Tuesday's Writer's Tip - What - From Idea To Finished Book #MFRWauthor #What #Goals

Now that we've looked at when and where, the next W to consider is What. What is the characters' goals. Now when there is more than one character each one has a goal. These goals may or may not march together.

Take romance - The heroine may want romance and may have a particular man in mind. He may or may not have her in mind but another female. Thus there is a triangle and finding ways to show the characters reaching their goal.

Sometimes a goal may change. Think about revenge. The character wanting revenge may learn things that change his desire. There are so many things to look at when you're deciding the what of the character.

But once you know when the story takes place and where the characters are set and you look at what they want, you have a better picture of the character.

I'm working on a book right now where the hero really makes a miscue with the heroine and she wants nothing to do what him. He realizes after he asked her to give up her career and become his mistress that he loves her.  Unfortunately, the heroine was falling in love with him and expected a proposal, not the one she received. So the what becomes very important. He wants her. She wants nothing to do with him. And they must work together.

The what is part of your need for making the character. So is the Why and next time we'll look at that.