Understanding Wants and Needs: The Key to Compelling Storytelling

When it comes to crafting compelling stories, one of the most essential concepts to grasp is the difference between wants and needs. In this regard, my own frustration and confusion came not from being too stupid to understand (which was what my insecure little brain wanted me to think), but rather from struggling to communicate with others who spoke a different language.

In the world of screenwriting instruction, these terms are often used as code words for something larger. However, they are actually very simple concepts that are easily misunderstood. The fact is that wants and needs are being used in place of complex psychological and emotional concepts, which can be difficult to grasp.

As someone who has struggled with understanding this concept, I can attest to the frustration it can cause. In my Psych 1-01 class, I was thwarted by my inability to comprehend Maslow's theories on human motivation. Why was this so hard for me to grasp? Here are a few possibilities.

If I couldn't answer even the most basic question about what my protagonist wanted or needed, did I really have any business calling myself a writer? My instructors would look at me with confusion and disappointment as I struggled to articulate my thoughts, and I began to dread going to class. The tears of frustration that flowed from my eyes were not just because I didn't understand the concept of wants and needs - they were also because I felt like I was failing as a writer.

The truth is that wants and needs are simultaneously too simple and too complex to grasp. They require a deep understanding of human psychology and motivation, as well as the ability to translate those insights into compelling storytelling.

In screenwriting, this means translating what a character wants to be doing - their desires and goals - versus what they need to be doing - their underlying motivations and emotional drivers. This is especially challenging in feature film writing, where there is limited time and space to explore complex characters and storylines.

One of the key takeaways from screenwriting instruction is that the main lesson is to frame the story around this conflict - the internal struggle between what a character wants and what they need. This is not just a theoretical concept, but a fundamental aspect of human experience. How many times have we all known that something we wanted was bad for us in some way, yet still felt compelled to pursue it?

Understanding your character's motivations - their wants and needs - is the key to creating relatable characters and compelling stories. It requires a deep understanding of human psychology and emotion, as well as the ability to translate those insights into effective storytelling.

In conclusion, understanding the concept of wants and needs in screenwriting is not just about using the right terminology or following a set of rules. It's about grasping the fundamental aspects of human motivation and behavior, and using that knowledge to create stories that resonate with audiences. By doing so, writers can craft compelling characters and storylines that capture the hearts and minds of their readers.

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