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A character is a bundle of desires. They are defined first by their primary desire: the thing that is driving their action in the story. Second, they are defined by their secondary desires, the thi...
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#4: Attribution notice removed
by
System
·
2020-01-03T20:41:53Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/27479 License name: CC BY-SA 3.0 License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added
by
System
·
2019-12-08T06:19:11Z (about 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/27479 License name: CC BY-SA 3.0 License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision
by
System
·
2019-12-08T06:19:11Z (about 5 years ago)
A character is a bundle of desires. They are defined first by their primary desire: the thing that is driving their action in the story. Second, they are defined by their secondary desires, the things that shape or limit how they pursue their primary desire. Tom wants to win an athletic scholarship so he can go to college. A scout will be at the big game on Saturday. But the coach is planning to start his nephew Joe instead. What will Tom do? Will he break Joe's leg in an alley? Bribe Joe to give up the spot? Manfully cheer Joe on from the sidelines? These questions depend on Joe's secondary desires – does he want to be seen as honorable, or to see himself that way? Etc. The genre does not matter. You portray a character through what drives them, the things they want, and the things they are willing to do to get what they want. Don't fall into the trap of inventing a character as the intersection of various psychological descriptors. Define characters in terms of desires. Characters in a story can never just be, they must act. Desire drives action. Define your characters in terms of their desires.
#1: Imported from external source
by
System
·
2017-04-08T12:55:56Z (over 7 years ago)
Original score: 5