A

• ACHIEVING DOMINION OVER ANOTHER (DARK)
• ACHIEVING SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT
• AVOIDING CERTAIN DEATH
• AVOIDING FINANCIAL RUIN

B

• BEATING A DIAGNOSIS OR CONDITION
• BECOMING A LEADER OF OTHERS
• BECOMING THE SOLE POWER OR AUTHORITY (DARK)
• BEING A PHILANTHROPIST
• BEING ACCEPTED BY OTHERS
• BEING ACKNOWLEDGED OR APPRECIATED BY FAMILY
• BEING THE BEST AT SOMETHING
• BREAKING PEOPLE SO THEY ABANDON THEIR BELIEFS (DARK)

C

• CARING FOR AN AGING PARENT
• CARRYING ON A LEGACY
• CATCHING THE BAD GUY OR GIRL
• CAUSING SOMEONE PAIN (DARK)
• COMING TO GRIPS WITH A MENTAL CONDITION
• CONTROLLING OTHERS (DARK)
• COPING WITH A LEARNING DISABILITY OR ILLNESS (KIDLIT)
• CORRECTING A PERCEIVED MISTAKE (DARK)
• CREATING OR DISCOVERING SOMETHING IMPORTANT

D

• DEALING WITH BULLIES (KIDLIT)
• DISCOVERING ONE'S TRUE SELF
• DOING THE RIGHT THING
• DOING THE RIGHT THING (KIDLIT)

E

• EMBRACING A PERSONAL IDENTITY (KIDLIT)
• ESCAPING A DANGEROUS LIFE ONE NO LONGER WANTS TO LIVE
• ESCAPING A KILLER
• ESCAPING CONFINEMENT
• ESCAPING DANGER (KIDLIT)
• ESCAPING HOMELESSNESS
• ESCAPING INVADERS
• ESCAPING WIDESPREAD DISASTER
• EVADING RESPONSIBILITY (DARK)
• EXPLORING ONE'S BIOLOGICAL ROOTS

F

• FINDING A LIFELONG PARTNER
• FINDING FRIENDSHIP OR COMPANIONSHIP
• FINDING ONE'S PURPOSE
• FINDING SOMETHING LOST
• FITTING IN (KIDLIT)
• FORCING A BIG CHANGE (DARK)
• FORCING CONVERSION (DARK)
• FORGIVING ONESELF

G

• GAINING CONTROL OVER ONE'S OWN LIFE
• GETTING REVENGE (DARK)
• GIVING UP A CHILD

H

• HAVING A CHILD
• HAVING IT ALL (DARK)
• HELPING A LOVED ONE RECOGNIZE THEY ARE HURTING THEMSELVES AND OTHERS

K

• KEEPING WHAT ONE HAS NO MATTER WHAT (DARK)

L

• LEARNING TO TRUST (KIDLIT)

M

• MAKING SOMEONE PROUD

N

• NAVIGATING A CHANGING FAMILY SITUATION (KIDLIT)

O

• OBLITERATING AN ENEMY (DARK)
• OBSESSIVELY PURSUING A RELATIONSHIP (DARK)
• OBTAINING GLORY WHATEVER THE COST (DARK)
• OBTAINING SHELTER FROM THE ELEMENTS
• OVERCOMING A DEBILITATING FEAR
• OVERCOMING A FEAR (KIDLIT)
• OVERCOMING ABUSE AND LEARNING TO TRUST
• OVERCOMING ADDICTION
• OVERTHROWING GOOD WITH EVIL (DARK)

P

• PROFITEERING (DARK)
• PROMOTING CHAOS (DARK)
• PROTECTING A LOVED ONE
• PROTECTING ONE'S HOME OR PROPERTY
• PROVIDING FOR ONE'S FAMILY
• PROVIDING SECURITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
• PROVING SOMEONE WRONG
• PURSUING A PASSION
• PURSUING A TOXIC DESIRE (DARK)
• PURSUING JUSTICE FOR ONESELF OR OTHERS
• PURSUING KNOWLEDGE
• PURSUING MASTERY OF A SKILL OR TALENT

R

• REALIZING A DREAM
• RECONCILING WITH AN ESTRANGED FAMILY MEMBER
• REPAYING A DEBT
• RESCUING A LOVED ONE FROM A CAPTOR
• RESISTING PEER PRESSURE (KIDLIT)
• RESTORING ONE'S NAME OR REPUTATION
• RIGHTING A DEEP WRONG
• RUINING SOMEONE'S LIFE (DARK)
• RUINING SOMEONE'S REPUTATION (DARK)

S

• SAVING THE WORLD
• SEEKING DEATH (DARK)
• SERVING OTHERS
• SOLVING A PROBLEM (KIDLIT)
• STOPPING AN EVENT FROM HAPPENING
• SUPPORTING ONESELF FINANCIALLY
• SURVIVING LOSS
• SURVIVING THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE

T

• TAKING WHAT ONE IS OWED (DARK)
• TRYING SOMETHING NEW (KIDLIT)
• TRYING TO SUCCEED WHERE ONE HAS PREVIOUSLY FAILED

W

• WINNING A COMPETITION

  

MINI LESSON

A compelling goal is one of the cornerstones of strong fiction, but conveying why the character is driven to achieve it is what draws readers in and makes them care. Explore all angles of character arc by digging deep into what is motivating your protagonist, the obstacles that could stand in their way, and how sacrifices may play a role if the character is to succeed.

*Dark Motivations: These are unhealthy or negative goals commonly embraced by villains or protagonists pursuing a false motivation (one they believe will fulfill them but ultimately will not).
*Kidlit Motivations: Goals like these are often pursued by children and young adults and frequently occur in stories written for those age groups.