I'm finishing up my series on getting to know your main characters better at Seriously Write today. So far, I've covered three questions that you need to ask your MCs, including:
So far, these questions have all been taken from my character intake form found here. But today's question is NOT found there (you'll find out why)...and yet, it's still important:
Question 4: What concept or principle would you be willing to die for?
The basis of this question stems from Dr. Stanley Williams book, The Moral Premise. Characters usually aren’t motivated to action by trivial thoughts and feelings. They, like real human beings, have core values that ultimately influence what they do, say, and think.
Click here to read the rest of the article.
6 comments:
His friends and family, is what my MC would die for… at least in the beginning, in the end he is willing to die for the greater good of all humanity.
jeff - sounds like a great arc to put him through. wish you the best on that!
This question rather hits home, considering what I just finished posting about regarding two of my characters. I nearly answered that question with one, but the other needs me to work more on her goals.
This makes me think of the final scenes in "Titanic" because before they realized they were in mortal danger, most of the passengers would likely have answered that they were willing to die for their family or children, etc., but when the real test came, chaos apparently ensued. So I have to wonder, can we get our characters to tell the "real" truth without putting them in a life or death situation?
ah, the imminently wise miss sharpe, back with probing questions. i've missed you! :)
i'm thinking the point of the exercise would be to put them in that life or death moment in order to get the truth. talk is cheap. what say you?
If I think in terms of the life or death moment, I do actually know what my one character would say. (Since the ending is what I wrote first, I know what that moment is and what she did.) I just don't know her goals that helped get her to that point.
Post a Comment
Both comments and questions are welcome. I hope you enjoyed your time on the couch today.