We all have them. Moments in our lives that shape who we are. You probably have more than one.

They can be moments of extreme joy – the birth of a child.  Or moments of great sadness – the death of a loved one. They can be seemingly trivial – that time you were humiliated in front of your friends. Or profoundly dark – rape or molestation.

Whatever they are, these moments are what drive us. They are what color ever single decision we make. They motivate every single action we will ever take in life. They define us (hence the name.) Bruce Wayne wouldn’t be Batman if his parents weren’t brutally murdered before his eyes. It was his defining moment.

As screenwriters, it’s important to think about what your characters’ defining moments are. We spent several days this past week examining our main character’s defining moments. It was hugely helpful in understanding his motivations. He went from being a generic teenager to a fully faceted human being. We’re still molding him and shaping him, but discovering/determining his defining moments helped us crack his character. Just another tool to put in your arsenal.

What character development tricks work for you?