Problem Exploration
I came across this concept of “problem exploration”. It’s the exact opposite of problem-solving, the default mindset we’re most often taught. It’s about taking the time to examine a problem from all different angles—not with the focus of finding the “right” way to “solve” it, but opening up the possibilities of how your problem may not be a problem.
I love this shift in perspective. If I’m trying to brainstorm an outline—and you know that plot is always my weakness—I often feel like I’m struggling to find the right “fit”. What action or event should I add to make sure my character and story evolve? This whole time I have the end goal in mind. I want my character here. How do I get them here? That’s one way, absolutely, but what if I take the time to explore why my character needs to get “here”? What if I look at how my secondary characters might get “here” and how I could apply that to my protagonist? When started to look at my problems as something to explore, rather than solve, I started to shed some of my writing anxiety.
There is no magic bullet for an easy writing life. This strategy may or may not work for you, but maybe it’s worth a shot. Because, as I was reminded of advice my father would often give me, “They’re not problems—they’re opportunities.”
What opportunity can you extract from your problem exploration?