For the past couple of weeks, I’ve released two posts about a tool that I’ve been using to help me outline my novel. This tool is Reni Stankova’s book ‘Your Novel Outline Journal.’ In this book, she talks about the most essential element of your novel, which she calls your Novel Core. This is split into three parts: your audience, your point of view, and your story goal. Today, I want to focus on the third element, your story goal.

Essentially, the story goal is the central desire or objective that drives your protagonist (or protagonists) throughout the narrative. It’s the answer to the question: “What does the main character want to achieve by the end of the story?”

Here are some key aspects to consider when thinking about your story goal:

• Clarity
  • A strong story goal is clear and well-defined. Both the reader and the protagonist should understand exactly what the character is striving for. Vague or shifting goals can make the story feel unfocused.
• Motivation
  • Why does the character want to achieve this goal? What are the underlying motivations? Understanding the “why” makes the goal more meaningful and allows the reader to connect with the protagonist’s journey.
• Stakes
  • What will happen if the character doesn’t achieve the goal? High stakes create tension and urgency, making the reader invested in the outcome. These stakes can be internal (emotional consequences) or external (physical or societal consequences).
• Achievability (within the story’s context)
  • While the goal might seem impossible at the beginning, there should be a plausible path, however challenging, for the protagonist to potentially achieve it within the scope of the story.
• Conflict
  • The pursuit of the story goal should be met with obstacles and conflict. These challenges can come from external forces (antagonists, the environment) or internal struggles (self-doubt, conflicting desires). The conflict is what makes the story engaging.
• Impact on Character Arc
  • The journey toward the story goal should ideally lead to some form of change or growth in the protagonist. They might learn something about themselves, their values, or the world around them.

Understanding these elements will help you to craft a compelling and thought-provoking story goal, and hopefully inspire others with your characters’ growth and success. I hope that you take a look at the other two posts I’ve written about elements of your Novel Core, or better yet, take a look at Reni Stankova’s book, ‘Your Novel Outline Journal.’ I hope that you take this advice to heart and that it helps you in writing your stories!