As part of their interview with the Write the Book podcast, Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy, authors of Once & Future, describe how they work through a scene that isn’t working and inject more dramatic tension. The writers use a technique familiar with anyone called on to brainstorm new ideas or troubleshoot problems – throw ideas against the wall, no matter how crazy. In their case, the writers narrow their focus to “the ten worst things that could happen to the protagonist,” starting with the character’s death. While that seems extreme, thinking about the ultimate dramatic outcome loosens up more – and better – ideas.
The key to creativity is not limiting your thoughts. Once you tell yourself your story “can’t” follow a certain course of action, you close off the dramatic potential. Instead, lay it all out on the table and choose the best idea for strengthening your story. Even the craziest or least workable idea might lead to a better one. To paraphrase Sherlock Holmes, once you eliminate the ridiculous, you’re left with the possible.
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