I always thought there was this kind of “love triangle” between Reading, Writing, and Acting. For instance, in order to gauge a character from a script you need to know how to Read; in order to provide readers with a convincing character you need to know how to Write; in order to write effectively, you need to understand how human beings Act, etc., etc.
Back when I was really into theater and thought I was going to end up pursuing an acting career, I never once asked the question, “What’s my motivation?” Because, again, I am of the belief that if you properly Read a script that has been properly Written, the motivation of the characters—and how they Act—should never be unclear. This is probably why asking, “What’s my motivation?” has become a classic joke in the portrayal of actors over the last few decades. Because, when you really stop to think about it, it makes no sense to ask that question if you understand the story being told.
But here’s the thing: as a writer, I am almost constantly asking myself about my characters’ motivations. In my current WIP, a supernatural adult romance novel—and a far cry from my usual work, let me tell you—I am at a standstill because I am not fully convinced of which most likely action my character will take in this moment. Is he angry over what Character A just told him, or saddened by it? If he’s angry, his upcoming conversation with Character B will go much differently than it will if he feels disheartened. And it is this conversation that will affect how Character B will later approach Character A, as well as the entire dynamic between my characters for the next few chapters.
More than ever in my life, I have been asking the question, “What’s my motivation?” In other words, what is my motivation for this segment of the story? Do I want to keep up with the animosity for now, or am I ready to start bridging the gaps between my characters? And, another thing to take into consideration, is it the right time within the story to do one or the other? I am fairly close to the end, meaning I probably should start bridging gaps. However, I am also feeling that ending the main conflict now is too easy—not too easy to write, but too easy to make a convincing character arc. Figuring out how my characters will Act is the key to how I will Write, and therefore the key to how people will Read it.
It is the question that has been plaguing me all weekend, and I still don’t know how to answer it. I’m hoping I will be able to figure it out soon if I just allow myself to take a step back: maybe even stop thinking too hard about it.
Night Owls, what is your current MC’s motivation? And what is YOUR motivation?
