Welcome to my newsletter!

Why, Bah, humbug?

Hey, Reader,

It's the holiday season, and we're all caught up in various activities to get us to and from family and friends, work, and festive occasions.

We're running around like crazy folks, hopefully in a fun way, this time of the year for a series of reasons. Some could call them motivations.

Why do we do what we do when we do what we do, and for whom?

Motivations move people, they move events, and they make history tragic or celebratory.

When creating your stories, one of the most compelling techniques to reel your audience in and have them sitting on the edge of their seat is to give your characters compelling, driven motivations. These strong motivations caused them to take risks with relationships, jobs, life, and limbs.

Here are a few motivations that are commonly utilized in stories.

Revenge

The culprit plots to get even for a perceived wrong or avenge a personal loss, betrayal, or injustice.

Example: The surviving member of a fatal home invasion sets out to get even with the thugs that attacked and killed her family.

Greed

The lust for money, power, and possessions drives the crime.

Example: The outcast of a wealthy family sets a plan in motion to claim all the family wealth and power from those who cast him out.

Jealousy

Envy over someone else’s success, relationship, or status leads to a crime.

Example: An obsessed ex-lover will do whatever is necessary to make sure their ex can’t find happiness with anyone else. Whatever is necessary.

Fear

The perpetrator acts out of desperation to protect themselves from exposure, harm, or loss.

Example: After accidentally killing someone, the perpetrator frames an innocent person to avoid being caught and losing everything.

Please take a look at them, and then try to build a list of your own. See what you come up with and how you can apply The Seven Questions Down principle. This means that when you create a motivation like greed, ask why they are greedy.

Once you come up with that answer, ask why again and again until you've done it seven times and explored six to seven levels deep.

This is an excellent way to develop your character's motivations in novellas, novels, feature films, Etc. The longer the story, the more time, space, and reason you have for developing deeper character revelations.

It also works for short stories and short films.

Now go forth and be brilliant. Ho ho ho!

Merry-Chrisma-Hana-Kwanza!

Best,

Alex Simmons

If you want to know how to create dynamic characters for a mystery thriller, join my Write The Crime: COLD CASE CHALLENGE, Part One.

In it I’ll show you how to map out your crime, victim, and criminal. Act now, and I’ll even give you a chance to learn more for less.

So click the link and join me instantly.

Write The Crime: COLD CASE CHALLENGE, Part One.

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Have questions? DM me (@AlexSimmonsSays). Or email me.

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