The Overall Goal/purpose/driving Force Of Your Characters

[Guest]

How do you decide on the overall goal/purpose/driving force of your characters?

[John]

I have some trees in my garden. The characters live in the shelter of the trees. As I walk by they whisper their goals, purpose, driving force to me. It is not for me to correct them. They tell me. I do not decide.

[AJ~]

A combination of the MC's character and their perceived reaction to the plot of the story you've placed them in.

[Barbara]

For me they just happen. Once I put them on paper, they seem to take on a life of their own.