Desire and Decisions: Giving Characters Believable Motivation

Characters in fiction, and sometimes creative non-fiction, can be extremely dynamic--in the sense that they portray a lot of emotion that most people relate to. One of the most fueled emotions within a story is desire. Just like people in the real world, every character within a story wants something. Or they wish for a particular outcome. If a reader can relate to that desire, they can relate to the character. They feel a sense of comfort from knowing that they aren’t the only human on earth seeking such desires.

Desires can come in many different hues and shapes, but they normally come from a basic human need.

Here's a list of just a few:

• Love
• Power
• Recognition
• Family
• Support
• Money
• Social Status
• Safety

These needs can portray themselves in the form of sexual desire, material desire or even desire of attention. Perhaps they want recognition from a friend, co-worker, or family member. Without these, often times harbored, emotions, there wouldn’t be a story to tell.

More importantly, characters would haven no believable motivation to make the tough decisions without desire to back them up. They are the logic behind the emotion. A character's wants, wishes and desires help the audience understand why the character makes the decisions that she does. When a character comes in conflict with the task of making critical choice, their desires should motivate the outcome. More often than not, the outcome is not always positive. The idea of trying to make rational decisions when desires are fueling the mind, seems an almost impossible task at times.

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Character Flaws: Creating Reader Empathy Through A Character's Faults

All stories have characters.

Main characters.

Supporting characters.

Throw away characters.

An author’s goal when writing fiction is to get his or her audience to relate with the characters of their story. This rule applies to poems, short stories, novellas, novels, scripts, songs, comic books, and creative non-fiction works. The best way to create empathy is to give your characters human flaws. Just like everyday people, every protagonist, sidekick, mentor, ally, rival, henchman, and antagonist, should have faults.

These can come in the form of vices, quirks, habits, or neurosis. But they must be shown to the audience.

When the protagonist in a story starts off with personal problems, readers tend to root for them throughout the story. People want an underdog, because they see themselves as an underdog. becWhen a hero struggles with addictions, relationships, or internal conflicts, it humanizes them. Just as in real life, there are obstacles within stories, and writers must test their character in tough situations. A lot of times, when character is tested, wise decisions aren’t always made. That creates the human factor.

We all make mistakes.

We all fail.

But it’s how we bounce back from them that matters. If our characters can do the same, then the reader sees them as someone they can relate with.


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Story Ninjas--Stories that pack a PUNCH!

Story Ninjas--Stories that pack a PUNCH!

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Story Ninjas Publishing is an independent book publisher with fiction stories that range from science fiction to romance. Our goal is to create stories that are not only entertaining, but endearing. We believe engaging narrative can lead to personal growth. Through unforgettable characters and powerful plot we portray themes that are relevant for today’s issues. Our hope is that readers find lessons they can apply to their everyday lives, so that the stories live on through the actions of each person they touch. Additionally, we provide creative non-fiction books that are meant to serve as tools to help people solve everyday problems. We hope you find our products entertaining and helpful.

Who are the Story Ninjas?

Story Ninjas Publishing is an independent book publisher. Our fiction stories range from fantasy to romance, and everything in between. Our goal is to create stories that are not only entertaining, but endearing. We believe engaging narrative can lead to personal growth. Through unforgettable characters and powerful plot we portray themes that are relevant for today’s issues. Our hope is that readers find lessons they can apply to their everyday lives, so that the stories live on through the actions of each person they touch. Additionally, we provide creative non-fiction books that are meant to serve as tools to help people solve everyday problems. We hope you find our products entertaining and helpful.

Below are just a few of the books we've published: