@skullbones's post on Artfol
I want to ask a question regarding story telling. Even if your not a writer, I'd like ur opinion!!
Do you think a character needs a permanent, tangible goal throughout a story? I know that sounds weird. Like, do you think there should be a place to get to, a certain quest to complete, a time crunch, or some sort of huge thing to end the main character's story?
I'm asking bc I never really thought about having one for my OCs. I guess you could look at their story as an episodic coming of age story, but it's not really that either. They "come of age" but then they just keep going. The story's just following them becoming better and better ppl until I'm satisfied,lol!
Is that not good? Should I have an overarching thing they're trying to achieve?? Or can I just have small, episodic goals that develop and get resolved throughout their character arcs??
Idk, I'm not incredibly confident in my storytelling skills, so I'd love to hear your opinions!Jan 14, 2022
Do you think a character needs a permanent, tangible goal throughout a story? I know that sounds weird. Like, do you think there should be a place to get to, a certain quest to complete, a time crunch, or some sort of huge thing to end the main character's story?
I'm asking bc I never really thought about having one for my OCs. I guess you could look at their story as an episodic coming of age story, but it's not really that either. They "come of age" but then they just keep going. The story's just following them becoming better and better ppl until I'm satisfied,lol!
Is that not good? Should I have an overarching thing they're trying to achieve?? Or can I just have small, episodic goals that develop and get resolved throughout their character arcs??
Idk, I'm not incredibly confident in my storytelling skills, so I'd love to hear your opinions!Jan 14, 2022
#question
Comments
There's stories that are built on long, permanent goals, and stories built on short fleeting ones; it's just a matter of understanding them and how to utilize them
If you know who your character is and know their ideals and who they are, it think that's enough. The only thing I'd see being a problem is keeping it interesting— without goals it can be hard to progress with characters and events, which can make the story feel repetative and stuck in place
I dont think thats a problem you'll face though. i think you did give a good, long-term goal? Seeing characters progress and become better people is a great and interesting goal, even if the characters in question do not know that it's their goal
If you know who your character is and know their ideals and who they are, it think that's enough. The only thing I'd see being a problem is keeping it interesting— without goals it can be hard to progress with characters and events, which can make the story feel repetative and stuck in place
I dont think thats a problem you'll face though. i think you did give a good, long-term goal? Seeing characters progress and become better people is a great and interesting goal, even if the characters in question do not know that it's their goal
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I always try to give my characters a goal because I want their choices to influence the story's progression and that helps with it.
I see other comments here say give them little goals and I would definitely second that. If I just have a little goal like "x wants to make a piece of toast" then I can ask myself things like, what would be unexpected or funny that could happen while this character makes his toast? And it helps me write the episode or scene.
I see other comments here say give them little goals and I would definitely second that. If I just have a little goal like "x wants to make a piece of toast" then I can ask myself things like, what would be unexpected or funny that could happen while this character makes his toast? And it helps me write the episode or scene.
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Nah, I don't think so. As long as they have an impact on the world around them (and it's interesting to tell/read about), I think you're fine.
For instance, Dee doesn't really have a permanent goal. She has a big life commitment she knows is coming far in the future, but it's not like her life hinges on it, or that life won't go on regardless once she reaches it.
For instance, Dee doesn't really have a permanent goal. She has a big life commitment she knows is coming far in the future, but it's not like her life hinges on it, or that life won't go on regardless once she reaches it.
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It depends on the type of story. Sometimes the main character doesn't win. Sometimes they are just another background character in comparison to the world but whatever it is, the thing you're focusing on should just be interesting, or fun, and entertaining.
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•I think they should have a goal, but that goal can change over time, characters change and develop so their goals should as well, of course it's not mandatory but it's still a good tip to keep in mind, also the goal doesn't need to be grand to the story, like in most slices of life, the characters have very simple and small goals, so yeah, I'm not sure this was helpful I'm not a very good writer lol (I have been a beta reader for some friends of mine tho, but I don't think that counts) Anyway I hope you could at least understand what I meant lmao
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•I personally don't think so but it goes down to the character... Like how I can make a magical cow that solves all your problems or a murderous soldier who doesn't want a war to end
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•A characters lifetime goal could literally be anything, even if its super boring. (E.g just wants to live a peaceful life or get through high school with zero problem)
The important thing you need to really consider is how you choose to interact with said goal and this is where you start seeing temporary goals which I find are far more important in driving the story. These goals can sometimes change the lifetime goals of your character.
For example I have an OC who simply wants to survive, with the same routine. Circumstances change and she forced to figure out temporary goals to return to her goal of surviving on the same routine. Its through the completions of these small goals that her main goal begin to change.
But what about a character who really content with what they've achieved? I have an OC that is content with life but its only when she interacts with a strange person during her time working as a cook in prison does she pick up a small goal (figuring out his secrets) and that drives the story to reveal some things about that person. At the end of the story shes still completely content with her life before but this time has a new unexpected partner.
Since yours is a coming of age story, what do you hope your character to become at the end of the story?
The important thing you need to really consider is how you choose to interact with said goal and this is where you start seeing temporary goals which I find are far more important in driving the story. These goals can sometimes change the lifetime goals of your character.
For example I have an OC who simply wants to survive, with the same routine. Circumstances change and she forced to figure out temporary goals to return to her goal of surviving on the same routine. Its through the completions of these small goals that her main goal begin to change.
But what about a character who really content with what they've achieved? I have an OC that is content with life but its only when she interacts with a strange person during her time working as a cook in prison does she pick up a small goal (figuring out his secrets) and that drives the story to reveal some things about that person. At the end of the story shes still completely content with her life before but this time has a new unexpected partner.
Since yours is a coming of age story, what do you hope your character to become at the end of the story?
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•They don't need one, but if often makes a story easier to follow, and also easier to write.
You can differenciate between two kinds of goals: Something your character actively wants to achieve, and on the other hand, something they need to learn. Flat example: Character X WANTS to be a millionaire, and constantly overworks themselves, but what they NEED to learn in the end, is that money in itself won't make them happy.
Take it as an opportunity to get to learn more about your characters: Is there something they actively want go achive/get better at/ learn? If so, how can you make it harder to reach?
And going in more dept: What do you want them to NEED to learn from it? To better themselves? To trust others more - or less? To be more independent? To rely more on others?
Keep in mind that neither WANTs nor NEEDs need to be positive; characters can also want bad/unhealty/unsocial things, and/or will sometimes NEED to learn a bad lesson.
You can differenciate between two kinds of goals: Something your character actively wants to achieve, and on the other hand, something they need to learn. Flat example: Character X WANTS to be a millionaire, and constantly overworks themselves, but what they NEED to learn in the end, is that money in itself won't make them happy.
Take it as an opportunity to get to learn more about your characters: Is there something they actively want go achive/get better at/ learn? If so, how can you make it harder to reach?
And going in more dept: What do you want them to NEED to learn from it? To better themselves? To trust others more - or less? To be more independent? To rely more on others?
Keep in mind that neither WANTs nor NEEDs need to be positive; characters can also want bad/unhealty/unsocial things, and/or will sometimes NEED to learn a bad lesson.
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•To me personally, I think having both a physical and an internal goal is best for a character to have.
As with my experience, I give a character some basic things: a want, a need, a lie, and a promise.
In a way, you DO need something the character strives for. It could be as simple as getting a fancy outfit or the desire to get rid of their trauma.
An example I can provide is with Chronus. Chronus has the desire, his want, to be perfect and important. He believes (his lie, in a sense) is that his only purpose is to be perfect, and he HAS to remain as a perfect figure people latch onto, which is why it messes with his mental health.
His need, something he (the character) never admits to wanting, is to find people who accept him for his flaws. His promise, or just another way of calling his arc, is to fill the role of perfection. His quest, so to say.
Those are all internal things but of course you need physical things to help push the struggle. In AVC, Chronus has to deal with his rivalry with his siblings, the fact that he’s a parent and pushing his trauma into his child and so on. He has deadlines, places to attend, activities to do.
For that last question, I say it’s all up to you! Personally I always go for the first one while scattering bits of the second one. Say, your character’s main goal (like Chronus) is to be perfect and powerful. You can use that in an episodic way where they slowly build a reputation with smaller goals. It could end up positive! In Chronus’ case, it doesn’t, but that’s not the point of this comment aha.
TLDR; it’s best to build a character internally to find out what they want to do in life so when you create physical goals they can compliment or contrast their desires and needs accordingly. I hope that helps!
As with my experience, I give a character some basic things: a want, a need, a lie, and a promise.
In a way, you DO need something the character strives for. It could be as simple as getting a fancy outfit or the desire to get rid of their trauma.
An example I can provide is with Chronus. Chronus has the desire, his want, to be perfect and important. He believes (his lie, in a sense) is that his only purpose is to be perfect, and he HAS to remain as a perfect figure people latch onto, which is why it messes with his mental health.
His need, something he (the character) never admits to wanting, is to find people who accept him for his flaws. His promise, or just another way of calling his arc, is to fill the role of perfection. His quest, so to say.
Those are all internal things but of course you need physical things to help push the struggle. In AVC, Chronus has to deal with his rivalry with his siblings, the fact that he’s a parent and pushing his trauma into his child and so on. He has deadlines, places to attend, activities to do.
For that last question, I say it’s all up to you! Personally I always go for the first one while scattering bits of the second one. Say, your character’s main goal (like Chronus) is to be perfect and powerful. You can use that in an episodic way where they slowly build a reputation with smaller goals. It could end up positive! In Chronus’ case, it doesn’t, but that’s not the point of this comment aha.
TLDR; it’s best to build a character internally to find out what they want to do in life so when you create physical goals they can compliment or contrast their desires and needs accordingly. I hope that helps!
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•I'd say yes
Characters need a goal to achieve
And throughout the story, they can succeed, or find a new goal, etc
But a goal is indeed needed
It serves as a driving force in the story
Why would they do anything if they don't have a goal to achieve ? If they go on an adventure without a goal, most of their actions will end up quite weak, since they don't have a point in doing all that
Note that a goal is not always there to end the story
It's just something that makes the character move, and they can achieve it if you want them too
Characters need a goal to achieve
And throughout the story, they can succeed, or find a new goal, etc
But a goal is indeed needed
It serves as a driving force in the story
Why would they do anything if they don't have a goal to achieve ? If they go on an adventure without a goal, most of their actions will end up quite weak, since they don't have a point in doing all that
Note that a goal is not always there to end the story
It's just something that makes the character move, and they can achieve it if you want them too
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I think they should have an overall personal goal, something like getting the attention of a particular character, or facing a particular fear, and so on... and then some other smaller goals that have to do with the story itself, like a quest or something. Maybe if their personal goal is to get over their fear of spiders (idk) then those quests and adventures would build toward that (so they would often meet spiders in their adventures or sth) At least that's how I like to write my characters
Hope this helps!
Hope this helps!
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•Is this something you write or draw or have as a comforting gem inside your mind or... What physical form would the story take?
If I was reading a book I'd like the author to get on with it and choose a direction where the story flows but if it's a series of illustrations then those can be enjoyable without many/any connections or direction.
If I was reading a book I'd like the author to get on with it and choose a direction where the story flows but if it's a series of illustrations then those can be enjoyable without many/any connections or direction.
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