“In the end, what plot must do is twist our hearts in some way. It must change us. It must make us realize that we are alive. We must care about the music of what happens. One thing leads to the next. And the issues of the human heart unfold in front of us. Such, then, is plot. Anything can happen, even nothing at all. And even if nothing happens, the world still changes, second by second, word by word. Perhaps this is the most astounding plot of all.” (Colum McCann , Letters to a Young Writer)
Writing Exercise: The Music of What Happens
Key Writing Development Techniques:
1. Emotional Causality – Strong plots don’t merely progress; they generate emotional shifts in both characters and readers. Events must reverberate internally, creating a sense of inevitability and consequence.
2. Transformation Through Stillness or Action – Movement in a story isn’t limited to dramatic events. A moment of silence, a subtle shift in awareness, or a seemingly insignificant decision can carry as much weight as major action.
3. Interconnectedness of Plot and Character – A compelling plot is not just a sequence of actions but a revelation of human longing, conflict, and change. Every event, even a quiet one, must shape the inner life of the character.
500-Word Writing Prompt:
Write a scene in which two characters share a space—an empty diner late at night, a hospital waiting room, a stalled train car—but seem to be doing nothing at all. There is no overt action or major revelation. Instead, the emotional undercurrents shift subtly, creating a transformation that the characters may not even consciously acknowledge.
One character carries an unspoken burden (guilt, grief, longing, or resentment). The other character, whether through presence, a single spoken line, or a small gesture, causes a shift in perception. By the end of the scene, something has changed—not in what has happened, but in how one or both characters feel about what has not happened.
Evaluation Criteria:
1. Emotional Weight Without Explicit Drama – A strong response conveys tension, subtext, and transformation through nuance rather than exposition or melodrama. Weak responses rely on explaining feelings rather than evoking them through action, dialogue, and sensory detail.
2. Authenticity of Change – The character’s shift—however small—must feel earned. Strong responses allow the change to emerge naturally from the interaction, while weak ones impose it artificially or make it too obvious.
3. The “Music” of the Moment – The scene should have rhythm, restraint, and momentum despite its quiet nature. A weak response will feel stagnant, while a strong one will create a sense of movement even in stillness.
Follow-Up Questions for Workshopping/Revision:
• Does the emotional shift feel organic, or does it feel forced?
• How does the scene’s quietness contribute to (or detract from) its tension?
• What would happen if a single line of dialogue were removed or altered?
• How does pacing influence the impact of the moment?
• Does the setting contribute meaningfully to the emotional undercurrents?
Recommended Reading:
• Fires by Raymond Carver – A masterclass in understatement and emotional weight beneath the surface.
• Runaway by Alice Munro – Stories where profound change happens in the subtlest of ways.
• The Bear Came Over the Mountain by Alice Munro – A quiet yet devastating progression of emotion and memory.
This exercise demands restraint, control, and precision. Writers must trust that even “nothing happening” is an event if rendered with depth and clarity.
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