A memory came to me. One time, in middle school, a famous…
““A memory came to me. One time, in middle school, a famous author came to talk to our class and give a writing workshop. One of the things she told us about writing a novel was that the story should be about what the main character wants. Dorothy wants to go home to Kansas. George Milton wants a farm of his own. Amelia Sedley wants to marry her darling George and live happily ever after. The end of the story, according to the famous author, is when the character either gests what he wants or realizes he’s never going to get it. Or sometimes, she said, like Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind, realizes she doesn’t actually want what she thought she wanted all along. pg. 324 of Bewitching””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote emphasizes that a story’s climax hinges on the protagonist’s fulfillment or denial of their deepest desire, revealing true motivations.
In simple terms: Stories end when characters get what they want or learn they don’t.
Key Takeaway
Focus on character desire to drive plot.
Themes
character development
desire
plot structure
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
literary
instructional
When to use this quote
- Writing workshops
- novel planning
- character analysis
- story outlining
Key Concepts
Narrative theory
psychology of motivation
Questions to Reflect On
- What does your protagonist truly want?
- How can you reveal hidden desires?
A Different Perspective
Characters may misinterpret their own goals, complicating resolution.