In this week’s video, I share my best techniques to subtly portray your characters’ deepest desires. Learn how to distinguish desires expressed from those kept private, and master showing hidden longing indirectly through crafty characterization.
With this tip in your writer’s toolkit, you’re sure to write more compelling characters. I know you can do it!
Hello, Jane Cleland here.
How can I show my character’s deepest desires without overtly talking about them? Interesting. I’m going to say there are two kinds of desires: those that are open and communicated, and those that are hidden, private—not communicated.
A person who is applying to college, a senior in high school, for example, might be very proud that his SAT scores allowed him to apply to Ivy League schools. So his desire is open, shared. He has to be careful not to come across as arrogant, but that’s character-specific. Some young men who are going to share their success are arrogant. Others are quite humble: “Can’t believe it, but I’m actually going for it…”
Other desires are hidden. You’re a guy. Let’s have that same high school senior, and your best friend is dating the girl of your dreams. Well, you’re not going to be telling anybody about that, probably. But you probably look at her with a certain warmth. Your eyes glow, even though you try to hide it. Maybe you’re extra courteous. You’re sensitive to her. You are aware when she’s disappointed. And maybe you offer to help tutor her in math if it was her math quiz that disappointed her—her score.
These are subtle behaviors that this particular character would do that communicate his desire to the reader. And maybe eventually the girl will find out, but maybe not.
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Thank you so much!
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