The Power of Stillness

Exercise #389 Exploring Agency Through Action and Inaction

Strategy:

Ever notice how a calm lake can seem more powerful than a babbling brook? In writing, we often equate action with agency, but what if the real strength lies in stillness? This exercise challenges you to dive deep into the misconception that inaction equals passivity. By crafting parallel characters—one seemingly active but merely reactive, and another apparently passive but internally driven—we'll explore the hidden depths of agency. It's like comparing a frantic juggler to a focused meditation master; who truly has more control? As you write, consider how deliberate inaction can be a form of resistance, protection, or self-preservation. Remember, sometimes the most powerful move in chess is the one you don't make!

Learning Objectives:

1. Analyze the difference between reactivity and true agency in character behavior

2. Develop characters whose inaction is driven by strong internal motivations

3. Practice writing scenes that reveal agency through both action and inaction

4. Explore how to make "passive" characters compelling and determined

Instructions:

1. Character Creation: Develop two characters facing similar external pressures or challenges. Briefly describe their personalities and situations.

2. The "Active" Character: Write a scene where the first character responds to the external pressure with constant action. Focus on their reactive nature and lack of a clear internal goal.

3. The "Inactive" Character: Write a parallel scene where the second character responds to similar pressure with apparent inaction. Highlight their strong internal motivation and deliberate choice not to act externally.

4. Internal Monologues: For both characters, write a short internal monologue revealing their thoughts and motivations during their respective scenes.

5. Contrast and Compare: Write a brief analysis comparing the two characters. How does their agency (or lack thereof) manifest differently? Which character seems more in control of their situation?

6. Reader's Perspective: Rewrite a small portion of each scene from an observer's point of view. How might their actions (or inactions) be perceived by others? Does this align with their true agency?

Tags: character agency, inaction, passive resistance, character motivation, internal conflict, comparative writing, perception vs reality

Example:

1. Character Creation: Alex and Sam are both 30-year-old professionals facing pressure from their families to get married and "settle down."

   • Alex: Outgoing and sociable, always trying to please others.

   • Sam: Introverted and independent, values personal freedom and growth.

2. The "Active" Character:

   Alex's phone buzzed with another text from Mom: "Any nice dates lately?"
   Sighing, Alex opened a dating app and started swiping furiously. Three matches and two awkward conversations later, a date was set for Friday. Alex then called Mom: "Guess what? I have a date this week!" After hanging up, Alex stared at the phone, wondering why this didn't feel like progress.

3. The "Inactive" Character:

   Sam's phone lit up with a familiar message from Dad: "Your cousin just got engaged. When will it be your turn?"

   Sam read the message, placed the phone face-down on the table, and returned to reading a book on personal finance. The next day, Sam declined a family dinner invitation, opting instead for a solo hike in the nearby mountains.

4. Internal Monologues:

   Alex: "Why can't I just find 'the one' already? Everyone's waiting for me to get married, have kids, buy a house. I'm trying so hard, going on all these dates. What if I'm just not cut out for this? But I can't let my family down..."

   Sam: "They think I'm not trying, but they don't understand. Every day I choose myself, my freedom, my personal growth—that's not easy. It would be simpler to give in, to go on pointless dates. But I'm building the life I want, not the one they expect. That takes strength."

5. Contrast and Compare: While Alex appears more active, constantly swiping on dating apps and going on dates, this behavior is purely reactive to external pressure. Alex lacks a clear internal goal beyond appeasing family expectations. In contrast, Sam's apparent inaction is a deliberate choice, driven by a strong internal desire for personal growth and independence. Sam's refusal to engage in unwanted dating or attend family events is an exercise in agency, protecting personal values and long-term goals. Ultimately, Sam demonstrates more control over the situation by resisting external pressures, while Alex is caught in a cycle of unfulfilling actions.

6. Reader's Perspective:

   Observer's view of Alex: "Poor Alex, always so desperate to find someone. It's admirable how hard they're trying, but it seems exhausting. I wonder if all these random dates are really helping."

   Observer's view of Sam: "Sam seems so aloof and uninterested in finding a partner. I hope they're not lonely. But there's something intriguing about that independence. I wonder what Sam does with all that free time?"