I talk a lot about the Noble Cause, or purpose of a character as a key to discovering their motivations behind their actions. A Noble Cause is that one thing that drives a character through a story, whether it be a thriller (i.e., saving someone from being killed), or a romance (fighting for true love). But how does one determine the Noble Cause?

I always start by asking the question of my character – What makes you the person you are today? His history will show you the things that molded him. Was he abandoned as a child? Perhaps, then, his Noble Cause is family, and never abandoning his own children. But let’s say he didn’t have a traumatic past – then ask: What is worth fighting for, and why? Did he see his best friend killed? Maybe it’s finding justice. Maybe it’s simply breaking free of the monotony of life to find your true purpose. (can anyone say, the Matrix?)

Wherever those answers lead you, formulate them into a definable Noble Cause, something specific and measurable. And most of all, it has to be sufficient to build inside your character a solid and unwavering motivation to fight the good fight and win the battle, regardless of the cost.

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