CHARACTER WARS

By

Darlene Franklin

WEEK ONE:

CHOOSING THE INGREDIENTS: INTERNAL DETAILS

Lesson One:

Goals and Motives and Characteristics

A few years ago I discovered a delightful cooking competition show called “Cupcake Wars.” Every week, eight bakers (four couples) competed in three rounds. In the first round, bakers were judged on the basis of the taste of their cupcakes which had to include mandatory but weird ingredients like ham hocks or pickled beets. In the second round, elimination took out the cupcakes that lacked good decorations; and the final winner put everything together, taste and sight and theme, with a winning display.

I couldn’t help but think how developing characters resembled creating cupcakes.

What drives them internally? What externals define and explore your character? And how does he or she fit into the total story world, making your book the best possible experience for your reader?

Today we are looking at what is generally called “goals and motivation” (and conflict), as well as personality. What basic need(s), felt or physical, does my character drives her to act? What keeps him from having it met? What are some ways her needs might be met? Your mind will suggest several answers.

How do we choose between the answers? Do we want a cupcake made from spinach, pickles, or bratwurst?

  • You know the question before you start writing. You may know you want to write about adoption, abortion, forgiveness, etc.
  • Your story setting suggests a theme. The place, time, historical event all may suggest possible questions.
  • Your personal journey may bring up issues that influence book after book, such as the birth of a child, the death of a parent, the loss of health or a career.
  • You choose a Bible verse that brings the question into focus.
    Once you know the central question, your character’s personality fills out. In my last book,Colorado Columbine,my heroine become a nanny of three girls who lost their mother. Garnet is an orphan herself. How does her experience as an orphan define her in this situation? Is she compassionate? If she jealous because they still have their father? Does she overcompensate for their loss, spoil them? And so on.
    Consider her basic personality. Is she an extrovert or an introvert? Is she deeply spiritually or is it casual? Does she work hard or sneak by with the least amount of work?
    For all your major characters, think about what makes them tick, and how they will behave in any given situation. Come back next time as we consider oddball pairings, unique twists, and layers of character.

Darlene Franklin