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Tips and Tricks for Writing and Fics: The Six Emotional Needs that Drive Characterization

readwave:

Thanks to The Writers’ House UK for this incredible article on the six emotional needs that drive us

All authors strive to develop characters that come alive in the mind of the reader. Talented authors know just how much information to give and what to leave to the reader’s imagination.

Many appreciate the importance of making their characters believable by giving them interestingcharacter traits. Although most try, few authors can cleverly weave a plot around characters led by greed, envy, lust, kindness, etc., and those who do write books we love to read. But only the most talented of authors really understand people’s deeper needs that are ultimatelywhat motivates all human behaviour. So if you want to be one of the best, read on …

All humans beings are constantly and unconsciously trying to satisfy six emotional needs. In fact, all of our actions are aimed at meeting one or more of these needs, although we are totally unaware of them:

1. Certainty

In order to feel secure, we all need to know that some things are unlikely to change. Many people will stay in an unhappy relationship or job they dislike because the fear of the unknown is even greater than the unhappiness they feel in the relationship or position they currently find themselves in. So next time you are writing about someone who is clearly very unhappy, remember that they will need to find some sense of certainty before they can move on.

2. Uncertainty

In order to stop boredom we all need to have variety. Relationships and jobs become boring if everything is the same, no matter how much people enjoy their job or love their partner. How much variety or uncertainty people need depends on many personality factors, such as whether they are an extrovert or an introvert, for instance. It is worth bearing in mind when you are writing that for some characters the need for uncertainty will only play out in one area of their life. For example, John may have worked in the same job for twenty-five years (giving him certainty), but takes his variety or uncertainty from having a string of affairs!

3. Significance

We all need to know that we matter and that we are special in our own way. Often, we look to the outside world for our significance and are totally crushed when the people around us do not meet this need for us. Significance is probably the most important need for most men and many of your male characters will be driven to extreme lengths in order to meet it. 

For many people, significance comes from possessions and wealth, and the respect they feel wealth can afford them. In many cases it is never enough and the same applies to your fictional head of a worldwide conglomerate who will never stop striving. If they feel they have finally reached financial or status goals, they will then begin to engage in physically challenging or dangerous sports. For some it is the adulation of fame that drives them, but as it fades they may be left with very low self-esteem. We see examples of this in the press every day, with celebrities constantly displaying more and more shocking behaviour or revealing personal details about their private lives in order to retain the attention.

4. Connection

Human beings are not suited to being solitary animals and we all need to feel a connection with or loved by others to be truly happy. As we grow into adulthood, the need to achieve that connection outside the home becomes increasingly important. Forming appropriate and healthy relationships is vital to long-term happiness. To meet this need your characters may go off the rails by joining gangs for a negative purpose or they may drink excess amounts of alcohol, steal or take drugs to feel a part of a group and a sense of connection. While others may perform at extraordinary levels in order to be accepted, loved or connected as part of a high-achieving team. Undoubtedly, for many of your female characters it will not just be physical needs that lead them into the bed of unsuitable men.

5. Contribution

The need to live a life that serves the greater good and the drive to go beyond ourselves is deep within us all. When we do this we experience true joy and fulfilment. A balance of contribution to oneself and others, especially unselfish contribution, is the ultimate secret to the joy that so many people seek in their lives. We could probably all name people who are totally self-focused and appear to have no desire to help anyone else in their lives or society. But most people experience the greatest pleasures from helping others and if you are creating balanced characters, even the most ruthless gang member could have a little sister at home he/she adores.

6. Growth

Everything that is alive is either growing or dying. It doesn’t matter how much money you have, how many people acknowledge you or what you’ve achieved in life – unless you feel like you’re growing, you will be unhappy and unfulfilled. Growth is simply stretching yourself and doing more than you have achieved before, learning and developing. If your characters are not striving or growing, it is very likely they will be flat and lifeless.

Don’t attempt to build all these motivations into everything your characters do, but by being aware of them you can certainly understand their behaviour better, which ultimately will help you to improve how you write about them.☺

For more information on book coaching, custom-built websites, editing, self-publishing and how to write a novel/self-help book, please visit our website: http://www.writershouse.co.uk.

(Source: readwave-blog)