In a post on The Script Lab blog, David Wayne Young says that forgetting your character’s main goal is the most dangerous pitfall in writing.
“A lot of the time, writers want to focus on certain events they want to have happen in their story — how they want the story to develop, and what interactions they want to take place,” Young says. “In doing so, you can sometimes lose sight of what’s important to the character themselves.” By focusing on a specific event, you might forget what motivates your character to get there. You shouldn’t let the allure of a cool scene distract from your character’s goals. If a scene doesn’t support your character’s journey, it doesn’t belong.
You should also be sure that your character’s goals stay consistent, even when they undergo growth and change. Your character may learn that their initial goal was immoral or that they’ve chosen the wrong way to achieve their goal, but what remains most important to them – their underlying motivation – will not change.
But how can you tell you’re on the right track? Young suggests examining your character’s self-image and what they project to others. Even if it’s biased, that self-image informs their motivations. Also, check your story’s direction. Is your story headed towards its main goal, or are you side-tracked? If a scene isn’t pointing your protagonist towards the end run, consider re-writing or eliminating it. Finally, the goal should be relevant to your story world, Young says. If it’s not, you might be writing with another subconscious goal in mind.
