PLOT GOAL CHART

Note that each goal is in the active tense. Remember that the plot goal is the goal of the protagonist/main character. Look over these many plot goals and see if one of them may give you an idea for a story. As you review this list, think of the movies you've seen that reflect these plot goals.

This chart taken exactly as it appears from Digital Storytellying, L. S.

 

To slay a monster

To get rich

To find treasure

To win the race

To advance spirituality To get around the system
To rule the world To become famous To overthrow government
To stop a bomb To become successful To stop a bad thing from happening
To defeat an enemy To blackmail someone To become a better person
To become king/queen To trick someone To survive a dangerous vision quest
To win political office To get someone to do something To evolve into a higher state of being
To get revenge To find meaning in life To travel to distant lands

To save the world

To solve a murder

To prove a theory
To cure disease To catch a killer To get a promotion
To stop a natural disastor To solve/fix a problem To get a date
To fall in love To understand something To explore new territory
To get the girl/guy To learn a new skill To fix broken transportation
To solve a crime To become a top warrior To invent a new device
To solve a mystery To become a leader To make something new

To steal something

To fight for a just cause To have a successful art show/event
To win a war To do what is right To save a current relationship

To stop a war

To help people To destroy someone
To defeat evil To find/rescue someone To travel through time
To help someone die To communicate with another To change history
To help another group of people improve their lives To defeat evil aliens To maintain the status quo

To let go of someone

To find/deliver an object To rob a bank or place
To uncover a conspiracy To right a wrong To start a revolution
To sell or buy something To explore a new reality/dimension To win a bet
To let go of someone To overcome obstacles to love To become popular within a group
To escape from prison/situation To recover from past tragedy To have a successful first date
To break an enemy code To avoid being destroyed by obsession/addiction To train a pet or dog

To nurse something back to life

To murder someone To stop a baby from crying
To create a work of art To avoid being killed To heal a sick character or group
To find inspiration To find a secret place To start a business
To seduce someone To fix a terrible mistake To get a job
To revolt against something To change careers To throw a party/event
To prove innocence To clear possession of one's soul To find inner peace
To find truth To do something To become a professional something

To be accepted

To explore a place To become a champion something
To free something captured To explore a character's life To survive a deadly situation
To get through a difficult situation To dominate another or group To break free of dominance or oppression