CHARACTER MOTIVATION THESAURUS

CREATING OR DISCOVERING SOMETHING IMPORTANT



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HELPFUL TIP:

To understand why your character is driven toward a certain goal, get to know their positive and negative traits, as well as any significant emotional wounds that might be motivating them. Then you can explore the various kinds of conflict that could block them as they move toward their goal.
FORMS THIS MIGHT TAKE:
Inventing a new product, service, or system
Finding something of significance that was lost (the Ark of the Covenant, the lost city of Atlantis, etc.)
Discovering a new species in the natural world
Discovering a hidden civilization
Creating something that solves a major problem (the cure for cancer, technology for keeping personal data secure online, an educational system that ensures the success of every child, kitty litter that turns poo into a renewable energy source, etc.)

HUMAN NEED DRIVING THE GOAL (INNER MOTIVATION):
There are five basic human needs that, when missing from a character's life, could motivate them to pursue this goal. The following needs are all possibilities, but only one of them should be the primary driver for any given character. For more information on the relationship between human needs and outer motivations, please see this Character Motivation tutorial.

Self-Actualization: If the creative drive is strong enough, along with one's need to express oneself in that way, this goal could be something the character is motivated to pursue.
Esteem and Recognition: To elevate himself in the eyes of others, a character might strive to make himself stand out via this means.
Love and Belonging: If a loved one is suffering and the character has the ability to come up with a way to stop it, he may be driven to create or discover the solution.
Safety and Security: If the character's personal security is at stake, he may find himself pursuing this goal as a way of getting back to a place of safety.

HOW THE CHARACTER MAY PREPARE FOR THIS GOAL:
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POSSIBLE SACRIFICES OR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GOAL:
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ROADBLOCKS WHICH COULD PREVENT THIS GOAL FROM BEING ACHIEVED:
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TALENTS & SKILLS THAT WILL HELP THE CHARACTER ACHIEVE THIS GOAL:
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WHAT'S AT STAKE IF THIS GOAL ISN'T MET?
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CLICHÉS TO AVOID:
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