This week: A Reason Behind the Action Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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Fantasy Newsletter by Dawn
A look at reasoning. Often when we do things, whether we are aware or not, there can be an underlying reason. Behavior studies have some thoughts on this topic and it's something one can consider when it comes to plot and what characters do in a story. |
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Characters and their actions are important when it comes to stories for a few different reasons, some more obvious than others. While we sometimes know our characters and sometimes who what we want to happen into the story, at times there has to be a deeper contemplation in order to make the story realistic or for it to make sense to the reader. Often a question that comes to mind for what is happening is going to be a the tough one word problem of... why. Why did the character do that? Why does the character have to travel across the world to throw a ring into a volcano? Why does she like him? So many different questions start with that tricky word.
It's also something we ask ourselves often in our own actions or when others do something whether we are aware of those question or not. In applied behavior within psychology, there are some specific views on the reasons behind actions. In fact, many are looked at in terms of whether the actions are done for access to things like attention or items, escape from something or as a sensory stimulation. Easy example is the temper tantrum in the grocery store. Often the child wants something or gets attention, thus the dramatic actions. But many of our daily activities and actions are driven by some of the same functions of behavior.
Taking that into consideration, we can get to know our characters a little more, whether hero or villain, in order to understand why something has to happen in a story. In romance stories, for example, there are main characters who act or do things because of the attention they get from it. Whether it's for the love interest or to go against them depending on the level of angst or if it's an opposites attract type of story. However, there are various options when it comes to fantasy and science fiction for reasoning.
Fantasy characters want things too.
Whether it's a tangible (item) or for some type of attention, many characters will have a want for something. Their actions may be influenced by that. Sometimes it's to find a holy or magical item that will help them reach another goal. Maybe it's the acknowledgement or love from a family member. Or it could be something they don't understand themselves. There are plenty of options for what a character might want and do in order to gain the desired items.
Then there is also the escape option. Maybe they don't want something or someone's attention but instead, they want to get away from it. A hard life as a servant or being forced into an unloving marriage can be avoided if they act or find a way to escape. The need to get away can be the action but it can also be the driving desire or reason.
One struggle that often comes after a book or story is complete, can be sourced to a lack of reasoning. In fact, they have had to make sequels to certain movies in order to explain reasons or sources for things (like where a certain princess got her magic or why a warrior acted a certain way in a defining moment). Some we can catch as the writer and some we may find out later. We do what we can and create our stories, hopefully we can understand the characters but even if we don't, it's all part of this strange process.
So, what about your characters and stories? Consider what the character wants and what the reason is behind their actions. It may help some day to know a few of them at least. And even if you don't know yet... keep writing.
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|  | Elemental (ASR)
Magical forces collide in this fantasy world when a villager receives a mysterious message
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Does your main character and/or antagonist have a reason for their actions?
Last month, for the newsletter I discussed old writing in portfolios. For those that have been on here a long time and/or have hundreds of items to go through, it can be a challenge figuring out what to do and how long to keep an item visible. Here are some comments sent in over the topic from newsletter:
Comment by Osirantinous Capricornus 
My portfolio isn't honestly that big, and nothing new has been added for at least two years, so I don't find it that tough to manage. But I do have almost all of the stories (whether they're short or long) saved onto my laptop or my pc. Several actually started out on my pc or laptop and they have a managed home there too since many of them were created for contests and/or to prompts - so they're 'different' to my regular writing. I do love them to get reviews - it's interesting to read about what new eyes see. But I do always wonder how the heck they found the items; I doubt they've found my port just by a wander 
- Mind has far too many and I get lost at times, lol. I have many different spots on laptops and thumb drives too. Really should work on getting organized so I don't lose anything. Some of the reviews say they find the item from the random read function or during the birthday months when groups have people's files promoted, that can help bring traffic to random items.
Comment by BIG BAD WOLF is Merry 
Nothing like brushing the dust off.
- Good idea.
Comment by Nobody’s Home 
If you have older items that you aren't likely to revise and don't care to have reviewed, why not put them in a folder that's Private, so that those items aren't available for review? I have reviewed a couple items that were up to ~5 years old, but mainly because I recognized the name of the author and I'd already begun the review before I noticed how long ago it was written. That was on me.
- That is true. I should go back through the old items and set some private since I don't plan to do anything with them. Though some of the poetry is nice to have visible.
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Fantasy: August 10, 2022 Issue [#11500]
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