3-2-1 | Screenwriting Thursday - Character Motivation
Let’s look at some tips on character motivation today.
Personal Note: Just got feedback on the NoonWriters landing page, a VSL script and I should also be receiving ad creative today!
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On with the show -
3 TIPS FROM ME
I.
Build a “Why Web”
1. Write your character’s core want in the center of a page.
2. Branch out with why they want it, then another layer of why for each reason.
3. Stop only when you hit something primal (safety, love, belonging, status, freedom).
This forces you past surface goals into deep motivations.
II.
Do a ‘selfishness audit’
Ask: “What would this character do if no one were watching and there were no consequences?”
This strips away politeness and reveals core drives.
III.
Clarify Fear vs. Desire
Every character is pulled by what they want and pushed by what they fear.
Write two columns: Desire and Fear. Fill them in for each character.
In each scene, check which side is driving their choices.
2 QUOTES FROM OTHERS
I.
Ryan Holiday (of whom, I’m a huge fan) from his book ‘Courage Is Calling: Fortune Favors the Brave’:
“This moment is a test. They’re called “trying times” for a reason. It’s good that it’s happening now, instead of later—because later, you’ll be better for having gone through it today. Got it?
You think it’d be better if things were easy. You wish you didn’t have to take this risk. If only the leap didn’t look so damn dangerous. That’s just the fear talking.
It’s good that it’s hard. It deters the cowards and it intrigues the courageous.”
II.
William Shakespeare, from one of his lesser known plays (at least by today’s standards) Cymbeline:
"Plenty and peace breed cowards. Hardness ever of hardiness is mother."
