3-2-1 | Screenwriting Thursday
3 TIPS FROM ME
I.
Give your MC a clear, relatable desire. People connect to characters who want something specific, whether it’s survival, love, belonging, revenge, or freedom. The desire should be emotionally rooted, not just logistical (not “get the briefcase,” but “get the briefcase so my kid can live”).
II.
Show Vulnerability Early. Psychologically, vulnerability triggers empathy. Seeing someone struggle or risk emotional harm draws us in. A small, humanizing moment early (fumbling with keys, hiding a tear, hesitating before knocking) makes us invest before the “big” stakes arrive.
III.
Give your characters an internal contradiction. People are layered - consider having your character want two things that conflict (e.g., want intimacy but fears being known). This tension creates an emotional puzzle that keeps audiences engaged.
2 QUOTES FROM OTHERS
I.
Aaron Sorkin, the prolific writer of THE SOCIAL NETWORK, THE WEST WING, STEVE JOBS, A FEW GOOD MEN, and so much more:
“The properties of characters and the properties of people have very little to do with each other.”
II.
The great Kurt Vonnegut, author of The Sirens of Titan and Cat’s Cradle (both nominated for a Hugo Award for best Science fiction novel of the year) though he is best known for his NYT Bestseller Slaughterhouse Five:
"I want to stay as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can't see from the center. Big, undreamed‑of things—the people on the edge see them first."
