The Best Part Of Telling A Story – Part II

~ aurorajeanalexander

April 14, 2022 I published the first part of this blog post series, about the best part of telling a story. There are so many good parts, to me, each holds its own appeal. Let’s have a look at them again:

1. Drafting the plot

2. Finding a motive

3. Creating the protagonist and antagonist

4. Finding the perfect location

5. Thinking of plot twists

6. Create side characters

[7. Depending on the story, maybe even create a world]

Last time I ‘drafted the plot’, today I’m trying to find a motive.

I’m not sure, should I tell you, to me that’s more difficult or easier, than drafting the plot, since technically you can’t have one without the other.

Let’s find an example: you’re reading a crime story; the killer strangles a woman, when the police identifies and confronts him, he jumps off a bridge and you’ll never know why he did it. Wouldn’t you be disappointed? I know I would be.

In the case of a crime story, the motive of the killer is basically what drives the book. Why does the murderer what he does?

When we look at the ‘The Council of Twelve’ series, I have to find the motive for the actions of ‘both sides’, Good and Evil. Clearly expressed: Why does the Evil side what they do, how does the Good side react, and what is the outcome? We got the ‘why’, and that results in the ‘how’ – hence, the motive and the plot, which belong together.

The motive is the ‘why’ and with that in mind, we want to ask ‘how’, which leads us to the plot. One leads to the other, and we’re already in ‘the middle’ of story-telling.

What would you say to a criminal story without a motive, or a story without recognizable reason? Wouldn’t it just be empty? What do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.