I had trouble connecting with a character, which sounds weird since I thought of her, I'd wanted to insert into an idea I had that needed growing so I started a character connection "tree". Sort of how a family tree between would grow, I built the characters knowledge of each other and how and why they'd come to know each other within that movie or before and it ultimately really helped propel the story. On the flip side of that, the character I'd originally wanted to connect with ended up being dull and empty and I still couldn't connect with her, and I'd put so much focus into a supporting character that was there to make her life miserable that I scrapped her story completely and gave him his own. It's an odd journey, but it helped give that character a life. Since I've become so connected with this guy, I'm able to concoct his backstory and his goal and his driving force and, even though it's still marinating, it's given his life on the page an actual beating heart and yearning to keep on living after the story ends. hopefully that makes sense. Gladiator - Maximus wants to get home to his family. He wants to avenge his family's death. Hates where he is now, but he ends up playing to the crowd and ultimately defeats his nemesis. Even though he died doing it, he's victorious in the killing of Commodus and in joining his family in Elysium. I could go on with movies where the hero absolutely grabs me, but I'll leave it with that one.

Despina, what you describe is precisely the type of hard work required, I believe, to 'find' the story. And we best do that by 'finding' the characters, most especially the Protagonist. The process you describe of creating a relationship tree, presumably with all the spokes connected to the Protagonist, can be quite helpful for many reasons. The way I look at it, each of those other characters is a reflection in some way of the Protagonist's psychological journey. For example in SW: A New Hope, Luke is the Protagonist. Princess Leia represents Luke's desire to be a leader, to be part of a movement. Obi-Wan Kenobi represents Luke's connection to the Force and the wisdom to help lead him through his hero's journey. Han Solo represents the test of Luke's will, sometimes an ally, sometimes an enemy, and preparing Luke for his final struggle. Darth Vader represents the dark side of the Force and Luke's own capability to go that route instead of the 'good' side. R2-D2 represents the call to adventure and an ally in that journey. Each character functions within the External World of the plot, but their MEANING is tied to their respective psychological connections to Luke. Of course, this is all reflected in character archetypes: Protagonist: Luke Nemesis: Darth Vader Attractor: Princess Leia Mentor: Obi-Wan Kenobi, R2-D2 Trickster: Han Solo All of those characters appear after FADE IN, but one could argue that the Story Universe set them in Luke's pathway in response to who he was and had become before FADE IN. He is not a moisture farmer, he is a Jedi warrior, that blood courses through his body. That is his destiny. Leia, Obi-Wan, Han, R2-D2, Vader, all of them play a part in Luke's Hero's Journey. And all of that is set up with Luke's life before FADE IN. Re your point about not connecting with a character: You show good writing instinct simply to be AWARE of that. Some would write the damn story anyhow and the results would likely be lamentable. We have to find some resonance to our characters, especially the Protagonist in order to bring them to life.

I tried so hard to give the original heroine life. When I wrote it out in prose form to let a friend read, I apparently poured all my angst and energy and emotion into the supporting guy in order to make her life hell and he ended up having more depth. My friend told me straight up that she couldn't give two shits about the main girl, but the supporting guy sounded badass. It was so weird to hear that, but it made so much sense. Her story and "character" kept changing every time I'd write her, but the guy's storyline never did. Strange. I'd already settled on him and connected with his desperation and plight much more. So it went from trying to create a powerful girl hero to falling in "love" with her loser junkie brother. HAHA. Oh well... he has a good heart.

p.s... i'm pimping this post in my blog.