Emotional Growth Is a Skill
It can be practiced, honed and improved, like any other skill
One of the main storytelling tips any writer will get is to ensure the main character has something they need as well as something they want. Their want is the action they need to take, the desire that drives the plot forward. Their need is the personal growth they need, the inner journey that runs parallel to the plot and gives the story its emotional resonance, its message, its point.
It’s there in every story we hold dear. Shrek wants to save Princess Fiona and get the fairytale creatures out of his swamp, but he needs to learn to accept the care and friendship of others. Marlin wants to find Nemo, but he needs to overcome his fear of loss and learn to trust the world. Aragorn wants to help Frodo destroy the Ring, but he needs to stop avoiding the responsibility of his destiny to become the king of Gondor.
The need is what keeps us relating to characters in far-flung or fantastical settings. It’s likely none of us will ever have to rescue a princess with a donkey, chase our missing child across an ocean to a dentist’s office or defeat Sauron, but the emotional arc of the characters is eminently relatable. We’ve likely all had times when we learned to open up to others, let go of our fears and trust, or step into a responsibility we’d…
