Building a character goal is more than just picking the most convenient option for the plot. And yes, a character goal is different from a character’s motivation, even though the two are closely connected. So, how do you create a character goal? Well, in this guide, we will break down what a character goal actually is, why it matters, and how to build one that can hold a whole book together.
What Is a Character Goal?
A character goal is something your protagonist wants and actively works toward across the story. It gives them a direction to pursue and a reason to make decisions rather than simply reacting to whatever event or problem you throw at them. Plus, having a goal gives you plenty of opportunity for conflict.
Something to keep in mind: The goal doesn’t have to drive every single scene. What matters is that it gives the larger story a direction that readers can follow and understand.
Why A Character Goal Is Important
A character goal is important because it gives the plot a direction. Once readers know what your character wants, they have something to track as the story unfolds (will the protagonist get what they want?).
It also creates tension. Let’s say your protagonist wants to win a competition, but every step of the way, they face several setbacks or obstacles. This makes readers understand what your character stands to lose.
More importantly, having a goal unravels the character’s complexity by showing what they value, how they think, and what they’re willing to do to get what they want.
And if you take that goal away? You’re left with a character aimlessly wandering through the story. And since no one is actively driving the plot forward, the story can quickly lose momentum, no matter how well each individual scene is written.
How to Build A Strong Character Goal
Building a strong character goal takes more than randomly picking something your character wants. It should connect to who they are at the beginning, what they need to change, and where you want them to end up.
Start With the End
Before deciding what your protagonist wants, think about who you want them to become by the end of the story. Do they become more confident? More independent? Do they finally stand up for themselves instead of avoiding confidence?
Find Their Opposite
Now that you know who your character becomes, work backward to figure out who they are at the beginning.
Rather than making them the complete opposite of their final self, focus on the traits, beliefs, or behaviors that prevent them from becoming that person. For instance, if they become confident and independent by the end of the story, they might begin as someone timid or overly reliant on others.
So, how does this connect with building a strong character goal? Well, establishing two snapshots of the same character gives you a clearer idea of what they need to accomplish throughout the story.
Give Them Something to Want
Now that you know where your character starts and where they need to end, give them something to actively pursue.
Something to keep in mind, though. This is where you need to separate your character’s goal from their internal need. For instance, your character might need to learn how to trust other people. This can be just a minor goal, and not necessarily something they can actively pursue throughout the entire story.
So, what should you do? Give them an external objective that forces them to confront the minor goal (learning how to trust other people).
Define the Motivation
Once you know what your character wants, the next step is to figure out why they want it – what past experience has made this goal important? Why does this goal matter to them in the first place? Whatever that character motivation is, remember that it should be compelling enough to give your protagonist a reason to keep going.
Outline the Transformation
The last step is to bring everything together (goal, motivation, and character arc) by mapping how your character moves from their starting point to their end state as they pursue their goal. Remember, your protagonist shouldn’t simply start the story one way and suddenly become a completely different person at the end.
Character Goal Writing Tips
Now that you know how to write a character goal, here are three useful tips to help you shape the right goal:
Pick a Specific Tangible Goal
Give your protagonist a goal that is specific enough to clearly define what they are trying to accomplish. Of course, it should be tangible so that you can easily establish what your protagonist needs to do to achieve it and what they stand to lose if they fail.
For instance, “save the family farm” gives your protagonist a clear objective, but “raise $100,000 in six months to stop the bank from foreclosing on the family farm” gives you (and your character) more to work with.
Of course, this doesn’t mean your protagonist cannot have broader or emotional goals. Some stories are built around self-discovery, where the protagonist’s journey is about understanding who they are or what they want.
Embrace Scene Goals
Your protagonist’s main goal gives the story its direction, but they won’t achieve it in one giant step. Each scene can give them a small objective to pursue along the way.
For example, if the protagonist’s larger goal is to repair their relationship with their sister, their immediate goal in one scene might be to get through dinner without another argument.
That smaller objective gives the scene something to build around. Your protagonist might succeed in keeping the peace but discover that their sister still doesn’t trust them. Or they make the relationship even worse. Either way, something has changed.
This creates tension on each page rather than making one single distant destination carry all the load. Plus, it prevents the scene from feeling like filler because your protagonist is actively trying to accomplish something.
Plan Your Plot Points
Plot points are the key events that make your character either closer or farther away from what they desire. Keep in mind that each point should create a meaningful change in the story. It can be forcing your character to give something up or changing their thought process. Whatever it is, remember, plot points should have a purpose.
Character Goal Generator
You are a character goal generator that helps writers create strong, story-ready goals for their protagonists.
Here are important details about my character:
Character: [insert info about protagonist]
Starting point: [who they are at the beginning of the story]
Ending point: [who do you want them to become]
Story premise: [what your story is about]
Genre: [insert genre]
Motivation: [insert info]
Using these information, please create goal ideas that connets what the protagonist wants with who they need to become.
The goal should be:
- Specific and actionable
- Something that the protagonist can actively pursue
- Meaningful to the protagonist
- Creates conflict
- Capable of driving the plot forward
As a quick reminder, goal is what the character wants to achieve, while their motivation is why they want it.
Return the result using this format:
Character goal: [what the protagonist wants to achieve]
Internal need: [what they need to learn, overcome, or change]
Character arc: [how pursuing the goal forces them to change from their starting point to their ending point]
Stakes: [what they stand to gain if they succeed and lose if they fail]
Goal check: [explain why this goal works for the character and story]FAQ
How Many Goals Should A Character Have?
Your protagonist can have several goals, but it’s usually helpful to have one dominant objective that gives the story its main direction. For instance, the protagonist might ultimately want to defeat their archnemesis, but they first need to rescue their parents and recover a stolen weapon.
These smaller objectives can become important parts of the plot without competing with the protagonist’s main goal. The key is making the heirarchy clear. If several goals are equally important for most of the story, readers may struggle to understand what your protagonist is trying to accomplish.
Are Goals and Motivations Different?
Yes, goals and motivations are different. With goals, it is the specific end result which the character aims to achieve. On the other hand, motivation is the underlying reason why the end result is important to the character.
Is It Necessary to Have a Character Goal?
Most stories benefit from giving the protagonist a clear goal because it gives readers something to follow. Plus, it creates a natural source of conflict. That doesn’t mean every story needs a protagonist with one obvious objective from beginning to end. Some character-driven or experimental stories rely on other forms of narrative direction.
If your story deliberately doesn’t have a character goal, though, you still need something that gives the story momentum.