Hi Friend,

 

A creative writing teacher once explained story to me like this: The cat sat on the mat is not a story. The cat sat on the dog’s mat? That’s a story.

 

Welcome to the fifth in our newsletter series devoted to 5 Daily Practices for a More Creative Life.

 

Practice #5: Generate Good Conflict.

Conflict is necessary for a good story. But in real life, we avoid it entirely or solve it as quickly as possible. Solving conflict goes one of two ways:

In the first scenario, one person feels good. In the second, no one does.

 

Relieved, maybe. But not good.

 

And good, original stories are what we’re aiming for here.

 

Solving conflict by taking sides or compromising bypasses the story circuitry in your brain, denying you the opportunity to create new good stories. Stories that will surprise and satisfy the storythinker. Stories that will broaden the possibilities in your mind. Stories that help you grow.

You’ve learned to unplug your ego and shift perspective, now you’re ready to go a step further and stoke good conflict by letting two incongruous perspectives sit side-by-side, without disregarding one or filing down the edges of both, until a new idea emerges.    

(Your head might hurt. #growth)

 

Next week, the link between creativity and resilience.

If you’re local to Columbus, Ohio, join us for Creative Mornings Columbus next Friday, June 21st. Angus will present a talk on Pattern and I'll lead a workshop in which we practice the the techniques we discuss here. We'd love to see you there.

 

Thank you for reading,

Sarah

 

P.S. Missed an issue? They're all available in our archive.