Story Goals: Are They Slowing Your Story’s Pace?

Passive goals use words like keep, continue, stay, and so on. The character wants to keep their job, continue in their relationship, or stay in their home. That’s different from a character actively going after what they want beyond the status quo.

Why Are Passive Goals “Bad”?

At first, those examples above might look fine. On the surface, passive goals often feel like any others. We can point out how the character does want something.

So on some level, passive goals might be enough to get the job done. But no matter the specific details, passive goals are about avoiding. Characters are avoiding change—and stories are about change.

Look at why the status quo is at risk or why they’re avoiding the change. Usually somewhere in that why is an idea we can make the focus of their active goal.

For example:

• Passive: She wants to keep her job—which is at risk.
  Active: She wants to find proof her coworker is scamming the company and blaming others.
• Passive: She wants to continue in her relationship—to avoid change.
  Active: She wants to get her mother to stop thinking she’s a flake who can’t commit.
• Passive: She wants to stay in her home—to avoid change.
  Active: She wants to convince her husband to go to couple’s counseling and fix their marriage.

Those active goals (which aren’t even great ideas) give the characters—and us—a stronger focus for their struggle. Knowing what they’re actively striving for helps our story move forward. *smile*

Do you have any questions or insights about passive vs. active goals?

The post Story Goals: Are They Slowing Your Story’s Pace? appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

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