An Effective Motive? Knight & Fae

[Abigail Rosd]

I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to create solid character motivations? Especially at risk of death. What drives people to make drastic decisions?

Ivy is a changeling Fae that grew up in a fishing village at the edge of loche Gair. When she was 16 she witnessed one of her neighbors being taken by a kelpie and dragged into the loche. This motivated her to become a knight: people who retrieve kidnapped humans, maintain the wall around the fae woods, and kill any fae on site.

My problem is, I don't know if her motivation is sufficient. She knows that she's fae, as do her parents (they are loving and chose to keep her), but no one else knows. Should I make the person stolen by the kelpie a relative? A parent? Or do I need something else entirely?

I don't want to make the text wall too long so let me know if you need more context to answer. Thank you!!

 

[pmmg]

Fear is a great motivator, and so is love.

If she loved the one taken, but was too frozen in fear to help, that might lead her to a lot of guilt and a desire to atone...to prove herself not afraid. It might even make her dirven, looking for that confrontation over again. Perhaps its as simple as she wants to prove she is not afraid and will throw herself into the danger...she just wants the tools to survive it.

 

[A. E. Lowan]

I ask. I play the "What If?" game. I get into the character's skin and write whatever. Who do they love? Who do they fear? Who would they die for? Why? Usually, our characters are fairly generous, but they also sometimes lie. Or surprise us. We have one character who's a trauma surgeon. A while back she let me know, without warning, that she's an addict. Yeah.

 

[Abigail Rosd]

Fear is a great motivator, and so is love.

If she loved the one taken, but was too frozen in fear to help, that might lead her to a lot of guilt and a desire to atone...to prove herself not afraid. It might even make her dirven, looking for that confrontation over again. Perhaps its as simple as she wants to prove she is not afraid and will throw herself into the danger...she just wants to tools to survive it.

I did implement survivors guilt in the draft that I have! She did actually attempt to rescue the neighbor and doesn't totally understand why she survived.

I've never written an aggressive character, though, so her thoughts on why she became a knight was more "I'm different so it has to be me who stands between them." Almost to pay for what she is? (Something seen as dangerous, untrustworthy) There's a lot of animosity between fae and man, and deep down she does want to be a part of them

I'm not sure what Ivy actually is though? A changeling is not a species in itself... There are lesser fae that loot and destroy and cause mischief that are considered more like raccoons, and then the high fae that actually steal people, curse them, kill them, ect. So she reasons that "knight" is a label she can slap on herself and defunk any claim that she's dangerous.

 

[Abigail Rosd]

I ask. I play the "What If?" game. I get into the character's skin and write whatever. Who do they love? Who do they fear? Who would they die for? Why? Usually, our characters are fairly generous, but they also sometimes lie. Or surprise us. We have one character who's a trauma surgeon. A while back she let me know, without warning, that she's an addict. Yeah.

That's honestly an exercise I should try. Maybe sitting down with my characters and trying to understand them would help. For some reason I've had a hard time really connecting with the two MCs in this one. Your examples of duality sound really interesting!

 

[A. E. Lowan]

That's honestly an exercise I should try. Maybe sitting down with my characters and trying to understand them would help. For some reason I've had a hard time really connecting with the two MCs in this one. Your examples of duality sound really interesting!

My advice is to find those things that help your brain relax. Mine are working with my hands doing quilting or hot tub baths and showers. Some people go on drives, and some meditate. Whatever gets the tension and activity of the day out of your head and out of your way. And once you find that you'll be in a good position to know your characters and their secrets.

And, it's also possible that you're having difficulties connecting with your characters is that they may not be the ones with the stakes in your story. But if not them, who? This is a good time to line up your usual suspects and squeezing them until they tell you their secrets.

 

[ThinkerX]

I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to create solid character motivations? Especially at risk of death. What drives people to make drastic decisions?

Ivy is a changeling Fae that grew up in a fishing village at the edge of loche Gair. When she was 16 she witnessed one of her neighbors being taken by a kelpie and dragged into the loche. This motivated her to become a knight: people who retrieve kidnapped humans, maintain the wall around the fae woods, and kill any fae on site.

My problem is, I don't know if her motivation is sufficient. She knows that she's fae, as do her parents (they are loving and chose to keep her), but no one else knows. Should I make the person stolen by the kelpie a relative? A parent? Or do I need something else entirely?

I don't want to make the text wall too long so let me know if you need more context to answer. Thank you!!

Not just a neighbor, but a boyfriend or close family member, along with neighbors.

 

[Penpilot]

When I'm stuck for motivation, I look at Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs chart and think about what my character(s) are lacking from that. I find it helps get the juices going.

 

[Bick vire]

I ask. I play the "What If?" game. I get into the character's skin and write whatever. Who do they love? Who do they fear? Who would they die for? Why? Usually, our characters are fairly generous, but they also sometimes lie. Or surprise us. We have one character who's a trauma surgeon. A while back she let me know, without warning, that she's an addict. Yeah.

Yeah some times I do the same . I think that everyone should do like this and have fun while doing that...

 

[Gurkhal]

I don't think you need much more as long as the character of the knight works with the motivation. Different people are motivated to a different degree by different things. Thus as long as that motivation is in-character for this knight I think it will work splendid.

For example if your character's decision is motivated by a wish to atone for not being able to help that neighbor then the character should have such a personality that it makes sense for her to act and respond this way.

 

[Abigail Rosd]

My advice is to find those things that help your brain relax. Mine are working with my hands doing quilting or hot tub baths and showers. Some people go on drives, and some meditate. Whatever gets the tension and activity of the day out of your head and out of your way. And once you find that you'll be in a good position to know your characters and their secrets.

And, it's also possible that you're having difficulties connecting with your characters is that they may not be the ones with the stakes in your story. But if not them, who? This is a good time to line up your usual suspects and squeezing them until they tell you their secrets.

Hm I do have two side characters that are seated deeper in their current jobs that would put them at higher risk if they began to question things. I would have to start all over though I've been going in circles with this story for two years and I've got 25k on the current draft. It could be super interesting though.. idk I'll have to think on that one

Not just a neighbor, but a boyfriend or close family member, along with neighbors.

She does have several younger siblings. After all, the folklore of the kelpie is that they take children. I think most of the tributes stolen are young adults though. It would have a bigger impact on her life. An empty chair at the table, clothes still kept in a trunk, something the sister gave her for her birthday..

When I'm stuck for motivation, I look at Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs chart and think about what my character(s) are lacking from that. I find it helps get the juices going.

I went and looked that up! So you look for what they're lacking from the pyramid?

I don't think you need much more as long as the character of the knight works with the motivation. Different people are motivated to a different degree by different things. Thus as long as that motivation is in-character for this knight I think it will work splendid.

For example if your character's decision is motivated by a wish to atone for not being able to help that neighbor then the character should have such a personality that it makes sense for her to act and respond this way.

You make a good point! I haven't been applying her "ghost" or backstory to the main plot as much as I could. And establishing her personality better would 100% help. Like... Caricatureizing the character

 

[pmmg]

Being at 25K is an accomplishment, but somehow you have gotten stalled.

You should see the rules.

You can stop after rule 3.

Goldie's Rules
1) Write Everyday. <--promise to yourself to write just once sentence a day. After one, you are free to stop, but you may also continue.
2) Finish it.
3) Don't seek feedback till its finished.
-
4) Don't beat yourself up.
5) Review the crap out of other people's stuff.
6) Don't let the bastards get you down.
7) Give the story what it needs.
8) Write with courage.
9) Write it true.
10) Less is more.

 

[Abigail Rosd]

Being at 25K is an accomplishment, but somehow you have gotten stalled.

You should see the rules.

You can stop after rule 3.

Goldie's Rules
1) Write Everyday. <--promise to yourself to write just once sentence a day. After one, you are free to stop, but you may also continue.
2) Finish it.
3) Don't seek feedback till its finished.
-
4) Don't beat yourself up.
5) Review the crap out of other people's stuff.
6) Don't let the bastards get you down.
7) Give the story what it needs.
8) Write with courage.
9) Write it true.
10) Less is more.

Is this forum rules? Where is this from?

 

[pmmg]

Those are Goldies rules. I am Goldie. They are mine.

Some will pop on to disagree with me, but I suggest one is only free to say so if they have some other system that works for them. But the first three rules, they will get you a completed book in less than a year. Everything else...wont.

They can be found in the link in my siggy--Goldies Words of Wisdom.

 

[Abigail Rosd]

Those are Goldies rules. I am Goldie. They are mine.

Some will pop on to disagree with me, but I suggest one is only free to say so if they have some other system that works for them. But the first three rules, they will get you a completed book in less than a year. Everything else...wont.

They can be found in the link in my siggy--Goldies Words of Wisdom.

Well you might have a point in that. Maybe I have to many voices in my head after asking suggestions from friends
Also I...can't see signatures. Is it desktop only?

 

[Devor]

Especially at risk of death. What drives people to make drastic decisions?

...

Should I make the person stolen by the kelpie a relative? A parent? Or do I need something else entirely?

Everyone's different. The question is, what would it take to motivate this character, whose personality is in your head, to risk her life. For some people it may not take that much, they may just have those kinds of principles or fail to imagine that they aren't invincible (neighbor, maybe more than one). For others it could be anger at what happened (little sibling), or loss that leaves them with nothing else in life (best friend / romantic interest). Or the desire not to be helpless or feel that way again (maybe a rival, "even the cool person I was jealous of was helpless"). Those would lend themselves to slightly different relationships to drive that feeling.

If I could suggest one, though. Events like this tend to kind of skew your memories of things. What if they weren't very close at all, but the MC has been dwelling about the three times they spoke to each other so much that she's attaching meaning and emotions that might not be there? Maybe she even kind of knows it, and mentally rewrites the meaning of those interactions all the time? Were we friends? Did I like him? Was he a bully? Did I really just ignore him? I can't tell anymore. I've felt so many things about these moments that I don't remember anymore which feelings were real. I've dedicated my life over this, but the truth is I'm confused about why, or what it means to me.

That kind of take, to me, feels very human, and not very often done.

Also one of those three interactions would be a good place to hide some kind of a plot clue.

 

[Penpilot]

I went and looked that up! So you look for what they're lacking from the pyramid?

Sort of. Just because you're lacking something doesn't mean it has to be a motivation/driver for your character. It just means it can be depending on the character and the story you want to tell.

I find it helps me boil things down and dig deeper. For example, a character may be motivated by money (Stocks, business, or simple robbery) but thinking about where that motivation comes from on the chart, I find helps me zero in on who a character really is and what really drives them.

It could be from a physiological need, past or present. They might have known starvation in the past, so money is a way to ensure they never have to feel hungry again. or they're hungry right now and they need money to eat. OR them pursuing money is a way to pursue esteem. They think of it as a way to gain respect or status which they lack

Same surface level motivation, but driven by a different needs.

 

[Abigail Rosd]

Everyone's different. The question is, what would it take to motivate this character, whose personality is in your head, to risk her life. For some people it may not take that much, they may just have those kinds of principles or fail to imagine that they aren't invincible (neighbor, maybe more than one). For others it could be anger at what happened (little sibling), or loss that leaves them with nothing else in life (best friend / romantic interest). Or the desire not to be helpless or feel that way again (maybe a rival, "even the cool person I was jealous of was helpless"). Those would lend themselves to slightly different relationships to drive that feeling.

If I could suggest one, though. Events like this tend to kind of skew your memories of things. What if they weren't very close at all, but the MC has been dwelling about the three times they spoke to each other so much that she's attaching meaning and emotions that might not be there? Maybe she even kind of knows it, and mentally rewrites the meaning of those interactions all the time? Were we friends? Did I like him? Was he a bully? Did I really just ignore him? I can't tell anymore. I've felt so many things about these moments that I don't remember anymore which feelings were real. I've dedicated my life over this, but the truth is I'm confused about why, or what it means to me.

That kind of take, to me, feels very human, and not very often done.

Also one of those three interactions would be a good place to hide some kind of a plot clue.

Oh my goodness that is incredible thinking. Actually my friend was telling me about the book she just finished reading, and the MCs memory was softened to cope with her parents' neglect. And so, by plot clue, do you mean something close to a moral? Something the plot will answer? "Desire to not be helpless" could later be answered by "it is the small acts of everyday people that keep darkness at bay" or some such. Or did I misunderstand? All very good points

 

[Abigail Rosd]

Sort of. Just because you're lacking something doesn't mean it has to be a motivation/driver for your character. It just means it can be depending on the character and the story you want to tell.

I find it helps me boil things down and dig deeper. For example, a character may be motivated by money (Stocks, business, or simple robbery) but thinking about where that motivation comes from on the chart, I find helps me zero in on who a character really is and what really drives them.

It could be from a physiological need, past or present. They might have known starvation in the past, so money is a way to ensure they never have to feel hungry again. or they're hungry right now and they need money to eat. OR them pursuing money is a way to pursue esteem. They think of it as a way to gain respect or status which they lack

Same surface level motivation, but driven by a different needs.

OHH that makes a lot of sense actually! Thank you, I'll keep that chart

 

[Devor]

And so, by plot clue, do you mean something close to a moral? Something the plot will answer?

I deliberately made it vague, but I was thinking something more tangible, along the lines of, “he was saying something about the cold that day, and it turns out Kelpies mark their victims so they feel cold…” or “he was talking about his mom that day, but it doesn’t match what his mom told me, why would she lie?” But since these moments would already have a reason to come up a lot, they make a good place to hide important details since the readers will think they already know why the moment is important.