Thanking the Academy part 1

In 2012, my friend J edited my manuscript through 13+ drafts. Editing is a BIG job that includes determining whether the plot hangs together with the character’s behavior. So after she read my first draft from 2005, she asked many good questions, one of which was, “Why does he want to help? What’s his motivation? WHY is he doing this?”
“Because he’s magical and NOT real.”
“Because he is part centipede and part dragon.”
“Because he’s bored.”
“Because I’m bored.”



MOTIVATION became the bane of my existence. But because of her gentle insistence that the character’s MOTIVATION has to be clear, I finally came up with a motive to which I hope many humans, big and small, can relate. Thanks J!