Comments on: Conscious vs. Unconscious Desire

By: Karel FG Segers

Karel FG Segers — Sun, 30 May 2021 23:02:30 +0000

In reply to Daniel. Thank you, Daniel. When I have the chance, I'll watch the video. Thank you for flagging this!

By: Daniel

Daniel — Tue, 25 May 2021 01:58:15 +0000

There was a recent video on mckee’s website detailing the difference between conscious/unconscious desire and need:

Conscious desire is self-explanatory, unconscious desire is a deeper, stronger, tribal urge the character has that he doesn’t have the words to express. NEED is another thing entirely. It is the “open spot” in the characters nature that must be filled if the character is to achieve his superobjective. The character does not want this. It is only until the character is pushed to the brink that he realizes he must change.

By: Karel Segers

Karel Segers — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 22:08:47 +0000

In reply to Fin. Thank you, Fin!

By: Fin

Fin — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 13:47:35 +0000

Thanks, Karel: McKee does provide brief examples, although in a different section: see pp195-6 of STORY, where he shows the unconscious v conscious dynamic at work in DR NO, MOBY DICK, THE CRYING GAME and CARNAL KNOWLEDGE

By: 31 Days of NaNoPrepMo: Day 6 |

31 Days of NaNoPrepMo: Day 6 | — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 12:01:21 +0000

[…] Reading: “Conscious vs. Unconscious Desire” from The Story Department, “Goals Define Plot” from Writers Store, “How to Tell if Your Protagonist Needs […]