Motivation

What motivates the main character in your middle grade manuscript? If you struggle to pinpoint what drives them, you reader will too. I found this out the hard way. After sharing a chapter from my WIP, one critique partner asked, “Why do I care if your protagonist reaches her goal? And why is she so determined to win anyway? What’s her motivation?”

What indeed.A character’s motivation matters. It drives the plot, explains why a character behaves a certain way, and gives the reader a reason to root for a favorable resolution.

Without it, the story falls flat.

Lack of motivation is not an uncommon issue. Many writers plop a character into an adventure without considering why must their story be told by this person.

Take another look your work in progress. Starting with the first chapter, analyze your character—how she responds to her environment and other people. Can you identify what’s motivating her in one or two sentences?

If not, ask why questions to keep digging deeper. Do external forces (like survival or competition) or internal desires (like power or revenge) drive the character? What backstory might you need to develop in order to reveal and explain these actions and aspirations?  As you hone in on what drives your character, put obstacles, challenges, and limitations in their path. Make her respond in a manner consistent with this motivation.

You can also practice identifying motivation by reading a few well-written middle grade novels. Identify words, phrases, and actions the author uses to communicate what’s driving the main character. You can even borrow the character (for practice purposes only, of course!) and put them into the first chapter of your book. How does a difference character change your story? Put your story into their story. What happens?

Returning to my experience, when I addressed the deep motivations of my main character in my book Inside the Ten-Foot Line, she came alive. She morphed into someone more likable, relatable, and compelling. Because of that, the story broadened in depth, complexity, and impact. And when she finally met her goal, the reader was left with a sense of satisfaction.

So, get motivated! Unlock your character’s full potential and reveal what drives them.