S2 E14 – Breaking your Story in Five Easy Steps – Part 3 – What does Your Protagonist Need?

It’s essential for you to understand the difference between your character’s want versus their need. It’s also essential for writers to understand how the two things are connected, so that together, they form the whole of the character’s journey – both the plot AND the emotional arc of the story. 

To that end, here are two definitions that I’ve found helpful in terms of keeping these ideas separate in my own mind, even as the intersect.

1.  The Want is an objective goal, outcome, or object being pursued relentlessly by the main character, which informs the basic plot of the story.
2. The Need is the psychological reason for or motivation behind the main character’s actions. 

WHY are they doing this? What do they think they’re going to get? What emotional benefit will they receive from winning, or what will be the emotional consequence if they lose? How will impact them emotionally? The need is subconscious in most cases. It’s what’s REALLY driving them forward, compelling them to do whatever it is they feel compelled to do. It’s the subconscious reasoning process behind their actions. What’s truly motivating the character?

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WHAT'S NEXT? Join us next Thursday, when we dive into Part 4: What's the Inciting Incident?

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SPECIAL THANKS to CARLA PATULLO for the original music used in the intro and outro of this podcast. To find out more about this amazing talent, go to  www.carlapatullo.com

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