Character Motivation Thesaurus - One Stop For Writers

Ready to plot your story? Start your free trial to explore many popular goals found in fiction and film, as well as the roadblocks, stakes, costs, and personal impacts that may be associated with each.

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A

• ACHIEVING DOMINION OVER ANOTHER (DARK)
• ACHIEVING SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT
• AVOIDING CERTAIN DEATH
• AVOIDING FINANCIAL RUIN

B

• BEATING A DIAGNOSIS OR CONDITION
• BECOMING A LEADER OF OTHERS
• BECOMING THE SOLE POWER OR AUTHORITY (DARK)
• BEING A PHILANTHROPIST
• BEING ACCEPTED BY OTHERS
• BEING ACKNOWLEDGED OR APPRECIATED BY FAMILY
• BEING THE BEST AT SOMETHING
• BREAKING PEOPLE SO THEY ABANDON THEIR BELIEFS (DARK)

C

• CARING FOR AN AGING PARENT
• CARRYING ON A LEGACY
• CATCHING THE BAD GUY OR GIRL
• CAUSING SOMEONE PAIN (DARK)
• COMING TO GRIPS WITH A MENTAL CONDITION
• CONTROLLING OTHERS (DARK)
• COPING WITH A LEARNING DISABILITY OR ILLNESS (KIDLIT)
• CORRECTING A PERCEIVED MISTAKE (DARK)
• CREATING OR DISCOVERING SOMETHING IMPORTANT

D

• DEALING WITH BULLIES (KIDLIT)
• DISCOVERING ONE'S TRUE SELF
• DOING THE RIGHT THING
• DOING THE RIGHT THING (KIDLIT)

E

• EMBRACING A PERSONAL IDENTITY (KIDLIT)
• ESCAPING A DANGEROUS LIFE ONE NO LONGER WANTS TO LIVE
• ESCAPING A KILLER
• ESCAPING CONFINEMENT
• ESCAPING DANGER (KIDLIT)
• ESCAPING HOMELESSNESS
• ESCAPING INVADERS
• ESCAPING WIDESPREAD DISASTER
• EVADING RESPONSIBILITY (DARK)
• EXPLORING ONE'S BIOLOGICAL ROOTS

F

• FINDING A LIFELONG PARTNER
• FINDING FRIENDSHIP OR COMPANIONSHIP
• FINDING ONE'S PURPOSE
• FINDING SOMETHING LOST
• FITTING IN (KIDLIT)
• FORCING A BIG CHANGE (DARK)
• FORCING CONVERSION (DARK)
• FORGIVING ONESELF

G

• GAINING CONTROL OVER ONE'S OWN LIFE
• GETTING REVENGE (DARK)
• GIVING UP A CHILD

H

• HAVING A CHILD
• HAVING IT ALL (DARK)
• HELPING A LOVED ONE RECOGNIZE THEY ARE HURTING THEMSELVES AND OTHERS

K

• KEEPING WHAT ONE HAS NO MATTER WHAT (DARK)

L

• LEARNING TO TRUST (KIDLIT)

M

• MAKING SOMEONE PROUD

N

• NAVIGATING A CHANGING FAMILY SITUATION (KIDLIT)

O

• OBLITERATING AN ENEMY (DARK)
• OBSESSIVELY PURSUING A RELATIONSHIP (DARK)
• OBTAINING GLORY WHATEVER THE COST (DARK)
• OBTAINING SHELTER FROM THE ELEMENTS
• OVERCOMING A DEBILITATING FEAR
• OVERCOMING A FEAR (KIDLIT)
• OVERCOMING ABUSE AND LEARNING TO TRUST
• OVERCOMING ADDICTION
• OVERTHROWING GOOD WITH EVIL (DARK)

P

• PROFITEERING (DARK)
• PROMOTING CHAOS (DARK)
• PROTECTING A LOVED ONE
• PROTECTING ONE'S HOME OR PROPERTY
• PROVIDING FOR ONE'S FAMILY
• PROVIDING SECURITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
• PROVING SOMEONE WRONG
• PURSUING A PASSION
• PURSUING A TOXIC DESIRE (DARK)
• PURSUING JUSTICE FOR ONESELF OR OTHERS
• PURSUING KNOWLEDGE
• PURSUING MASTERY OF A SKILL OR TALENT

R

• REALIZING A DREAM
• RECONCILING WITH AN ESTRANGED FAMILY MEMBER
• REPAYING A DEBT
• RESCUING A LOVED ONE FROM A CAPTOR
• RESISTING PEER PRESSURE (KIDLIT)
• RESTORING ONE'S NAME OR REPUTATION
• RIGHTING A DEEP WRONG
• RUINING SOMEONE'S LIFE (DARK)
• RUINING SOMEONE'S REPUTATION (DARK)

S

• SAVING THE WORLD
• SEEKING DEATH (DARK)
• SERVING OTHERS
• SOLVING A PROBLEM (KIDLIT)
• STOPPING AN EVENT FROM HAPPENING
• SUPPORTING ONESELF FINANCIALLY
• SURVIVING LOSS
• SURVIVING THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE

T

• TAKING WHAT ONE IS OWED (DARK)
• TRYING SOMETHING NEW (KIDLIT)
• TRYING TO SUCCEED WHERE ONE HAS PREVIOUSLY FAILED

W

• WINNING A COMPETITION

MINI LESSON

A compelling goal is one of the cornerstones of strong fiction, but conveying why the character is driven to achieve it is what draws readers in and makes them care. Explore all angles of character arc by digging deep into what is motivating your protagonist, the obstacles that could stand in their way, and how sacrifices may play a role if the character is to succeed.

*Dark Motivations: These are unhealthy or negative goals commonly embraced by villains or protagonists pursuing a false motivation (one they believe will fulfill them but ultimately will not). *Kidlit Motivations: Goals like these are often pursued by children and young adults and frequently occur in stories written for those age groups.

ACHIEVING DOMINION OVER ANOTHER (DARK)

ACHIEVING SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT

AVOIDING CERTAIN DEATH

AVOIDING FINANCIAL RUIN

BEATING A DIAGNOSIS OR CONDITION

BECOMING A LEADER OF OTHERS

BECOMING THE SOLE POWER OR AUTHORITY (DARK)

BEING A PHILANTHROPIST

BEING ACCEPTED BY OTHERS

BEING ACKNOWLEDGED OR APPRECIATED BY FAMILY

BEING THE BEST AT SOMETHING

BREAKING PEOPLE SO THEY ABANDON THEIR BELIEFS (DARK)

CARING FOR AN AGING PARENT

CARRYING ON A LEGACY

CATCHING THE BAD GUY OR GIRL

CAUSING SOMEONE PAIN (DARK)

COMING TO GRIPS WITH A MENTAL CONDITION

CONTROLLING OTHERS (DARK)

COPING WITH A LEARNING DISABILITY OR ILLNESS (KIDLIT)

CORRECTING A PERCEIVED MISTAKE (DARK)

CREATING OR DISCOVERING SOMETHING IMPORTANT

DEALING WITH BULLIES (KIDLIT)

DISCOVERING ONE'S TRUE SELF

DOING THE RIGHT THING

DOING THE RIGHT THING (KIDLIT)

EMBRACING A PERSONAL IDENTITY (KIDLIT)

ESCAPING A DANGEROUS LIFE ONE NO LONGER WANTS TO LIVE

ESCAPING A KILLER

ESCAPING CONFINEMENT

ESCAPING DANGER (KIDLIT)

ESCAPING HOMELESSNESS

ESCAPING INVADERS

ESCAPING WIDESPREAD DISASTER

EVADING RESPONSIBILITY (DARK)

EXPLORING ONE'S BIOLOGICAL ROOTS

FINDING A LIFELONG PARTNER

FINDING FRIENDSHIP OR COMPANIONSHIP

FINDING ONE'S PURPOSE

FINDING SOMETHING LOST

FITTING IN (KIDLIT)

FORCING A BIG CHANGE (DARK)

FORCING CONVERSION (DARK)

FORGIVING ONESELF

GAINING CONTROL OVER ONE'S OWN LIFE

GETTING REVENGE (DARK)

GIVING UP A CHILD

HAVING A CHILD

HAVING IT ALL (DARK)

HELPING A LOVED ONE RECOGNIZE THEY ARE HURTING THEMSELVES AND OTHERS

KEEPING WHAT ONE HAS NO MATTER WHAT (DARK)

LEARNING TO TRUST (KIDLIT)

MAKING SOMEONE PROUD

NAVIGATING A CHANGING FAMILY SITUATION (KIDLIT)

OBLITERATING AN ENEMY (DARK)

OBSESSIVELY PURSUING A RELATIONSHIP (DARK)

OBTAINING GLORY WHATEVER THE COST (DARK)

OBTAINING SHELTER FROM THE ELEMENTS

OVERCOMING A DEBILITATING FEAR

OVERCOMING A FEAR (KIDLIT)

OVERCOMING ABUSE AND LEARNING TO TRUST

OVERCOMING ADDICTION

OVERTHROWING GOOD WITH EVIL (DARK)

PROFITEERING (DARK)

PROMOTING CHAOS (DARK)

PROTECTING A LOVED ONE

PROTECTING ONE'S HOME OR PROPERTY

PROVIDING FOR ONE'S FAMILY

PROVIDING SECURITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

PROVING SOMEONE WRONG

PURSUING A PASSION

PURSUING A TOXIC DESIRE (DARK)

PURSUING JUSTICE FOR ONESELF OR OTHERS

PURSUING KNOWLEDGE

PURSUING MASTERY OF A SKILL OR TALENT

REALIZING A DREAM

RECONCILING WITH AN ESTRANGED FAMILY MEMBER

REPAYING A DEBT

RESCUING A LOVED ONE FROM A CAPTOR

RESISTING PEER PRESSURE (KIDLIT)

RESTORING ONE'S NAME OR REPUTATION

RIGHTING A DEEP WRONG

RUINING SOMEONE'S LIFE (DARK)

RUINING SOMEONE'S REPUTATION (DARK)

SAVING THE WORLD

SEEKING DEATH (DARK)

SERVING OTHERS

SOLVING A PROBLEM (KIDLIT)

STOPPING AN EVENT FROM HAPPENING

SUPPORTING ONESELF FINANCIALLY

SURVIVING LOSS

SURVIVING THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE

TAKING WHAT ONE IS OWED (DARK)

TRYING SOMETHING NEW (KIDLIT)

TRYING TO SUCCEED WHERE ONE HAS PREVIOUSLY FAILED

WINNING A COMPETITION

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