Motivation in Writing and Life by Terri Reed

As writers, we all have different reasons for doing what we do. Today, author Terri Reed provides insight into what keeps her creating. -- Sandy

Terri: Motivation is defined as the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way. The general desire or willingness of someone to do something. Motivation is a buzzword in the writing world. Our characters must be motivated to act. If the characters are going through the story acting without proper motivation, the characters become unbelievable and unsympathetic.

Dwight Swain in his book Techniques of the Selling Writer says a story is a succession of Motivation-Reaction-Action units.

Motivating stimulus comes from outside the focal character, she then reacts (internally/emotionally) and then acts (physical action or speech). This chain forms a link to create a pattern that moves the story forward.

This same pattern can be played out in our real lives. Every action we take is motivated by something that causes a reaction that then prompts us to act.

This seems like such a simple concept in theory. The temperature drops, my body feels cold, I turn up the heat.

But what motivates the creative person? Why does a painter paint? A baker bake? A writer write?

I can’t speak to the painter or the baker because I am neither. But I can talk about my motivations for writing. Each author comes to the task of writing with different motivations. It’s important to know what motivates you as a writer. To then use that motivation to keep writing.

As a child making up stories that I told only to myself was a way of coping with the chaos surrounding me. Stories were safe because they came from within me. I could control what happened in the stories I told myself. I wasn’t alone in the stories and I felt powerful, much different than I felt in the real world. I should tell you I wasn’t physically abused or neglected as a child. But there was chaos just the same. My parents fought. I was alone in my room most of the time to escape the fighting. I was picked on at school for the way I looked. I don’t tell you this for sympathy but to show the motivating factors from outside myself that I reacted to by withdrawing into isolation. The only action I felt safe with was to create stories for myself. Then I started journaling on the advice of my church group counselor who most likely saw my pain. Journaling was a huge outlet for me for many years. I poured out my angst on to the pages of many diaries.

But the stories in my head never left. Characters would swim to the surface wanting to be let out. In junior high and high school my English teachers encouraged my writing. In college I took a creative writing class and the professor’s encouragement to pursue writing dug deep into me and wouldn’t let go. But I didn’t have the self-confidence to try. It wasn’t until I was in my late twenties that I found the courage to pursue this dream of being a writer.

At first I was motivated by the need to be creative. I needed an outlet for the ideas and characters in my head. Then I wrote to prove I could do it. I wanted to accomplish something that I didn’t feel I could do.

Now, having written many books over many years, I’ve realized my motivations are more complicated. I write to work out issues in my life. I write to help support my family. I write because if I stop I fear I’ll disappear. I write for the joy of the journey which is hard work but so rewarding when I finish a story. And I keep writing to have an impact on others--this motivation came later as I began receiving reader mail where the readers were touched, encouraged and their faith strengthened by a story.

What motivates you as a writer? 

~~~~~~

Terri Reed’s romance and romantic suspense novels have appeared on Publisher’s Weekly top 25, Nielsen’s Bookscan top 100 and featured in USA Today, Christian Fiction Magazine and Romantic Times Magazine, finaled in RWA’s RITA contest, National Reader’s Choice Award contest, ACFW’s The Carol Award contest. Contact Terri @ www.terrireed.com or P.O. Box 19555 Portland, OR 97224

Motivation--the Foundation of Compelling Characters

As writers we need to know our characters inside and out. We need to know what makes them tick. It's called goal, motivation, and conflict. Today Ane Mulligan talks about the importance of one aspect of that knowledge--motivations. -- Sandy

Ane: For those who have read Debra Dixon's book GMC: Goal, Motivation & Conflict, I have come to the conclusion that Motivation is the most important. Motivation engages us. We can relate to character motivations. They form the foundation of characters that live on in our minds after the story ends.

Motivation leads to character arc. It’s the WHY of GMC. The Goal is the WHAT the character wants. Motivation is the WHY he wants it. If we provide strong motivation, our readers will follow our characters anywhere, through anything.

A character can behave reprehensibly, in a way we would normally condemn, but if the motivation is strong enough, we'll forgive the character and cheer him on. Motivation is what makes us empathize with the character. If it's important enough, the character won't be able to back away from it when the conflict gets rough.

Finding the deep, core motivation is imperative for great characters. Sometimes, you’ll be surprised when you discover that core motivation. It isn't always nice.

Too often in Christian fiction, our characters are too nice. If the core motivation is selfishness, but the character isn’t really a selfish person, allow that side to be seen in small ways. It makes a good character great. It makes them complex. We want our characters to be complex—deep—real, because that creates the basis for the character arc.

When I have a new protagonist, I use a Character Interview (CI). Mine contains way more than physical characteristics. I want to discover the lie she believes about herself and her deepest, darkest secret. I want to know her back-story. I want to know her parents’ back-story.  Her grandparents’ back-story.

Why? Because the way people are raised affects their view of themselves and their worldview. If I don’t know my character’s ancestors, I can’t know my character.

After I get a clue or two into the character from the CI, I write a stream-of-consciousness back-story. I’m always amazed at the secrets that come out when writing these. For one manuscript I’m working on, I went back four generations. I discovered why my characters acted the way they did. In other words, I found their core motivation.

I just finished teaching the ACFW online course on this subject, and I know I got under the skin of a few students by continually asking, “Why?” Too often, we list a goal—a what—as the motivation. You have to keep asking yourself why they want it, until you get down to the core motivation. Most of the time, it’s a single word—a basic, human emotion, a desire, a need. 

Once you know that, your character comes alive. You understand why she makes the decisions she does and why she reacts the way she does. Now her goals make sense. And now she’s on her way to becoming unforgettable.

Have you spent time asking your characters why? What answer has surprised you the most in doing so? Did you find your character had a motive that reflected badly on themselves? Share your thoughts about character motivation.

~~~

Sr. Editor of the award-winning literary site, Novel Rocket, Ane Mulligan writes Southern-fried fiction served with a tall, sweet iced tea. While a large, floppy straw hat is her favorite, she's worn many different ones: hairdresser, legislative affairs director (that's a fancy name for a lobbyist), business manager, drama director and writer. Her lifetime experience provides a plethora of fodder for her Southern-fried fiction (try saying that three times fast). A three-time Genesis finalist, Ane is a published playwright and columnist. She resides in Suwanee, GA, with her artist husband and two very large dogs.

Character Motivation by Debby Mayne

Debby Mayne

Have you ever had a hard time creating your characters? Multi-published author Debby Mayne addresses what motivates her characters in today's post. Any of them sound familiar? What kinds of characters are in your work-in-progress? ~ Angie

Have you ever been to a class reunion? If not, have you met with old friends or family members that you haven’t seen in a long time? What did you do to prepare for the get-together? Were you more concerned with what they thought about you—how you looked, how you aged, and how successful you were in life—than you should have been?

The very common human condition of insecurity that stems from childhood is what motivates my characters in the Class Reunion series as they get ready to go to the big event. I wanted readers to get to know the people in my story and join them on their journeys. The editor and I agreed that the best way to do this was to write it in first person. Since I wanted to show the lives of more than one person in this group, all of these books are written in multiple points of view. To add to the immediacy and intimacy of the characters’ experiences, these books are present tense.

About the characters and their insecurities:

Priscilla Slater was class Valedictorian and voted “Most Likely to Succeed” back in high school. Everyone expected her to follow in her college professor parents’ footsteps, but she surprised everyone by dropping out of college and going to beauty school. Although she still wants her parents’ approval, she’s not willing to be miserable in a career she doesn’t want.

Tim Puckett’s dad abandoned him and his mama when he was a young boy. His dad’s brother took over and paid for Tim to go to college with the stipulation that he must work for the family business after graduation. Although Tim’s dream job isn’t being a beauty supply salesman he’s not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. The bonus is that he meets the love of his life. Too bad she doesn’t see him as more than a pal. But maybe if he helps out a little more, he’ll win the girl of his dreams.

Trudy Baynard’s beauty pageant trophies and Miss Piney Point crowns gather dust as she navigates her way through being a divorced woman who has packed on a few pounds and needs Spanx to get into her slinky dresses. She had enough sense to leave Piney Point after her no-good, womanizing man dumped her, but now she wants to see her former classmates. Her mission before the reunion is to get her high school figure back and make it look like she’s successful without Michael.

Celeste Boudreaux is tired of being the wallflower, so she forces her way on to the class reunion committee. It’s hard giving up her bad attitude, but once Priscilla works her magic on her and makes her downright pretty, she thinks she might wind up with a full dance card.

Laura Moss is exhausted. I mean, who wouldn’t be after a long day of keeping four young’uns and a sweet but alcoholic husband in line? And now that she has the class reunion to coordinate, she’s found her limits. But she can’t let on, which is why she allows others to contribute, even if they don’t do things the way she does them.

Do you see yourself in any of these characters? As I wrote their stories, I dug deep and found a piece of each of them inside me. Whether looking for acceptance like Priscilla or feeling “put upon” like Laura, my insecurities have shown themselves at some of the most inconvenient times in my life. Even as a writer, I worry that I won’t live up to the expectations of readers, editors, family members, and friends. Sound familiar?

About the Author

Debby has published more than 30 books and novellas, 400 print short stories and articles, 1,000 web articles, and dozens of devotions for women. She has worked as managing editor of a national health magazine, product information writer for HSN, and creative writing instructor for Long Ridge Writers Group. She also judges the Writers Digest Annual Competition, Short-Short Contest, and Self-Published Book Competition. Three of Debby’s books have been top ten favorites by the Heartsong Presents book club. Love Finds You in Treasure Island, Florida received 4-1/2 stars and a Top Pick from Romantic Times Magazine in July 2009.


Pretty Is as Pretty Does

Pretty is as Pretty Does
by Debby Mayne

Priscilla Slater goes to her ten-year high school reunion with equal parts dread and eager anticipation. Even though she’s a successful owner of a chain of hair salons and no longer has the mousy brown hair, crooked teeth, and discount-store wardrobe, she still feels like the ugly duckling. But when she arrives at the reunion, Priscilla soon realizes that her old classmates aren’t exactly as she remembers them. With humor and a just a touch of sassiness, Priscilla finds herself facing her own truth—and she may be surprised at what she discovers.