Everybody Has Goals

Everybody has goals. Sometimes they're objects, like winning a trophy. Sometimes they're actions, like being able to do a slam dunk. Sometimes they're maintenance, like living a peaceful, quiet life. Even people who say they don't want anything have some sort of goal in life; if they didn't, they wouldn't still be living.

If you aren't sure what a character should do, find out what that character wants. Their goals will determine what they do or choose not to do.

Of course, people often have more than one simple goal in life. There are long-term goals and short-term goals. Short-term goals may take priority because they are easier or they have a ticking clock attached, which pushes back accomplishing long-term goals. People also can lose sight of their goals, making them act in ways that don't always help them get what they truly want (though sometimes they are still trying to achieve something they think they want). Because of this, characters can have conflicts in desires, where one action furthers one goal but hinders another.

Characters don't need clearly-defined goals. Many people in real life haven't sat down and thought about what they're trying to accomplish in life. However, if you are stuck and don't know what the right action is, sitting down and figuring out your characters' goals might be exactly what you should do.