“All sorts of things occur to help one that would otherwise never have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man would have believed would have come his way.” (Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way)
Writing Exercise: The Ripple Effect of a Decision
Key Writing Practice Development Techniques Illustrated by the Quotation:
1. Cause-and-Effect Characterization: The quotation suggests that a single decision can trigger an unforeseen sequence of events. Strong character development hinges on understanding how a choice—whether bold or hesitant—creates ripples in a character’s life.
2. Dynamic, Unpredictable Plot Progression: The idea that circumstances align in unexpected ways emphasizes the organic, sometimes chaotic, nature of storytelling. Writers should practice allowing their narratives to evolve in ways that feel both surprising and inevitable.
3. Interpersonal and Environmental Response: The quotation highlights how external forces—people, settings, and chance encounters—react to a character’s choices. Writers must craft responses that feel authentic, not contrived, showing how the world pushes back or opens up based on decisions made.
500-Word Writing Prompt:
Write a scene in which your protagonist makes a single, decisive choice—one they cannot take back. This choice should be seemingly small (e.g., answering a phone call, turning left instead of right, lending money to a stranger) but should set off an unexpected chain of events.
The scene should unfold in real time, following the immediate consequences of the decision. Within these 500 words, explore:
• How the choice subtly alters the character’s mindset (anticipation, regret, anxiety, exhilaration).
• At least one external consequence—an encounter, a shift in setting, or a sudden realization—that wouldn’t have happened otherwise.
• A moment of reflection where the character begins to sense that something larger is in motion, whether they welcome it or fear it.
Avoid excessive explanation or heavy foreshadowing; instead, let the momentum of the moment guide the reader naturally toward the next development.
Evaluation Criteria for a Strong Response:
• Authentic Decision-Making: The protagonist’s choice should arise naturally from their character’s existing desires, fears, or habits—not feel random or forced.
• Unfolding Consequences: The aftermath of the decision should feel organic and compelling, not overly dramatic or coincidental. The best responses will suggest a domino effect without revealing all the dominos at once.
• Subtle Psychological Depth: The protagonist should not just observe external changes but also register an internal shift, however slight, in their outlook or expectations.
• Controlled Prose: Every sentence should contribute to the scene’s momentum, using precise details and sensory descriptions rather than summarizing or rushing to explain.
Weak responses may rely on coincidence without internal logic, force the decision to seem unnaturally weighty, or fail to show any consequences beyond the immediate action.
Follow-Up Questions for Workshopping/Revision:
• Does the character’s choice feel natural and true to who they are, or does it feel like the author imposed it for the sake of the exercise?
• How well does the story reveal consequences without over-explaining or forcing a connection?
• Are there enough details (in setting, dialogue, or small moments) that suggest a larger shift is happening?
• Would the reader want to keep reading beyond these 500 words? What next questions does the scene leave open?
Recommended Reading:
“Pet Milk” by Stuart Dybek – A short story that captures how a single moment, seemingly ordinary, can open up a stream of unexpected consequences, leading to a heightened sense of possibility and change.
This exercise should take about two hours—one hour to draft, one hour to refine. The goal is to practice writing the first sparks of transformation in a character’s life without rushing to explain where it all leads.
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