Quick Tip: Every Story Starts With a Want
Give your character a clear, tangible want.
One of the first things I share with my screenwriting students each semester is this quote by Kurt Vonnegut: “Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.” This is true for all writing—fiction, CNF, screenwriting. By identifying your character’s want, you give them reason to act. You give them purpose, and you start the engine for the narrative to drive forward. The want can be life-changing (to get married) or simple (to get a haircut), but make it clear and make it tangible.