Inside the Wonder World

Lesson 10: Character Emotional Drivers - the Internal Longing

Welcome to my Friday edition of Substack, which feature my paid posts: Inside the Wonder World.

Inside the Wonder World is the working title of my developing craft book on writing and publishing for young readers. I’m bringing it to you in pieces, both to help you learn something more deeply (lessons and exercises included) and to push me to finish this lofty goal.

I’ll still post my free content every Tuesday, so you’ll still be able to pick out what you need as a free subscriber.

Every Friday I post a chapter lesson, or portion of, or two of from Inside the Wonder World. You who are paid subscribers get full access.

Plus, I really, really want your feedback. I promise to include you in my acknowledgements.

Here’s the next lesson!

Internal Longing or Lack

The third emotional driver is a bit subtle, but it is also an emotion that the protagonist enters the story with: a longing for something, or a lack of something, or a need for something. This is one driver that you picture book writers may not need to pursue, as it first shows itself in us breathing humans with psychological development during early adolescence.

The internal longing is different from the internal desire in one specific way. The protagonist is aware of their desire, and that desire is clear right from page one of your story, both to the reader and to the character. But your character is also lacking something, wanting something, or needing something in a deeper way, and is not fully aware of that lack, want, need. Your reader may also not be fully aware of that lack/want/need until well into the story.

But you, dear writer, must be aware.

So, let’s make sure you understand what the lack/want/need is, and what it does for your story.