The Story’s Compass — Character Goals and the Allure of the McGuffin
It’s not always about what we want. Exploring how a character’s desperate pursuit of their goal (even a mysterious McGuffin) creates unforgettable stories.
This May has been quite a busy month, and I haven’t managed to read much. However, I have finally finished studying Luca Aimeri’s Manuale di Sceneggiatura Cinematografica (Screenwriting Manual). It was an interesting read, surprising in some ways. Little by little, I’m summarizing in these pages the things that struck me most and that I’m trying to make my own.
Our Narrative Laws (So Far)
In the three previous posts of this somewhat impromptu series, we’ve distilled some “rules” or, if you prefer, recurring insights into the world of writing and narration:
There is no story without conflict, just as there is no conflict without a story within it. (link: Anatomy of an Idea)
There is no story without characters, and there are no (engaging) characters without (significant) actions. (link: It’s All About Them)
There is no story without a fall that initiates it, nor a fall without the…
