Writing Compelling
Character Wants
By Mary Kole
Mary Kole is a former literary agent, freelance editor, writing teacher, author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit, and IP developer for major publishers, with over a decade in the publishing industry.
Creating a compelling character is essential to any good story. Without a strong protagonist, your plot arc will fall flat, and your readers would quickly lose interest. But how do you make your characters more than just a one-dimensional collection of traits on a page? One crucial element that can make all the difference is the character want. In this article, I’ll explore what character wants are, how they can shape your story structure, and the key ingredients of a satisfying want (and, as a result, a relatable character). By the end, you'll be able to craft multi-dimensional characters with compelling character wants that will resonate with your readers.
What Are Character Wants?
At their most basic level, character wants are something that your character desires, otherwise known as the character objective. It's the driving force that propels them through the story and motivates their actions (while the character objective is what the character wants, the character motivation is their reason for wanting it). This goal can be as simple as finding love or as complex as defeating an evil empire. It can represent an internal conflict or an external conflict. Whatever they are, the character wants that you work into your book idea should be something that your reader can understand and empathize with. One key point to remember here is that character wants and character needs are different. A want is something the character thinks they want, while a need is what they actually need in order to grow and change along their character development arc.
How Do Character Wants Fit Into the Character Arc?
Your character wants should inform your protagonist’s whole character arc. This means that the actions they take to achieve their goal should drive conflicts and encounter story obstacles throughout the narrative. As your character faces opposition and challenges, they should grow and change, ultimately becoming a different person than they were at the start of the story. The key is to make sure that your character wants are woven seamlessly into the overarching narrative. Character wants should never feel like an afterthought or an unrelated side story.
What Motivates Character Wants?
The thing that motivates your character's want is the character motivation you’ve developed while doing your character worksheet. This is the deeper reason behind what they want, and it should always tie back to some part of their character or backstory. For example, a character who wants to become a famous dancer may be motivated by the fear of being forgotten or a desire to prove themselves. Understanding your character's motivation is crucial to creating a want that feels authentic and adds depth to your protagonist.
Executing Character Wants for Maximum Emotional Impact
Creating character wants that resonate with your target audience is at the heart of writing a good story. Some key principles to keep in mind include:
Make sure your character's want is something the reader can understand and empathize with.
Make character wants specific, neither too general nor open-ended.
Put obstacles in the way of your character achieving their wants—this creates tension and makes the reader invested in the outcome.
Make sure the stakes are high enough, especially at the story climax—if there are no consequences to failure, the conflict dissipates.
Show the consequences of your character achieving (or failing to achieve) their character wants—this can make for some great emotional payoff and a satisfying resolution at the end of the story.
Common Character Wants Mistakes
When it comes to writing character wants, there are a few common mistakes writers tend to make. These include:
Making the want too vague or unrelatable—your reader needs to care about what your character wants.
Failing to tie the want to the overall narrative structure and plot arc of the story—the character want should inform the overall plot.
Making the want easy to achieve—without any obstacles, your character wants won’t matter and the story will not hook the reader.
Confusing wants with needs—making sure your character knows the difference between character wants and character needs will add depth to their arc.
Creating compelling characters is a fundamental skill for any creative writer. By crafting character wants that are authentic, relatable, and integral to the plot, you can elevate your story idea. Whether you're writing a romance or a thriller, the principles of character wants hold true in every protagonist application. Remember, your character's want is the fuel that drives your story, and don't be afraid to use it to its full potential.
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