Every writing book talks about what your character wants. Fewer talk about why that want matters — or what's really driving it underneath.
The want-wound-need framework changed how I think about character. It's simple, but it unlocks a lot of fertile ground.
The want
This is the surface goal. The thing your character is consciously pursuing. Defeat the villain. Find the treasure. Win the tournament. Get home.
The want drives your plot. It's what the character thinks the story is about.
But a want alone is thin. We need to understand why this particular goal matters to this particular person.
The wound
This is the backstory — the formative experience that shaped who your character is. Usually something painful. A loss, a betrayal, a failure that left a mark.
The wound explains the want. Why does this goal matter so much? Because of what happened before.
A character who wants to prove themselves might carry the wound of a parent who never believed in them. A character obsessed with control might have experienced chaos they couldn't prevent. The wound doesn't need to be dramatic — it just needs to be formative.
The need
This is what the character actually needs to grow — the internal change required for their arc to complete. Often, the character doesn't know they need this. They think achieving the want will be enough.
The need is usually connected to the wound. The character who needs to learn trust was betrayed. The character who needs to accept help always had to survive alone.
How they work together
The want drives the plot forward. The wound explains why. The need is what the story is really about.
In a satisfying arc, pursuing the want forces the character to confront their wound, which eventually allows them to recognise and embrace their need. The external journey enables the internal one.
An example
Want: Defeat the dark lord.
Wound: Failed to save her brother when they were children.
Need: Learn that she can't save everyone — and that trying to is a form of control, not love.
Now the external plot (defeat the dark lord) becomes a vehicle for the internal journey. Every battle isn't just action — it's an opportunity to confront what's really at stake.
The practical application
Before you start writing, know all three. The want you probably have. Dig for the wound and the need.
If your character feels flat, one of these is usually missing or unclear. Often it's the need — we know what they're doing and why, but not what they should learn.