Why are some urban fiction books straight up whack and others aren’t? Because the great novels have clear goals for the protagonist!

In my seminar ‘The End: How To Write A Book In 30 Days’, I teach the importance of making sure the main character’s driving force is real, yet so many authors begin their books with action, getting so caught up in it at times that the storyline is lost, leaving us to say, “Why did I buy this shit again?”

Before penning any novel you must ask your character, “What do you want to gain?” If you are unable to come up with an answer, don’t write the book. Although I teach that it is also important to know the ending, for first time writers I’m okay if they shy away from this in the beginning.

In Silence of The Nine, an urban fiction book, Kerrick Prophet, an immigrant from Africa, had one clear goal above all, to become the biggest drug dealer in America. Oh, I almost forgot, he also expected his children to breed amongst themselves to keep the bloodline pure and the money in the family.

I said it before and I’ll say it again, every character, and I do mean EVERY CHARACTER should have a clear motive. It should happen in each chapter, in each scene, no exceptions.

If all of your characters do a good job of getting along, find another book to write. Don’t bore us with your happy go lucky stories. Our lives are dull enough as is, that’s why we bought a book.

Fascinate us with drama and give us a character we can get behind.

Please and thank you!

Happy writing!