Thread by @JayWhistler

I love helping authors dig into their characters' internal, external, and unknown desires because these all influence every aspect of the story. If you don't know what your MC wants, how will you know if they achieve it? #RevPit #AskEditor

Underneath all those desires is a lack, or an emotional wound. Figure out the emotional wound and you'll know what they lack, which drives the unknown desire. Everything is built on that. #RevPit #AskEditor

The lack also fuels the stakes. If the MC doesn't achieve the internal desire, then the lack is not fulfilled, the emotional wound can't heal. #RevPit #AskEditor

The desires can also fuel tension. What if the internal desire is in conflict with the external desire? The MC becomes his/her/their own antagonist. #RevPit #AskEditor

Another source of tension comes from the antagonist (not the self). If they have desires that are the same as the MC, that's tension. Think of HUNGER GAMES: there can be only one winner. TENSION! #RevPit #AskEditor

Stakes are affected by the desires. What happens if the MC can't achieve their desires? What do they stand to lose? They must always stand to lose something. If they want to gain something but don't, that's just status quo. No stakes. #RevPit #AskEditor

So ask yourself what are my MC & antagonist's emotional wounds? What are they lacking that leads to the unknown desire? How does that influence the internal & external desires? What do they stand to lose? Who is in their way? #RevPit #AskEditor

Or as David Mamet likes to put it: What does the MC want? Why do they want it? Why now? What stands in their way? #RevPit #AskEditor

I also like to recommend @KMWeiland 's post on character goals to my clients. She is brilliant. #RevPit #AskEditor
helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/characters-goa…

@threadreaderapp Unroll