When Characters Won’t Act

Last week in my Build-A-Book Workshop, we were discussing developing main characters and a story plot.

Previously on this blog, I have discussed plotting in Plan Your Story. That was a bit of “down and dirty” to get ready for NaNoWriMo. Figure out a character goal and several obstacles along the way that your character could face. The focus was on constantly asking yourself two questions:

1. What does the main character want with all their heart and why?
2. What will change about them as a result of their struggle to achieve this?

But not all stories are about what the character wants. Sometimes they are struggling with getting out of something they don’t want to do. How do you plot for that? The Reluctant Hero who prefers “running away” from responsibility or avoiding confrontation?

Generally, having non-active characters starring in your story is considered problematic, but I argue there’s action in resistance. There is decision-making. There are problems, as well as good, bad, and so-so outcomes when it comes down to it. All of these things are necessary when plotting. In the end, regardless of the Hero’s desires, they will not be where they began. And they will have changed.

All of this is story gold.

I’m No Type-A

The Type-A character is a go-getter, the one who demands situations bend to their whims, their needs, their demands upon it. There are character types that do not seek confrontation, but still will work to overcome obstacles – if only to be allowed to crawl back in their private space after all is said and done and tell the world to go away. This then IS their goal. And what you make them face is the obstacles to their goal, and thus, the plot.

Consider Carl from “Up.” He deals with the world as it comes at him, and tries to be polite, and skilled, and creative, but he is not a go-getter. He doesn’t initiate. He reacts. He can plan small arcs to get around problems, but he is always adjusting, rather than demanding that the world adjust to him.

Plotting a story with this kind of character in the leading role does involve recognizing that you – dear author – are the All-Powerful, All-Knowing Creator. You are god (or goddess) of your story’s world and you CAN arrange things to happen that you want.

Arranging a Set Up

Your setting is an elaborate chess board. You move the pieces around, manipulating the character into making decisions from a fixed set of options. The pieces can be physical obstacles – a car accident that makes a character late. The pieces can be emotional obstacles – an enemy from the past turns out to be the new boss, and the character is denied promotion, or humiliated in a meeting because said enemy has always known what buttons to push. With an emotional obstacle in one direction, and a physical obstacle in another, the character can be pushed into making a choice.

Your goal in plotting for this character is to make them uncomfortable. A lumpy mattress allows them no sleep. They have to go buy a new mattress, or find a new bed. Literally anything but stay where they are.

Does this mean occasionally you can push a character to a breaking point? Give them so much emotional and physical distress that they give up? Possibly. But remember, you are All-Knowing. You know what little bright spot you can introduce — randomly, of course — to make them pull back from the ledge, remind them that someone does care, or that someone needs caring for, and they are, when all is said and done a good and decent person.

You can’t plot Carl’s story without Russell. He’s Carl’s bright spot. He has what Carl has forgotten — youthful enthusiasm and an explorer’s drive. But Russell gets into trouble, and Carl, who is, of course, grumpy about it — still works to solve the trouble because they are both far from home – and Carl still has the goal of getting home where he knows it’s safe.

Do you have ideas for plotting stories for non-typical leading characters? Share them in the comments.

~ Lara