We all have desires.
Passions. And the desire of any writer is learning how to characterize
it without going overboard.
1. What has been an object
of your desire? Forget about life's large issues. Concentrate on something
concrete that you have desired. Write a page about that object and your
desire for it. Focus on the emotion you felt/feel for it.
2. Choose a big issue
(life, death, wealth, fame, etc.). Write a one page scene describing a
character who has this desire. If you did exercise no. 1, compare these
two. Did the fictional desire come out as clearly and realistically as
the actual one?
3. Choose something humourous
as a vehicle for rendering desire. Create a character who desires something
humourous or lighthearted rather than serious. Write a scene where your
character is describing this desire to another character. Remember not
to condescend your character and not to laugh at him/her.
4. Write a scene in which
two characters are in this basic conflict: one wants something the other
doesn't want to give. The something could be anything, but in your writing
focus on the desire.