As wonderful as craft books are, a lot of times, our best teacher is life and our keen observance of it.

I read a book awhile ago called Live a Praying Life by Jennifer Kennedy Dean. I wasn’t reading it to improve my writing. I was reading it to better understand God’s design for prayer.

But as writers, we usually have that third eye (or ear) open and observant and aware. Ready to soak up some juicy insight. Some truth, some reflection of the human condition that we can apply to our characters and our stories.

So when I came upon this, I immediately switched into writing mode:

Jennifer writes, “Usually, what we call ‘the desire of my heart’ is really a secondary desire orbiting around the true desire. Usually, what we think we desire is really the way we have imagined the true desire will be met.”

She goes on to say, “We think we are asking for the desire of our hearts, but we are really asking for the desire of the moment. Often, in order to give you the desire of your heart, God will withhold the desire of the moment. He only says no as a prelude to a higher yes.”

Wow. I don’t know about you, but I see major truth in these words.

Truth that points to an overarching human condition.

For us. And most definitely our characters.

Getting to that truth involves a little digging. It involves going beyond what we find at the surface.

On the Surface: What does your character want?

Every protagonist needs a goal, something for which they are striving. What is your protagonist trying to accomplish throughout the story?

Let’s say your character gets on her knees in the morning, clasps her hands together, and begs you—her creator—for something. What is she petitioning for?

Often times, these petitions are the desires of the moment. The moment that becomes our story. These tend to be external things. Like…

Please, give me this promotion. Please, make this guy fall in love with me. Please, let me get this scholarship.

The possibilities are endless.

Digging Deeper: Why does your character want this?

Here’s what we know—or should know—that our character doesn’t. Or at least not yet.

This thing she is “praying” for? It’s not really the desire of her heart. It reflects a deeper desire. One she’s most likely unaware of.

So go deeper.

Why does your character want this promotion? Why does your character want the guy to fall in love with her? Why does your character want a scholarship?

In the very depth of her soul, what does your character really want? What is she craving?

Find the Treasure: What is the desire of your character’s heart?

The promotion will mean she’s not a failure. She will finally make her husband proud. The promotion becomes a matter of acceptance.

Getting the guy to love her will mean she’s desirable. It will mean she’s wanted. Getting the guy to love her becomes a matter of worth.

Getting the scholarship means paying her own way for college. She won’t have to answer to her parents anymore. Getting the scholarship becomes a matter of freedom.

Usually, these heart desires can be summed up in one or two words and they tend to be universal. Something most of us crave in one form or another.

Now think….

How can we, as authors, withhold the desire of the moment? How can we tell our characters no? And while they keep striving, how can we make our characters see something deeper?

Something beyond the temporary? And how can we meet this true desire in a way that is exceedingly, abundantly better than what our character imagined?

I brought up three heart desires: Acceptance. Worth. Freedom. Can you think of others? In your current WIP, what is your character’s true desire?

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Christy Award finalist and Carol Award winner, Katie Ganshert, graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a degree in education, and worked as a fifth grade teacher for several years before staying home to write full-time. She was born and raised in the Midwest, where she lives with her husband, their young son, and their goofy black lab, Bubba. When she’s not busy writing or playing or reading or snuggling, she is obsessing over the paperwork and the waiting that comes with adoption. You can learn more about Katie and her books by visiting her website or author Facebook page.