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On January 11, 2025, Kasie and Rex took on the “I Want” part of the story. Here are the show notes:

Theme for the day

What Your Character Wants

Agenda

• Quick Catch Up
• The “I Want” song in Broadway shows
• Why what the character wants matters
• How to match the obstacles to the want

Segment 1

This week on the morning show, I (Kasie) did a top 5 on the Disney “I Want” songs I love best. They were: 5) “I’m Almost There,” from Princess & the Frog, 4) “Part of Your World,” from The Little Mermaid, 3) When Will My Life Begin,” from Tangles, 2) “How Far I’ll Go,” from Moana and 1) “Let it Go,” from Frozen.

What is an “I Want” song? Glad you asked. It’s the early song in the musical, usually second or third, where we find out what the protagonist is driving for. It’s this desire that will power the main character through the plot. And every thing they do will be about achieving that thing they identified in the “I Want” song. How do I know this? Lin Manuel Miranda taught me and it’s why Moana’s “How Far I’ll Go,” is number two. Nobody writes “I Want” better than that guy.

But, Kasie, this is writing show, not a Broadway show. Get to the point! Okay, the point is that your main character needs a goal, a desire, and that thing has to be so all-consuming that they’re willing to do just about anything to get it. Here are the basics of character desire (thank you, AI):

(From First Draft Pro) A protagonist’s desire is a deep-seated goal or longing that drives their actions and motivations in a story. Desires can be internal or external, and they can be conscious or unconscious: (link)(and also from fictionwritingwithAI)

• Internal desires
  These are hidden needs that drive the character’s emotional journey. They can include a need for redemption, a longing for acceptance, or a quest for self-discovery.
• External desires
  These are tangible goals that the protagonist consciously pursues. They can include winning a championship, saving the world, or solving a mystery.

A protagonist’s desire is often driven by the story’s inciting incident. For example, a protagonist might want to keep a loved one safe after they are threatened, or they might want to solve a crime. 

A protagonist’s desire can also be a combination of both internal and external desires. For example, a character might want to save their land from danger, but they also want inner peace or revenge. This creates tension that builds toward the climax, when the character must choose what’s most important to them (Nathan Bransford blog).

To identify a protagonist’s desire, you can brainstorm a list of wants and needs, and then narrow down to the one that will drive the story (from Alice Sudlow). 

Segment 2

Easy enough, right? Let’s brainstorm desires:

• Love
• Survival
• Revenge
• Curiosity
• Self-acceptance
• Wealth
• Family
• Assassinate the king (or queen)
• independence 
• Protect the innocent
• Safety
• Recognition
• Overcome fear

In our seven deadly sins series, we looked character desire and its place in storytelling. We also considered how the consumption of those sins would corrupt our characters.

Segment 3

Key steps to incorporate protagonist desires (AI assisted again):

• Identify the core desire (Alice Sudlow from above):
  Clearly understand what your protagonist truly wants, whether it’s love, recognition, power, redemption, or something else entirely. 
• Make it personal (from MasterClass):
  Connect the desire to the protagonist’s backstory, experiences, and personality traits to make it feel authentic and meaningful. 
• Show, don’t tell (from a LinkedIn AI-generated blog):
  Instead of just stating their desires, demonstrate them through their thoughts, dialogue, and actions. 
• Create conflict (from Shannon K. Valenzuela):
  Obstacles and challenges should arise that directly relate to their desires, forcing them to make choices and overcome hurdles to achieve their goal. 
• Internal struggles:
  Explore the inner conflict your protagonist might face regarding their desires, including doubts, fears, and ethical dilemmas. 
• Character arc:
  Use the pursuit of their desire as a catalyst for personal growth, allowing them to evolve and change throughout the story. 

I like the Shannon K. Valenzuela article because it adds to the list the moral need and the psychological need. The moral need impacts others and the psychological need impacts the character themselves. If these two are in conflict, it’s even more rich.

Segment 4

Let’s take a look at some classic characters needs and desires (thanks again, AI):

Examples of character needs based on different story archetypes:

• The Hero: To overcome challenges, save the day, protect others, and prove their worth. 
• The Outlaw: To rebel against authority, break free from constraints, and live life on their own terms. 
• The Lover: To find true love, experience deep connection, and be cherished. 
• The Sage: To gain knowledge, understand the world, and share wisdom. 
• The Explorer: To discover new places, experience adventure, and push boundaries. 

Specific examples of character needs in stories:

• A young orphan: To find a family and feel loved. 
• A bullied teenager: To gain confidence and stand up for themselves. 
• A career-driven professional: To achieve work-life balance and find meaning outside of their job. 
• A war veteran: To heal from trauma and reintegrate into society. 
• A lonely artist: To connect with others through their art and find inspiration