Many creative people find writing therapeutic, this editor among them. Not every story or journal entry is a means of working out our shit, but many are. Taking control of a narrative allows the writer to imagine alternative outcomes to various scenarios, including something hurtful or traumatic that happened in real life. Sometimes, putting a character – who is not ourselves – through a similar situation helps us see how someone might respond and adapt.
But can you dive deeper into therapeutic concepts in your writing? In a new post, Kristen Lamb talks about the Johari Window, a psychiatric model that says trust is earned when one reveals personal information to others. This information then allows the recipient to give feedback that can give the person a more accurate view of that information. In theory, this leads to more self-awareness.
The “window” has four panes: two that reflect the self and two that represent areas that are unknown to the self, but visible to others. The first pane represents information known to both an individual and others. The second is a blind spot, information unknown to a person, but visible to others. The third pane contains information known to the self but hidden from others. The fourth pane is information unknown to the self and others.
So how can this apply to fiction? “The blind spot is critical for creating a dimensional protagonist who can arc to becoming a hero,” Lamb says. “Ideally, we want to design a story problem that forces the MC (main character) to finally see their blind spot and how it’s negatively impacting their lives (and others).”
Lamb creates a sample character model using the Johari Window that is well worth reading. The challenge is to create a story that forces your protagonist to face the information and fears they withhold from others. Along the way, your hero can gain allies by sharing information and earning the trust of others.
