Character motivation: a brief thought

Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water. —Kurt Vonnegut Knowing your character’s motivation, while seeming simple, isn’t always easy. First, different scenes will have different motivation. For example, in a murder mystery, the main motivation of the protagonist will be to solve the mystery. In another scene, the…

Writing a character you don’t like

Sometimes a story or poem requires a character (or narrator) you don’t like. In fiction it’s often the antagonist. While this person isn’t always evil, s/he is generally unlikeable. After all, the antagonist is thwarting your main character for some reason. So how do you approach writing a believable character you don’t like? Here’s how…