The Misguided Hero's Quest
Exercise #348 How Our Efforts Can Reinforce Writer's Block
Strategy:
The labyrinth holds treasure, but also traps. Sometimes, the paths we choose, thinking they'll lead us to our goal, actually take us further away. This exercise is your map through this tricky terrain. We'll create a character whose struggles mirror our own, watching as they try to sidestep their fundamental challenge, only to find themselves back where they started—or worse, even more lost. By observing our character's missteps, we gain insight into our own tendencies to avoid discomfort, and discover the direct path to our writing goals. Sometimes the quickest route involves facing the very thing we've been trying to avoid.
Instructions:
The Aspiring Hero: Create a character with a clear writing-related goal. This could be completing a novel, establishing a daily writing routine, or sharing their work publicly. Describe your character in detail. What drives them? What does achieving this goal mean to them personally and professionally?
The Hidden Obstacle: Now, give your character a flaw or fear that's holding them back from their goal. This should be something fundamental to their character or mindset. Explore this flaw in depth. How did it develop? How does it manifest in their writing life? Why is it so challenging for the character to confront?
The Misguided Quest: Brainstorm one way your character attempts to achieve their goal without directly confronting their flaw. This should be a strategy that seems logical on the surface but doesn't address the root issue. Detail this approach. Why does it appeal to your character? How do they justify this strategy to themselves and others?
The Inevitable Setback: Describe how your character's effort ultimately fails. What goes wrong? How does this failure impact their progress and mindset? Explore the emotional and practical consequences of this setback. How does it reinforce the character's original flaw or fear?
The True Path Forward: Identify the action your character actually needs to take to achieve their goal. This should involve directly confronting their flaw or fear. Explain why this action is necessary. What makes it challenging for your character? What potential benefits might come from taking this difficult step?
The Triumphant Conclusion: Finally, describe your character successfully achieving their goal by taking the necessary action identified in step 5. Paint a vivid picture of this triumph. How does your character feel? What has changed for them internally and externally? What new possibilities have opened up?
Tags: writer's block, character development, self-reflection, avoidance strategies, personal growth, creative writing, problem-solving
Example:
The Aspiring Hero: Meet Alex, a talented but unconfident journalist who dreams of writing a hard-hitting investigative piece that could make a real difference in their community. Alex has always been passionate about social justice but has stuck to writing "safe" lifestyle pieces. Landing this big story could elevate their career and finally allow them to use their voice for change.
The Hidden Obstacle: Alex suffers from severe imposter syndrome. Despite their talent, they constantly doubt their abilities and fear being exposed as a "fraud." This fear manifests as perfectionism—Alex believes that if they can just make their work flawless, no one will question their right to be a journalist.
The Misguided Quest: Instead of diving into the investigative piece, Alex decides they need more credentials to be taken seriously. They enroll in an intensive online journalism course, reasoning that with another certification, they'll finally feel qualified to tackle the big story.
The Inevitable Setback: Months pass as Alex pours all their energy into the course, neglecting their actual writing. When they finally complete it, they realize they feel no more confident than before. In fact, exposure to so many "expert" journalists has only intensified their imposter syndrome. The story they wanted to write is now old news, covered by another journalist.
The True Path Forward: Alex needs to start writing the investigative piece, imperfections and all. They need to reach out to sources, conduct interviews, and put words on the page, even if those words aren't perfect. Most importantly, they need to share their drafts with a trusted editor or mentor, exposing their work to constructive feedback.
The Triumphant Conclusion: With trepidation, Alex begins working on a new investigative story. They force themselves to write "shitty first drafts," as Anne Lamott would say. When they share their work with their editor, they're surprised to receive encouragement along with constructive criticism. The final piece isn't perfect, but it's powerful and makes a real impact in the community. Alex realizes that their unique perspective and passion are what make them a good journalist, not a string of certifications or flawless prose. They feel a new confidence in their abilities and a renewed excitement for their craft. Alex starts planning their next big story, still feeling nervous but now embracing that feeling as part of the creative process rather than a sign of inadequacy.