This is one of the most important questions in all of storytelling. What a character wants and what a character needs are almost never the same thing.

A character might want to be popular — but need to learn who their real friends are. They might want to go home — but need to discover who they are away from home. They might want revenge — but need to learn how to let go.

As you read today look for the gap between what your character is chasing and what the story seems to be nudging them toward.

Reading Prompt:
Read 10–20 minutes. Ask yourself — what does my character think will make everything better? And do I believe them?

Writing Prompt:
Write a paragraph describing what your main character wants and what you think they actually need. Are they the same? If not — why not?

Day 9: What Does Your Character Want vs. What Do They Need?