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dreamer_easyFor short story writers working on their craft (including me!) I want to give a quick example of a story in which the hero makes a difficult choice; as a result of that choice, takes action; what his choice costs him, and what he gains.
Not everyone will have had a chance to see the original Star Trek episode City on the Edge of Forever, so I'll pop this behind a SPOILER screen.
In this classic episode, history has been changed and the Federation is no more. Kirk travels back in time to fix history. Kirk falls in love with Edith Keeler, but learns that her mistimed pacifism will result in the Nazis winning WWII. He allows her to die in a traffic accident, and history is restored.
What choice does Kirk make? He allows Edith Keeler, the woman he loves, to die.
What does this choice tell us about Kirk? He puts his duty, and the good of all, ahead of his own desires.
What action does Kirk take? He stops McCoy from preventing the accident.
I want to emphasise this, because Kirk must positively do something to cause Keeler to die, or his choice means nothing. If he just saw Keller randomly run over by a truck, he'd just be an observer, not the hero. This is his choice expressed through action.
What price does Kirk pay for his choice and action? He loses the woman he loves.
What prize does Kirk win due to his choice and action? He restores the future and the Federation.
Kirk's choice and his action are the emotional heart of the story. It's personal and specific -- it's not a cold-blooded speculation about history, it's about a specific person. It asks us to feel the importance of what happens. It invites us to ask ourselves: would I have done the same thing?
OK, now take a look at the short story you're working on, or are trying to sell.
What choice does your protagonist make?
What does this choice tell you about them?
What action does your character take because of their choice?
What price do they pay?
What prize do they win?
If you like, re-read or re-watch a favourite story and answer the questions about it.
(These questions don't apply to every kind of story, but it's useful for adventure and drama. Even literary stories will often centre on a choice and its consequences, as in eg Sylvia Plath's "A Day in June".)
Not everyone will have had a chance to see the original Star Trek episode City on the Edge of Forever, so I'll pop this behind a SPOILER screen.
In this classic episode, history has been changed and the Federation is no more. Kirk travels back in time to fix history. Kirk falls in love with Edith Keeler, but learns that her mistimed pacifism will result in the Nazis winning WWII. He allows her to die in a traffic accident, and history is restored.
What choice does Kirk make? He allows Edith Keeler, the woman he loves, to die.
What does this choice tell us about Kirk? He puts his duty, and the good of all, ahead of his own desires.
What action does Kirk take? He stops McCoy from preventing the accident.
I want to emphasise this, because Kirk must positively do something to cause Keeler to die, or his choice means nothing. If he just saw Keller randomly run over by a truck, he'd just be an observer, not the hero. This is his choice expressed through action.
What price does Kirk pay for his choice and action? He loses the woman he loves.
What prize does Kirk win due to his choice and action? He restores the future and the Federation.
Kirk's choice and his action are the emotional heart of the story. It's personal and specific -- it's not a cold-blooded speculation about history, it's about a specific person. It asks us to feel the importance of what happens. It invites us to ask ourselves: would I have done the same thing?
OK, now take a look at the short story you're working on, or are trying to sell.
What choice does your protagonist make?
What does this choice tell you about them?
What action does your character take because of their choice?
What price do they pay?
What prize do they win?
If you like, re-read or re-watch a favourite story and answer the questions about it.
(These questions don't apply to every kind of story, but it's useful for adventure and drama. Even literary stories will often centre on a choice and its consequences, as in eg Sylvia Plath's "A Day in June".)
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Date: 2026-01-09 10:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-09 10:31 pm (UTC)