Character Building: From Motive to Backstory by Rebecca Lewis

Introduction Stories are driven by conflict, which is driven by the character. How the character interacts with the story elements creates the conflict and the forward action of the story. In order to create forward action, the character requires a motive. Two types of motives: Outer motivation: the character’s motivation in the context of the plot (e.g. needing to find a job) Inner motivation: the character’s motivation in the context of their emotions as to why they need to achieve their outer motivation (e.g. needing to feel financially secure in order to raise a family)

How this relates to the character After finding an outer motivation, figure out your character’s attributes and flaws. attributes: traits of the character that help them accomplish their goal (e.g. determination) flaws: traits of the character that work against them in the completion of their goal (e.g. prejudice) Characters should be balanced in terms of attributes and flaws. However, throughout the story, the flaws need to prevent the completion of the goal until the end.

Characters Do Not Exist Alone Unless it is critical to the story and its message that the main character have no interactions with anyone else, characters in stories do not exist in a vacuum. Their traits, attributes and flaws both, will affect the characters around them. Figure out what emotions the character’s traits will stimulate in order to determine how they will interact with other characters. Positive emotions should come from attributes. ex: determination > confidence, and eagerness Negative emotions should come from flaws. ex: prejudice > agitation, suspicion

Inner Motivation Inner motivation connects with outer motivation. What is needed in relation to the plot should work to fulfill the inner, emotion-based need. Categories of inner needs: physiological: the need to secure one’s biological or physical needs ex: avoiding pain safety and security: the need to keep oneself or one’s loved ones safe ex: avoiding a war or life-threatening conflict loving and belonging: the need to connect with others ex: healing a broken relationship esteem and recognition: the need to improve one’s self-esteem ex: overcoming a stereotype self-actualization: the need to realize one’s full potential ex: achieving personal growth

Wounds and Lies wound: the traumatic life event that changed the character’s view of the world and himself Should cause at least the character’s primary flaw (the flaw that will mainly be working against them throughout the story.) Should cause the flaw by convincing the character to believe a lie about himself. The lie that the character believes about himself should be opposite of their inner motivation. ex: inner motivation: the need to feel financially secure in order to raise a family > lie: No matter how much I work someone will always take everything away from me.

Reverse Backstory Tool

Extra Reference Tools The character tools on the following slides can be used to further define your character in the context of their attributes and flaws. The attribute target tool is meant to help determine how the character’s attributes will affect his or her decisions and interactions with other characters. The flaw pyramid is meant to help determine the character’s personality from the context of his or her flaws.

Attribute Target Tool

Flaws Pyramid Wound

Where to Go From Here This method of approaching character is useful when you want to define a character for your story or use the character as the starting point of your story. However, this approach defines the personality of your character and their behaviors in order for you to decide their backstory from there. It ensures that the backstory for your character is relevant to the story.

There are still many other aspects of character... Basic information Voice Education and finances Special skills and talents Family Interests Relationships with people and community Morals and ethics Identity vs. persona (how the character perceives himself/herself vs. how people see him/her) Secrets Fears How they react to stress and pressure Emotional range ...need I go on?

How I Approach This My approach to character with this method: Define the character by their motivation, traits, and some backstory. Outline the overall vision for the story. This “overall vision” is the mood, message, and/or general story I want it to illustrate. Discover it as I write.

Resources and Links Page Ackerman, Angela; Puglisi, Becca (2013-10-13). The Negative Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Flaws . JADD Publishing. Kindle Edition. Reverse Backstory Tool, Attribute Target Tool, and Flaw Pyramid: http://writershelpingwriters.net/writing-tools/