In an article for Writer’s Digest, Robert Swartwood says that “Why?” is the most important questions writers can ask about themselves and their stories.
That question can range from why you’ve chosen a specific form, such as novel vs. screenplay, or the genre or choice of protagonist. It affects why you’ve chosen to work on this story and not a different one.
At the heart of your story are your characters’ answers to these questions. In short, why are they here, why are they taking action, and why is story worthy of being told. “These questions and more are often those whispered in the back of our heads when we’re working on our stories,” Swartwood says. “Our subconscious knows how vital they are and tries to remind us of them every step of the way.”
Answering these questions will help you avoid crafting inauthentic characters and putting them through a plot that feels forced and contrived. “It took me several years to appreciate the importance of Why? and now it’s something I can’t not think about whenever I approach a new project,” Swartwood writes. “Sure, I might have an amazing concept in mind, or I might have come up with a new twist on an old idea, or maybe I’ve even constructed a unique character, but in the end if I can’t answer that simple, all-important question, none of it will matter.”
