time, effort, and patience. You spent hours posing questions that allowed the person to talk about herself. According to her personality, she either responded eagerly with information about her family and professional life, or she took a step back and studied you, maybe flipping the questions to see how much you’d reveal about yourself. If this new friendship was important, you remained committed to the process. Then one day you realized your new friend was motivated by the past, her personality, her wants, needs, challenges and a host of other contributors that made her unique and valued.