08/02/2024
The one thing that creates an exquisite hero?
Figure out what they want AND what they need.
Let’s take an example from arguably one of the most successful series of all recent years… Succession.
Consider Roman Roy, played by Kieran Culkin. Roman (alongside most of his siblings) WANTS to be the successor to his father’s empire. He may or may not get this (no spoilers here), but what he NEEDS is to be shown love by his father.
In effective writing, the The WANT is an outward ego desire, driven by what good ol' Freud would call your "ID".
The NEED is a subconscious thing which lies dormant behind the ego. We do not know we are chasing it but we are.
In my example, Roman doesn’t have the ability to ask for what he NEEDS (love), so he goes hard for what he WANTS (power). As a writer, you can play with when your characters are / are not aware of what they need to add nuance, light and shade in their development.
And if you’re struggling, start a page of freewriting from your character’s POV entitled “What I really want (but am too afraid to ask for)."
🎵 Why not wang on “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by the Rolling Stones as you write. 🎵