Wants and Desires
Every great story boils down to a character wants something, and something else is saying, "Not so fast, buddy."
Your character's desire is their driving force. The thing that gets them out of bed in the morning (or out of their mundane life, or whatever).
Finding true love: Think of Bridget Jones in "Bridget Jones's Diary," navigating the rocky road of romance, or the classic tale of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy in "Pride and Prejudice."
Unraveling a mystery: Detective Benoit Blanc in "Knives Out" piecing together the clues in a tangled web of lies, or the iconic Sherlock Holmes always seeking the truth.
Proving their innocence: Andy Dufresne in "The Shawshank Redemption," determined to clear his name and escape, or John Coffey in "The Green Mile," fighting against a wrongful conviction.
Securing a big promotion: Andrea Sachs in "The Devil Wears Prada," striving to succeed in the competitive fashion world, or the ambitious young stockbroker Bud Fox in "Wall Street."
The key is to make this desire crystal clear to your audience. Show us what they want and need – and make us root for them to get it!
If your character just got what they wanted right away, that'd be a pretty lame story. That's where roadblocks come in. These are the juicy complications that make your character's life difficult:
Other people's agendas: In "The Devil Wears Prada," Miranda's demanding nature constantly throws obstacles in Andy's path. In "The Godfather," Michael Corleone's desires clash with his family's expectations.
Societal expectations: In "Pride and Prejudice," Elizabeth Bennet faces societal pressures and class divisions in her pursuit of love. In "Dead Poets Society," the students struggle against the rigid norms of their school.
Internal conflicts: Tony Stark in "Iron Man" grapples with ego and guilt while trying to become a hero. In "The Sopranos," Tony Soprano's desires often conflict with his moral compass.
Literal obstacles: In "Jurassic Park," the characters face the life-threatening challenge of surviving rampaging dinosaurs. In "Cast Away," Chuck Noland must overcome the physical challenges of being stranded on an island.
You can’t just have your character monologue about what they want. You need to show us —
Facial Expressions: A longing look, a determined glare, a flicker of fear – these can speak volumes. Think of the close-ups on Katniss's face in "The Hunger Games" as she volunteers for the games or the subtle expressions of Clarice Starling in "The Silence of the Lambs."
Body Language: Tense muscles, nervous fidgeting, and confident strides convey desire and conflict. In "Mad Men," Don Draper's posture and movements often reveal his inner turmoil and ambitions. In "The Matrix," Neo's physicality changes as he accepts his role as The One.
Environmental Interaction: How a character navigates their surroundings can tell us a lot about their goals and challenges. In "Stranger Things," the way the kids interact with the Upside Down and the real world reflects their fears and desires. In "The Lord of the Rings," the treacherous landscapes the Fellowship traverses symbolize their internal struggles.
Some more examples —
In "The Devil Wears Prada," Andy's desire couldn't be clearer: to make it in the cutthroat world of fashion journalism. And the roadblocks? A boss from hell, a competitive coworker, and the constant pressure to conform. Every outfit change and late night at the office pushes Andy towards her goal while challenging her values.
"Breaking Bad" - Walter White's got a crystal-clear desire to provide for his family after his cancer diagnosis. His roadblocks? His ego, the dangers of the drug trade, and the consequences of his actions. Each decision he makes is a step towards his goal and into darkness.
In "The Pursuit of Happyness," Chris Gardner's desire to secure a better life for his son drives the narrative, with roadblocks like homelessness and financial instability adding tension and emotional weight to his journey.
"Gladiator" shows Maximus's burning desire for revenge and justice, with roadblocks like political betrayal and physical injury keeping him from his goal and building his resolve.
In "La La Land," Mia and Sebastian's desires to succeed in their respective careers create conflict and chemistry, with roadblocks like their personal relationship and industry challenges testing their dedication.
"The Truman Show" has Truman Burbank's desire to uncover the truth of his existence, with the roadblock being the entire fabricated world he lives in.
In "Inception," Cobb's desire to return home to his children faces the roadblock of his guilt and the complex dream world he must navigate.
Pitfalls to Avoid —
Murky Desires: If we don't know what your character wants, we won't care what happens to them. Make those desires specific and relatable!
In "The Great Gatsby," Gatsby's all-consuming desire for Daisy drives the entire plot, making his actions compelling and tragic.
Speed Bumps Instead of Roadblocks: Make sure the challenges are significant. A character who overcomes everything easily is boring. Give us high stakes and tough choices!
In "The Martian," Mark Watney's survival is constantly threatened by insurmountable odds, keeping the tension high and life-or-death stakes.
Telling Instead of Showing: Trust your visuals. You don't always need dialogue to convey desires and roadblocks. Let those meaningful glances and symbolic hurdles do the heavy lifting.
"A Quiet Place" uses minimal dialogue, relying on visuals to convey the characters' desires to protect their family and the roadblocks they face in a silent, dangerous world. Every step, every glance, is loaded with meaning.
Make desires clear, roadblocks robust, and your audience will be invested emotionally.
