“When you focus on the process, the desired product takes care of itself with fluid ease. When you focus on the product, you immediately begin to fight yourself and experience boredom, restlessness, frustration, and impatience with the process.” (Thomas M. Sterner, The Practicing Mind)
A Craft Prompt for Shifting Focus from Outcome to Experience
Below is a detailed exercise designed to help experienced writers explore character development by shifting emphasis from an imagined perfect outcome to a vibrant, organic creative process. The quotation by Thomas M. Sterner serves as a reminder that focusing on the process yields a naturally unfolding product, while obsessing over the end result can stifle creativity. In this exercise you will practice three key techniques:
1. Embracing process over product. Allow your writing to unfold naturally rather than forcing a predetermined outcome.
2. Cultivating authenticity through internal exploration. Let your character’s internal life guide the narrative instead of relying on external plot mechanics.
3. Accepting imperfection as part of growth. Use your writing session to explore messy, authentic moments of creation without the pressure of immediate polish.
Below is a 500-word writing prompt. In this prompt, you are asked to craft a scene that embodies these techniques. Aim to complete your piece within a 2-hour writing session.
Imagine a character who is deeply engaged in a creative pursuit—be it painting, writing, composing music, or any form of art that demands both passion and vulnerability. Begin your scene at a moment when the character is overwhelmed by the urge to produce a masterpiece, fixating on the final product and the expectations that come with it. Let the narrative open with the character’s inner turmoil: describe the tension, the racing thoughts, and the mounting frustration as they struggle to capture an elusive perfect vision.
As the scene unfolds, introduce a turning point where the character consciously shifts their attention away from the looming product. Illustrate this change through a sensory or emotional trigger—a sudden change in light, the soft sound of a familiar melody, or an unexpected memory that reminds them of a simpler joy in creation. Focus on their internal monologue as they begin to explore the act of creating for its own sake. Use vivid, concrete details to depict how their hands move, how colors blend on a canvas, or how words start to spill onto a blank page without judgment.
As the creative process takes over, let your character experience a growing sense of ease and fluidity. Show how the tension gradually gives way to an immersive state of flow. Capture fleeting moments of doubt alongside bursts of inspiration. In your scene, allow imperfections to emerge naturally—smudges on the canvas, misaligned notes in a melody, or awkward phrases in a draft—yet let these imperfections become part of the evolving beauty of the moment.
Conclude your scene by reflecting on the transformation: the character no longer battles against themselves but instead embraces the process as a rewarding journey. Ensure that by the end, the reader feels the genuine relief and creativity that come from letting go of the product and surrendering to the act of creation itself.
Throughout your piece, concentrate on the internal experience rather than merely describing external events. Let your writing be an act of discovery, much like the character’s journey toward accepting imperfection. Use the tension between striving for an ideal and finding joy in the moment to add depth and authenticity to your character’s development.
Evaluation Criteria:
A successful response will vividly depict the character’s internal conflict and gradual transformation from product fixation to process immersion. It will incorporate sensory detail, dynamic internal monologue, and authentic imperfections that enhance the creative moment rather than detract from it. The narrative should feel organic and engaging, avoiding heavy-handed exposition while allowing the character’s internal journey to drive the scene.
Follow-Up Workshop Questions:
• Does the scene clearly show the transition from frustration to creative flow?
• How effectively do the sensory details and internal monologue convey the character’s inner experience?
• In what ways might the tension between process and product be deepened or clarified further?
Recommended Reading Excerpt:
Consider reading the opening passages of Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. Notice how Woolf’s focus on the inner life and subtle sensory shifts guides the narrative and character development, serving as a prime example of process-oriented writing.
Strong responses will immerse the reader in the character’s experience with fluid, evocative language and clear internal evolution. Weak responses, by contrast, may resort to overt summary or clichéd internal dialogue that fails to capture the organic unfolding of the creative process.
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