Want

Also called

external goalstory goal

BeginnerCharacter & castReference

What a character consciously pursues in the scene or story — concrete and actionable.

Want is the visible target — what the character says they are after and what other characters can observe. It powers scene goals and external conflict.

Want pairs with need (deeper growth), wound (old hurt), and lie (wrong belief). GMC planning names goal explicitly; want is that goal on the surface.

Why it matters

Cast and Scene Builder fields stay honest when want is concrete — vague wishes do not generate opposition.

Common pitfalls

Wants that are moods ("to be happy") instead of actionable targets.
Want that changes every scene without earning the shift.
Protagonist want that never costs anything when blocked.

Example only

Readers feel want when stakes tighten after the ally refuses to help.

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Want

Also called

external goalstory goal

BeginnerCharacter & castReference

What a character consciously pursues in the scene or story — concrete and actionable.

Want is the visible target — what the character says they are after and what other characters can observe. It powers scene goals and external conflict.

Want pairs with need (deeper growth), wound (old hurt), and lie (wrong belief). GMC planning names goal explicitly; want is that goal on the surface.

Why it matters

Cast and Scene Builder fields stay honest when want is concrete — vague wishes do not generate opposition.

Common pitfalls

Wants that are moods ("to be happy") instead of actionable targets.
Want that changes every scene without earning the shift.
Protagonist want that never costs anything when blocked.

Example only

Readers feel want when stakes tighten after the ally refuses to help.