Tips for Writing Effective Character Goals

Writing character goals is one of the most important jobs of any novelist. But are your character's goals...mushy?
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[@siyasingh6076]

Hey Jessica! What a coincidence, while writing I was thinking that there were no big goals in my novel, and today itself you uploaded this video. I was just wondering that the past 3 books that I read written by Brigid Kemmerer, they did not have any specific "goals". They were just stories about two troubled teens with drastic lives. And even then those books were so interesting that I used to read them till 11 in the night. In my novel, which is about two girls, one struggling with grief, one with an obsession, there aren't any goals. They end up meeting at summer camp. I can't figure out which goal to add if any...
Also, I was not really able to identify the goal in your novel, The Chaos of Standing Still, and still it was just superbbbbb. Probably one of your best works yet.

[@jessicabrody1]

Hi Siya! Thanks for writing and for your nice compliments! I'm glad you enjoyed The Chaos of Standing Still. I hope you find this video helpful! Best of luck with your writing!

[@isabelecalazans1236]

thank you so much!! You made it really simple

[@augustinedaudu9203]

Wow, this was extremely helpful, I'm writing for film, but your video still made coming up with a goal so much easier. Thanks

[@ironforged2329]

Thank you so much!

[@zoeanastasia41]

This is very helpful!!

[@bluovalgal]

If you're writing a series, does the character's goal change in each book, or would it be like taking baby steps toward the big goal? Thanks! (Still working on your scene beat sheets... working at a snail's pace but better a little bit of writing than none at all. :)

[@jessicabrody1]

Great question! I talk a little about that topic in this post: www.jessicabrody.com/2020/05/how-heroes-transform-across-series-save-the-cat-for-series/ And all new words are progress! Keep writing!

[@bluovalgal]

@@jessicabrody1 Great! Thank you!

[@dcle944]

This is my problem. My MC believes he killed his mother and wants to be punished but no one punishes him. So he tries to punish himself but no amount of punishment is enough. So I don’t know when he would/could forgive himself.

[@ShadalooPlayer]

Maybe when he descovers the reason why she really died he stop and forgive himself

[@dcle944]

@@ShadalooPlayer That’s what the story is all about but in the meantime he has no tangible goals. He just punishes himself whatever way he can.

[@ShadalooPlayer]

@@dcle944 one ideia: the mother had a son/daughter with another person, so, when she died the MC start to do Jobs to help raise the children, because he fells guilt

[@kitsu8677]

Maybe he has an idea of how to receive a punishment that he thinks might be suitable that he can't do by himself and he has to find a way to receive help to achieve it. Or maybe he plans to 😵 himself after completing something on his mother's bucket list in her honor and the things that happen on the way there change his perspective.

[@ariciatul1389]

Is it okay if my character wants to feel forgiven for their mistake that they did years ago??Is it a weak want?

[@cosmic-fortytwo]

Buddhist monks who meditate in the woods want world peace and to end suffering. They want to be mindful and live in such a way that their existence has very little negative impact on the world and they want to live in such a way that their actions may help relieve the suffering of others. Have I successfully pointed out that your offhand comment was just a little bit ignorant?