Unraveling Your Goals: Insights from Fictional Characters
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Chapter 1: Understanding Your Motivations
As a writer of fiction, I am constantly seeking ways to enhance my narratives. One effective method is to create characters with clear, intriguing objectives. However, merely establishing these objectives is not sufficient; it is crucial to delve into the motivations propelling them. Tiffany Yates Martin recently shared an insightful article on the importance of articulating your characters' aspirations. She emphasizes that a character's desire for a job, for instance, must be backed by a strong motive. A simple aim "to earn money" lacks depth—what drives her to seek financial gain?
This led me to a profound realization: this same principle can be applied to our personal aspirations. Why do I desire this?
In our daily lives, we often chase after goals without reflecting on the underlying reasons for our pursuits. For example, I've been applying for positions in medical writing lately. Yet, my efforts have been minimal—merely submitting my CV without any follow-up. Consequently, I haven’t received any responses.
I took a step back to question my motivations for applying to these roles. While I believed I possessed the necessary skills and found the compensation appealing, my true motivation was rooted in fear—fear of not holding a "real" job, fear of judgment from others, and fear of failing in the unconventional path I had chosen.
Thus, I found myself applying for jobs I didn’t truly want and feeling disheartened by the lack of responses. I also came to understand that, while a steady income would be nice, it was not a necessity. My life was already comfortable without the additional income that might come from a job that could limit the freedoms I currently enjoy.
Upon digging deeper into my motivations and recognizing this cycle, I decided to halt my job applications. I embraced the unconventional nature of my journey and acknowledged that it may take time to achieve financial success. I accepted the possibility of failure.
How to Unearth Your True Motivations
To explore your goals more thoroughly, you need to continuously ask yourself "why" until you uncover the core reason behind your actions.
For instance, consider writing.
- Why do you write?
- Is it for monetary gain? Why do you need that income?
- Is it to work from home? What motivates that desire?
- Is it to refine your skills and create a portfolio? What do you hope to achieve with that?
- Is it to connect with others? Why is that connection important to you?
Similarly, consider your fitness goals.
- Why are you exercising?
- Is it to shed pounds? What drives the need to lose weight? Is it influenced by societal beauty standards?
- Is it to gain strength? In what aspects do you seek to improve?
- Is it to enhance your health? What does being healthy signify to you?
Once you pinpoint your true motivations, you might discover that you are pursuing your goals for the wrong reasons, prompting a reassessment. Alternatively, you may realize that your approach needs adjustment.
The methodology for writing to secure survival differs from writing for a little extra income to fund travel, or for building an audience to market a book or product. Likewise, the approach to fitness varies depending on whether your goal is increased strength or improved health, which entails different types of workouts.
Identifying your core motivation will guide you in determining how to pursue your objectives. Take time to sit down with your ambitions, reflect, and delve deep. Avoid settling for superficial answers like "to earn money." Craft your life narrative with the same care as you would a captivating story.
Just as understanding what drives your characters is essential, it is equally important to understand what motivates you.
This video provides valuable insights on character motivations and how they can inform your understanding of your own goals.
Chapter 2: Defining Character Goals
Another crucial aspect of character development is the articulation of their story goals.
This video delves into techniques for defining your characters' goals and how these insights can be applied to your personal aspirations.