IWSG: Motivation

Lately, I've been really frustrated with the books I've been reading. I find myself getting bored halfway through (often sooner), and starting to skim, sometimes giving up completely.

I've been trying to figure out what it is about the stories I didn't like. Bad writing? Boring plot? No and no.

I think I finally figured it out. It's character motivation--or, rather, a lack of it. The latest book I read had an interest plot, wonderful world building and a variety of unique characters, but it fell flat because the heroine didn't desire anything; she was just along for the ride. She had a stubborn personality, did some daring things, and was very likeable, but she didn't want anything. Nobody's that altruistic!

As an example of how to do it right, take Fullmetal Alchemist. Ed and Al are totally driven to get their bodies back. Plenty of other things happen to them, but that is the force behind the story, and you keep watching episode after episode because you want them to succeed too. (And, of course, this is combined with fantastic world building, loveable characters, and fascinating plot.)

I also think of the Hunger Games, where Katniss's driving force is her love for her sister and her desire to keep her safe. Or Lord of the Rings, where Frodo must destroy the ring to save the Shire.

This is the kind of motivation that I want my characters to have, and what I've been working on in my WIP; the kind that keeps people reading and that keeps my characters going.

What are your characters motivated by?
 

This post is part of the Insecure Writer's Support Group hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh. We post the first Wednesday of every month. Check the link for some of the other blogs participating in this event!

Z is for Tali'Zorah

Garrus Vakarian: "Do you ever miss those talks we had on the elevators?"
Tali'Zorah: "No."
Garrus Vakarian: "Come on. Remember how we'd always ask you about life on the flotilla? It was an opportunity to share!"
Tali'Zorah: "This conversation is over."
Garrus Vakarian: "Tell me again about your immune system."
Tali'Zorah: "I have a shotgun."
Garrus Vakarian: "Mmmmaybe we'll talk later."

Tali'Zorah nar Rayya is a quarian from the Mass Effect games. You first meet her when she is on her pilgrimage, a journey outside the Flotilla where she is trying to bring back something of worth.

Tali's a mechanical genius, and I always have her in my party for her skills in electronics and hacking. Plus, the conversations you have with her in the elevator are the best. Her back story is fascinating too. If I was Commander Shepard, Tali would probably be my best friend because she's just plain awesome.

I also hear if you don't romance either of them in Mass Effect 1 or 2, Tali and Garrus (my other favourite) develop a relationship, which makes me happy.

Shout out to blogger buddy Z: To Jeremy at Retro-Zombie. He's a pretty awesome dude.

Y is for Yoshi

I remember always waiting impatiently to get to the Yoshi levels when playing Super Mario Bros. as a kid. I remember always waiting impatiently to get to the Yoshi levels when playing Super Mario Bros. as an adult.

There aren't enough Yoshi levels, I say! I've had a lot of fun playing the more recent Wii version with friends, and swallowing your buddies and spitting them into a pit of lava is just the best. And everyone knows Yoshi is the character you race to select when choosing your characters in Mario Kart. (I've actually had to pick a new favourite because he's always so in demand.)

Shout out to blogger buddy Y: To Roland D. Yeomans, for writing such thought-provoking posts.

X if for Professor X

Professor X: "Listen to me carefully, my friend: Killing will not bring you peace."

Well, Professor X actually is not my favourite X-Man (I'd have to go with Nightcrawler or Mystique), but I couldn't think of anything else for X!

He is an admirable character, that's for sure; he has a strong moral code and his mind powers are pretty awesome. I've never read the comics so I can't speak to those, but I thought Patrick Stuart was a good pick to play him in the movies. His death was sad in the third one, but that whole movie was kinda sad in its awfulness.

Shout out to blogger buddy X: This one goes to ninja Ali Cross! (Because an X is like a cross, sillies). She rocks.

W is for Wolf

Wolf: "No, no! 'Rare' implies dangerously cooked. When I say rare, I mean let it look at the oven in terror, and then bring it out to me!"

I was surprised at how many of you knew about the movie The 10th Kingdom when I mentioned it in my top ten countdown. It is in my top ten largely because of the character Wolf.

Wolf is a human, but he's got many wolf-ish tendencies (plus a tail). I feel like his role could have been ridiculously stupid and wrecked the whole movie if put in the hands of the wrong actor, but Scott Cohen was the perfect choice to play him, and pulls the character off spectacularly.

He is downright hilarious, and has the most quote-able lines in the movie. The serious moments where he tries to keep his wolfish nature in check are also some of the most interesting parts of the movie.

Shout out to blogger buddy W: To Annalisa Crawford at Wake up, Eat, Write, Sleep for being such a positive example of a hard-working writer!

V is for Vivi

Vivi: "But... But I have to... I have to find out who I am... I'm scared... What if I'm not even human...?"

How can I not mention my avatar Vivi? Final Fantasy IX is actually my favourite Final Fantasy game so far. I love the characters and the plotline. Vivi is a fascinating character--plus he's, you know, adorable.

He's a Black Mage, one of the more useful companions to have in your party, in my opinion. As the story progresses, it is revealed that the Black Mages are mindless tools created by Kuja, designed to die after one year. Vivi is different than the other mages, but he struggles throughout the game with questions about his existence and origins.

I'm disappointed that you don't actually find out what happens to him at the end of the game.

Shout out to blogger buddy V: To fellow nerd Joshua at Vive le Nerd!

U is for Delores Umbridge

"Hem-hem."

Umbridge is one of my favourite bad characters. She is a complex lady, as she is fighting on the "good" side, but she's so delightfully dastardly. Her evil side plus her affinity for kittens and fluffy pink things makes her intriguing. The Order of the Phoenix is my least favourite book in the series because Harry's a whiny idiot for most of it, but I did enjoy the introduction of her character.

Forcing Harry to write lines with his own blood is just so awful a punishment. She's one of those characters you love to hate, and it's all the more satisfying when she gets carried off by centaurs at the end after insulting them; just what she deserves.

I also thought the actor who played her in the movies did a fantastic job.

Shout out to blogger buddy U: To fellow writer Mina Burrows! How did I get Mina Burrows from the letter U? Well there's a U in bUrrows, of course.