https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/your-characters-inner-conflict-want-vs-want/
The Rolling Stones knew it. A character can’t always get what they want, but if they try sometimes, they just might find, they get what they need.
It is also to be noted that what a character wants is often predicated upon a lie that character believes. The “ghost” in the character’s past has traumatized them in such a way that they have set upon a path of healing. The only problem is the trauma had made them believe something that isn’t true, and consequently they seek a remedy that isn’t truly the cure.
This is what I am thinking about today as I toy around with the prospect of beginning the process of beginning the process of a new story. That story is the fourth short story prequel to Emma Spaulding: Paranormal Detective. The want/need, Ghost/Lie dichotomies are a helpful way to “crack” a story and make sure every word counts.