What You Want vs. What You Need

So I'm just sitting here, watching The Princess and the Frog for probably the 30th time, singing to myself and shopping for graduation gifts for my best friend. I keep eating, even though I didn't get to go on my walk today, but I just love peanuts and peanut butter and food in general so much. (You would never believe it, but I was a picky eater two years ago.) I'm also sitting and waiting for Daniel Vincent Gordh to respond to my tweet.

No activity so far. I'll keep you all posted.

In this wonderful movie, there is this spiffy little ditty called "Dig a Little Deeper". And right in the beginning, Naveen is all: "What we want, what we need, it is the same thing, yes?" And Mama Odie is all: "Is it the same thing!? NO!"

Back to that song. Here it is if you haven't had the pleasure of watching TP&TF.

Besides the fact that this is totally in true in life (desire of the flesh vs. desire of the spirit), this rule totally applies to characters. Every character has something they want, and something they need. The best cases are the ones where they aren't the same thing. Some examples...

The Princess and the Frog: Naveen wants his rich lifestyle, Tiana wants her restaraunt, and they both want to turn human. What they need is love --- which they find in each other! Naveen also needs to become less spoiled, and Tiana needs to see the big picture.

Tangled: Flynn Rider wants a life of luxury. Rapunzel just wants to see the lights that she sees every year on her birthday. What they need is love (it is a Disney movie, after all)! I would also say that Flynn has to learn how to think about someone other than himself (love) and Rapunzel needs to learn how to be independent.

See? They've all got dreams! Desires! Wants! Needs!

Emma: Emma doesn't want to get married. She wants to play a role in other people's love lives and flatter herself. What she needs is a dose of humility... and to see that Knightley is destined to be her man!

"She's right, you know. I'm your man!"

Ella Enchanted: SPOILER ALERT! The ending is such a perfect example of want vs. need. Ella wants to marry Char more than anything, but she knows she needs to keep him (and the country) safe, so she says no. Which, of course, breaks the curse so that she can have what she wants too. ;)

"I was almost as bad in this terrible adaptation of a great book as I was in Daniel Deronda!"

Not every story will have such an explicit contrast between wants and needs. Still, your character MUST have a goal of their own, however small. They may even have multiple goals, or conflicting goals! Either way, every character is after something. (Unless you're Holden Caulfield and would rather wander aimlessly about New York. But I believe he's after love, too.)

What might your character(s) be after? How might different characters' desires and needs conflict with others' desires and needs? Here are some suggestions:

• love
• pleasure
• money
• prestige
• notoriety
• reputation
• popularity
• favor from a particular person
• attention from the opposite gender
• attention, period
• peace and quiet
• change
• peace of heart/mind
• revenge

Confessions of an Invalid

It's official: I have strep throat. Yuck! What to do when one is sick?

1. Eat lots of unhealthy food.
This one may not seem like such a good idea at first, but after one considers how wretchedly miserable they are, comfort food does seem to be a viable and reasonable option. I myself have already downed two pieces of buttered toast (classic sick food), a bowl of potato soup, a serving of ice cream (for my throat), a piece of spinach quiche, and a glass of orange juice. Mmmmm! I'll get around to the fruits and veggies part of my day later. *coughhopefullycough*

2. Watch television reruns.
Technically, TV is off-limits during Lent, but when you're ill at 4 AM, our family makes exceptions. I've watched nothing but Full House and Boy Meets World. I restrained myself from watching Doctor Who: That's my go-to "sick show", so I'm still making a sacrifice. 

FULL HOUSE!!! :D

3. Nap... a lot.
Even if it means you have weird dreams involving awkward proposals that go somewhere along the lines of, "I love French dresses, and I love you!" Did I mention this dream involved a certain William Mason? And that I was not being proposed to? Bummer. I was holding hands with an unknown, small child and walking nearby. Awko tacos.

I love you. Is that dress French?

4. Avoid any and all homework like the plague.
Yet another act of The Merchant of Venice? But I'm an INVALID!

*snort*

5. Read.
I finished Under a Fairy Moon, and I have yet to decide what is next on my priority list. Under a Fairy Moon was sweet, and though the writing wasn't "bad", I do think the novel needed a lot of work in terms of pacing and characterization. It still had the marks of an early draft. Of course, it's also aimed at younger children, but there were still parts where I was either confused or felt like I wasn't getting the full picture. Still, stunning cover art! I really ought to finish A History of Ireland, but I'm stuck in a dry part. Boo! Any suggestions?

6. Write.
Working on fairy-tales? Yes, please! Nothing like a fun story to lighten my mood.

What do you like to do when you're sick?

Let the festivities commence!

Guess what, everyone!? I have off for Christmas break!

Sound the trumpets, ring the bells, burst out into spontaneous song! Nothing but Christmas spirit, New Year shenanigans, and other festive activities to come! Wondering what's on my agenda? I shall tell you!

1. Eat food. Not just any food, mind you. This morning, two giant muffin/scone/bagel/cookie baskets arrived from my favorite local restaurant. One of them was delivered by a classmate, and I was conveniently still moping around in my Disney princess pajamas, so naturally I stayed in the kitchen while my mom did all the talking. Regardless, our fridge is overflowing with baked goods. AND I CAN'T EAT ANY OF IT. I gave up dessert for Advent, and I am counting down the minutes until I can feast on scones and tea.
2.  Do homework. Yes, I have it. My AP Government teacher assigned us the biggest chapter of the year to do over break. Hoping to knock that one out ASAP...
3. Watch Downton re-runs (specifically, ones with William Mason in them). My mother and sister may be in love with Matthew Crawley, Tom Branson may be Dreamy McFly, but William is where it's at. I like to pretend Season 2 never happened, we're happily engaged, and I own a horse. Cuz he's good with horses and I always wanted a horse so therefore I should have a horse. Did I mention we're engaged?

I've been in love with him since he walked on camera for all of thirty seconds in the first episode. Even though my sisters tease him relentlessly, he's still #1.
4. Watch Emma. My friend Anna got it for my sister and I for Christmas. We opened it in my car, started screaming, and called Anna on the phone and left her a message of us screaming.
5. Celebrate Christmas, of course! That means attending Mass several times over, opening gifts, rocking out to Christmas carols, having my best friends' family over, and watching the Doctor Who Christmas special. Which leads us to 6...
6. Freak out over Doctor Who. New companion. New outfit. New theme song. New TARDIS. Should I go on?

8. Have a Happy New Year. We're visiting two different sets of cousins, which means an excursion to the beautiful Longwood Gardens followed by a murder mystery dinner theater. *sigh* Holidays are great.
7. WRITE! Most of my free time is merely an illusion, even during break, but that doesn't mean I'm not fitting in time to write! In fact, I'm planning a session for this evening. I do best just before bed... Too tired to criticize myself, my mind filled with the stuff of dreams. My best work comes after midnight.

How about you? Any plans for the break?