“”Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity.”” (Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist)
Writing Exercise: In Search of Dreams: Fear, Suffering, and the Heart’s Resolve
Objective: Writers will explore emotional conflict, introspective depth, and symbolic imagery to craft a compelling scene where a character confronts fear in pursuit of a dream. Inspired by Paulo Coelho’s quotation, the exercise emphasizes creating a resonant emotional journey.
Part 1: Key Writing Techniques
1. Emotional Conflict: The tension between fear and aspiration is at the core of the quotation. Writers will practice portraying this tension in a way that feels both relatable and profound.
2. Introspective Depth: The internal dialogue and emotional self-reckoning described in the quotation guide students to craft nuanced inner thoughts that reveal character motivations and vulnerabilities.
3. Symbolic Imagery: Phrases like “encounter with God and eternity” encourage students to use metaphors or symbols to elevate the emotional stakes and meaning of the scene.
Part 2: Writing Prompt
Write a 500-word scene in which a character faces a defining moment of decision: should they risk everything in pursuit of a deeply personal dream, or stay safe but unfulfilled?
Parameters:
• Set the scene in a location that amplifies the character’s internal conflict (e.g., a hospital waiting room, a stormy cliffside, or a rehearsal space before a major audition).
• Use internal dialogue to reveal the push and pull of fear versus hope.
• Include one symbolic detail or object (a broken compass, an unfinished letter, a crumpled photograph) that mirrors or contrasts with the character’s journey.
• End the scene with the character taking a deliberate action—no matter how small—that signals their choice.
Part 3: Evaluation Criteria
Strong responses will:
1. Emotional Conflict: Make the reader feel the stakes of the character’s choice, balancing external circumstances with an internal emotional struggle.
2. Introspective Depth: Skillfully depict the character’s thoughts and emotions with specificity and clarity, avoiding overexplaining or vagueness.
3. Symbolism: Incorporate a meaningful symbolic element that resonates with the theme of fear, suffering, and dreams.
Weak responses may:
• Depict fear and hope in ways that feel clichéd or overly abstract, without grounding them in specific details.
• Rely too much on surface action or dialogue, neglecting the character’s internal journey.
• Include a symbolic element that feels arbitrary, irrelevant, or disconnected from the character’s emotional arc.
Part 4: Follow-Up Workshopping and Revision Questions
1. Emotional Resonance: Does the character’s emotional journey feel compelling and believable? Are the stakes high enough?
2. Clarity of Motivation: Are the character’s fears and dreams clearly communicated? How could they be sharpened?
3. Symbolism: Is the symbolic object or image well-integrated into the scene? Does it deepen the reader’s understanding of the character’s journey?
4. Setting and Mood: Does the location enhance the character’s conflict? Are sensory details used effectively?
5. Ending: Does the character’s final action feel earned and impactful?
Part 5: Recommended Reading
Excerpt: “The Swimmer” by John Cheever
In this story, Neddy Merrill embarks on a journey through neighborhood pools, which serves as a symbolic and literal odyssey. Cheever uses setting, symbolism, and introspection to explore themes of ambition, denial, and the passage of time, mirroring the balance between hope and suffering central to this exercise.
Example Responses
Strong Response:
A young musician sits backstage at a national competition, clutching a battered notebook of compositions—a gift from her late father. The setting—a narrow, dimly lit hallway—mirrors her sense of entrapment. As fear paralyzes her, she remembers her father’s words, written in the margins: “Mistakes are better than silence.” The notebook becomes a symbol of permission to fail, and with trembling hands, she steps onto the stage.
Weak Response:
A writer debates whether to submit their first novel but expresses their fear in generic terms: “I’m scared of rejection.” The setting—a coffee shop—feels incidental, with no description connecting it to the character’s mood. The symbolic object, a laptop, adds no deeper meaning, and the story ends abruptly with the character simply hitting “send” on an email, offering little insight into their emotional growth.
This exercise challenges students to create layered, emotionally rich characters while experimenting with metaphor and symbolism, fostering growth in both craft and storytelling.
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