What Aaron Sorkin Taught Me About Intention
AS: “A character — let’s assume it’s your protagonist — is defined by what they want or by their intentions…”
Let’s talk about the core principle that drives every great story…
It’s not character descriptions. Not detailed backgrounds. Not witty dialogue.
It’s INTENTION.
“You don’t show the audience who a character is — you show the audience what a character wants.”
Here’s what this means in practice:
- Your protagonist MUST want something badly
- They MUST face a formidable obstacle
- The tactics they use to overcome this obstacle DEFINE who they are
This is the secret sauce of compelling storytelling.
Think about it:
- Mark Zuckerberg wanting recognition in The Social Network
- President Bartlet fighting for legacy in The West Wing
- Steve Jobs pursuing perfection in Steve Jobs
The magic isn’t in their backstory… It’s in their CHOICES when facing obstacles.
Forget the character bios. Focus on intention and obstacle.
The audience learns who characters are through their actions, not your description.
So, ask yourself:
- What does my character want RIGHT NOW?
- What’s standing in their way?
- How far will they go to overcome it?
Keep writing,
- Brock Swinson
P.S. Here’s my full audio interview with Aaron Sorkin.
P.P.S. Subscribe to my free newsletter, The Daily Writer, to get a tactical piece of writing advice every single day — based on over 600 interviews.
