{"id":13610,"date":"2015-09-25T01:00:54","date_gmt":"2015-09-25T08:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=13610"},"modified":"2015-09-25T12:54:36","modified_gmt":"2015-09-25T19:54:36","slug":"essential-character-tip-1-know-your-characters-deep-why-by-beth-barany","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2015\/09\/25\/essential-character-tip-1-know-your-characters-deep-why-by-beth-barany\/","title":{"rendered":"Essential Character Tip #1: Know Your Character’s Deep Why by Beth Barany"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Essential<\/a>Recently in a training session with clients in our group coaching program<\/a> I shared one of the most essential character development tips, that of knowing your character’s deep why.<\/p>\n

I’ll be sharing more in our special webinar next week<\/a>. You can sign up for that below.<\/p>\n

Today I want to share with you what I mean, a tip on how you can deepen your understanding on your character, and why this is important for your story telling.<\/p>\n

Deep Why<\/h2>\n

Readers want to know what a character wants — his or her goal<\/a> — and they want to know why the character wants this goal, or the\u00a0main character’s motivation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But it’s not enough to\u00a0stay on the surface when you’re planning your story, though that is a good place to start. (Character planning list here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Once\u00a0you know your character’s motivation, next interview your character, asking them this key question:<\/p>\n

What will having that do for you?<\/h2>\n

Then ask this question each time to the new answer.<\/p>\n

To illustrate what I mean, here\u2019s an example from my WIP, book 3 about Henrietta The Dragon Slayer<\/a>:<\/p>\n

At the start of the third book, Henrietta wants to return a boy to his mother in an unknown and dangerous territory.<\/p>\n

Why?<\/p>\n

Because\u00a0she promised she would and the boy is attached to her.<\/p>\n

What would\u00a0having that do for you, Henrietta?<\/em><\/p>\n

Then I’ll be doing the right thing.<\/p>\n

What would\u00a0having that do for you, Henrietta?<\/em><\/p>\n

I can’t just abandon the boy. I need to return him to his people, no matter the cost.<\/p>\n

What would\u00a0having that do for you, Henrietta?<\/em><\/p>\n

I’m ready to risk it all to protect those I care about.<\/p>\n

At the start of my story, Henrietta doesn’t yet know this is her deep why. But by\u00a0about two-thirds through she will have discovered this about herself, and that will be very relevant to her choices.<\/p>\n

Dig deep to find your character’s deep why +\u00a0then reveal it bit by it in\u00a0your story. (Click to tweet this<\/a>. You can edit it before publishing.)<\/p>\n

For more essential character (and plot) tips, please join us for our webinar<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

\"Join<\/a><\/p>\n

on<\/h2>\n

Plan Your Novel: Essential Plot & Character Tips *New & Updated*<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Last year Ezra and I gave this webinar to over 200 registered attendees. We’re please to bring back this webinar this year!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Date: September 29, 5pm Pacific<\/h1>\n

(Use this handy time converter to find your time zone: http:\/\/www.timeanddate.com\/worldclock\/converter.html<\/a>)<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

Sign Up Here<\/h1>\n

Sign up here<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\u00a0below to get\u00a0all details and the worksheet we’ll send out ahead of time.<\/p>\n

** You’ll get the recording if you\u00a0can’t make it live.**<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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\"INSTAGRAM-Calling<\/a><\/p>\n

Your Investment:<\/strong> 90-minutes of your time<\/p>\n

In this 90-minute<\/span> special webinar, we will cover:<\/strong><\/h2>\n