March 2023

Character Motivation, upcoming workshops, and awesome client releases!

March is over! Now we dance!

As I mentioned last time, I despise March. But it’s over! It’s April!

Let’s have some fun!

Why do they do that?

This month I want to talk about character motivation, but probably not in the way you’d expect.

Yes, there is the whole “Goal, Motivation, Conflict” thing. I actually have a whole workshop on conflict, stakes, and tension which are all intertwined with goals and motivations, but that’s not my focus for this.

My focus/frustration for this month is you need to know WHY your character does something. In fact, you need to know why they do EVERYTHING.

Raise your hand if you answer unknown numbers on your personal cell phone.

I don’t mean when you are job searching or trying to sell the treadmill in your garage. I mean just on an average day, do you ever answer your cellphone either without looking to see who is calling? If you do look and it shows UNKNOWN CALLER or a number you don’t recognize, do you answer?

My phone doesn’t even ring if you aren’t in my contacts. You get sent straight to voicemail. (Sorry about that time the nurses were trying to call me to let me know my husband’s procedure was done and I could come get him….Oops!)

Why am I ranting about unknown callers? I’ve seen a rash of characters in books answering their phones either without checking the ID or despite the fact they don’t know the number.

Their only motivation is that the author needed them to answer that call.

And that, my friend, is not enough.

If my character is in danger. Let’s say it is a guy who is being threatened or stalked or is hiding from some really bad people, he’s not going to just answer the phone without checking.

He’s also not going to just throw his door open without looking. WHO DOES THAT?

I’m a super extrovert and I don’t even answer my door without looking to see who is on the other side. Have these people not watched ANY true crime documentaries?

That’s all related to character motivation. They need motivation for the big stuff, like why are they investigating this murder when they aren’t law enforcement? Or why are they agree to this fake marriage? But they also need motivation for the little things.

Sometimes, authors try to skirt around this.

“I don’t know why I answered without looking to see who was calling.”

“For reasons I wasn’t sure of, I went into the coffee shop and asked the barista if they were hiring.”

“Steve couldn’t say why followed Jane down the hall.”

Humans rarely do anything without a reason. They may not admit to the true reason to themselves, but they have some explanation for their actions.

This speaks to character agency as well as deep point-of-view. Do you know your character well enough to define their motivation (or what they believe to be their motivation) for even the little things?

Does this bother anyone else or is it just an editor pet peeve?

Do you need actionable strategies for using Deep POV?

Workshops, workshops, and more workshops!

Dawn’s Story Studio is growing! You should stop by and see all the workshops available now.

Here’s what is coming up for spring!

Click the links for more information on each one.

April 15th-Deep POV: Refining Your Character's Lens

May 13th-When You See It: A Practical Guide to Show, Don't Tell

June 17th- Story Fuel: Conflict, Stakes, and Tension

There is always a video and transcript available after the event if you can’t make the live call.

Client Releases

Ooh, look at all the pretties!

The Fae's Future: An Enchanted Rock Immortals Novella by Amanda Reid.

An elf that is also a jewel thief working with an information analyst who is also a psychic. When each holds the key to the other’s salvation, can they trust each other to navigate the danger and find their future together, or will their pasts destroy any chance at love?

Corrupted and Cherished Duet by Marie Johnston

I thought I only had a stalker until someone tried to kill me. Now I have two problems. I don’t know who wants me dead. And what do I do with the body?

Firebrand: A Supernatural Detective Agency Novella by Claudia Blood

A druid apprentice with a black thumb; A final test. Will Rex discover the truth before Spring is lost forever?

Where Angels Fall (City of Sin Book 1) by Delaney Foster

This is the story of three people’s lives intertwined in the threads of fate and the timeless question that always remains unanswered: What if?

A Court This Cruel and Lovely (Kingdom of Lies Book 1) by Stacia Stark

Our deal is simple: I’ll help him and his mysterious friends sneak into the city. And he’ll help me learn to wield the strange, dark power I’ve always kept hidden. The power that may just be the key to my survival.

Been There Dragon That by Krystal Shannan

Her trust is broken. He’s waiting for fate. When she arrives breathless in his small town, can this shifter prove their future deserves a chance?

Wrapping up

Thank you for reading!

If there is an editing topic you’d like me to address in this newsletter, or if there is a workshop you’d like me to offer, I’d love to hear it!

Feel free to leave a comment here or email me at DawnAlexanderBooks@gmail.com.

Happy Writing!