(2022-10-10) Eliason What Would Happen To You In A Book

Nat Eliason: What Would Happen to You in a Book? (Hero's Journey) Bickman explains the importance of cause and effect in storytelling: “…fiction must make more sense than real life if general readers are to find it credible

That’s why we like stories; they make more sense than real life.

But if you’re looking for ways to improve your life or steer your long-term outcomes in a better direction, assuming Chekhov’s Gun does apply to your life might be helpful.

What happens to a character who keeps saying that once they get a little more money, they’ll be able to slow down and enjoy it? (thinking in bets)

What happens to the character who wakes up and works on their novel for an hour every morning?

I like the “what happens to your character” exercise because it helps get through two mental hurdles:

First, we often think we can cheat the system. And that assumption can lead to life’s hardest lessons.

The second hurdle it helps with is recognizing the best parts of life are often hidden behind great efforts. Starting a workout routine is hard. Changing careers is hard. Giving up on speed is hard.

So look at your life and ask yourself: what happens to my character? Are they moving towards what they want?