The Powers Game

A few weeks ago, I proposed the McDonald's game.  If you know enough about your character or characters, you can say what your character would order at McDonald's whether or not there is one around.  This week, I came up with a different game: the Powers Game.  Most authors could [or should be able to] answer the question, "What does my character want most in the world?"  In "Finding Nemo," the whole story is driven by Marlin's desire to be reunited with his son.  In "Finding Dory," likewise, the story is driven by Dory's desire to be reunited with her parents.  If you can't name the greatest desire of your character, that's important.  It shouldn't be part of a game but part of characterization to begin with.

So what is the game?  Imagine your character can have any power in the world (or can get rid of a power he has but does not want.)  What would it be?  Marlin may want the ability to track his son from anywhere, so he could never lose him again or possibly to put a bubble around his son, so his son could never get hurt.  Dory would want the simple power to remember what happened five minutes ago, or even yesterday.  At some point in "Incredibles," many of the characters would like to wish away the power they do have to simplify their lives.  In a similar fashion, one could go through most characters in Pixar movies and decide what powers the characters would like (or get rid of) based on their particular desires and drives.

Now, go through your characters and figure out what magical/super/technological power your character would want if he/she could do anything in the world.    If you can't answer that question, you may need to work a little more on what drives your character to do what he/she does.