By Marcia Mickelson
Recently, I had someone evaluate my manuscript and at about page 34, she said what is the main character's goal?
That question really made me think. Sure, my character has goals in life and there are things she wants to accomplish, but my evaluator was right. I hadn't clearly defined what the main character's goal was--what she was in pursuit of.
So, now I'm revising and trying to make it clear what her goal is what she is in active pursuit of during the book.
Each main character should have a goal they're trying to reach and that should be clearly defined early in the book. Even if they don't obtain that goal, which a lot of times they won't, it still needs to be clear to the reader what that goal is. Why are we even interested in this book? If we understand their goal and want them to reach it, then that will make us care about the character. As writers, of course we want readers to care about the characters.
1 comment:
This is a good reminder, Marcia. Thanks for sharing- makes me want to look over my WIP and make sure I have characters' goals and motivations clearly outlined or implied...I think I will. Tomorrow. :-)
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