In another of Writer’s Digest‘s post on mistakes writers make, editor Moriah Richard discusses ignoring your character’s desires. “A big mistake most often made in first drafts is not properly identifying what our characters want,” she says. “This is the seed that will grow your story—it will drive your conflict, help you navigate your resolution, and determine whether a character changes (or not).”
Understanding desire is a great way to get to know your main character, as well as your supporting characters and your antagonist or villain. So, how can you fix this mistake?
Identify What Moves Them.
“By identifying what touches your character, you can find what they desire most—especially if they don’t understand it yet themselves,” Richard says. Your protagonist may have a concrete goal in mind, but not understand what that goal represents, which is their real need. How can you determine those desires:
- Backstory. What’s missing from your character’s backstory? Did they lack love, money, independence, friends? What did they lose? Your protagonist might go to extreme lengths when presented with a chance to obtain something they lost or never had.
- Plot. Consider your character’s persona at the start of your story and how you want that to change by the end. What desires will fuel your protagonist’s choices and their change? If you start your writing based on premise, this can help you develop a protagonist who can see the story through.
- Relates to Conflict. “Desire and conflict are a perfect duo because you can’t have one without the other,” Richard says. Consider the central conflicts in your story and brainstorm desires that bring your characters head to head.
