action forces
Website design By BotEap.com“All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, and desire.” –Aristotle.
Website design By BotEap.comI hate being weak from writer’s block. Shhh, don’t tell my muse. He shoots me a horrified look, then whispers, “What are you talking about? NEVER get writer’s block.”
Website design By BotEap.comUnfortunately, we’ve all experienced WB in some size, shape, or fashion. If you find yourself stuck and can’t move forward, can’t find something for your characters to do, why not use some or all of Aristotle’s action “forces” to move your plot, events and characters forward?
Website design By BotEap.comLuck – Oh, I love this one. Not only is the opportunity open, but it can offer meaning and reason behind an idea or scene that would otherwise be lost. Chance gives you freedom… opening the door to a wide range of possibilities. A chance encounter in the airport security line, or finding a magical lucky coin while digging in your backyard for arrowheads, can lead to all kinds of action. Remember jumanji? Two children found a board game…
Website design By BotEap.comNatureHere is another favorite of mine. The unpredictability of nature coupled with its seemingly limitless possibilities lends itself to an excellent choice in the action/adventure genre (as well as most other genres). Blizzards, tornadoes, lightning, sandstorms, or droughts provide wonderful settings to perform. A horrible storm causes a plane crash. The sole survivor is a FedEx employee. Discard…Nature lights scenes, fast and furious, or lulls them into rhythmic motion.
Website design By BotEap.comCompulsion – Oh yeah, another great action facilitator. Any compulsive behavior will do. Go beyond the common ones like cheating, stealing, lying, gambling or drinking alcohol, although these work. Compulsive behavior describes Richard Dreyfuss’s sculpture of mountains as he eats mashed potatoes during dinner at Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Website design By BotEap.comHabit – More than shaping the character, the clothes can drive the action. If a character is too strict with routine and is responsible (inadvertently or directly) for another character’s pain and suffering, then he opens himself up to revenge in the form of kidnapping, murder, etc.
Website design By BotEap.comReason – I know, I can hear you now, “What? If I had a reason, I wouldn’t be sitting here in front of my write-blocked computer.” For your information, I also frowned at reason. Even though it’s tried and true. He is definitely an action creator. It is logical… if… then…
Website design By BotEap.comPassion – An endless canvas to paint on. Passion for work, hobby, family, country. They are all wonderful springboards for action.
Website design By BotEap.comlonged for – Desire to get the girl, the job, the career advancement, to get to Walley World theme park no matter what!
Website design By BotEap.comI will add impulse Aristotle’s list. Few things can propel your characters into action like momentum. A quest to get some burgers at the White Castle goes awry when the main character impulsively stops his car to pick up a hitchhiker…
Website design By BotEap.comWith eight driving forces to choose from, your stories, plot, and characters should have enough to do to keep them busy, well, um, until next time.