If You Want to Write a Great Story, You Have to Develop the Argument - Alan Watt

The Writer's Role: Playing Both Sides of the Argument [00:00]

• A writer's job is to explore both sides of an argument with equal integrity, not to take a binary stance [00:00]
• Storytelling involves holding two opposing thoughts simultaneously to arrive at a deeper truth [00:00]
• The Credo exercise encourages writers to explore antagonistic forces by framing a strong belief as an arguable statement [01:25]

The Credo Exercise: Finding Antagonistic Forces [02:05]

• The exercise involves writing a strong belief and then finding an opposing argument to it, which forms the basis of a story [02:05]
• This process helps connect with the antagonistic forces within a story, not just the characters [02:05]
• The movie "Dead Man Walking" is used as an example, exploring the dilemma of whether a criminal on death row should be treated equally [02:05]
• The story of "The Help" is also discussed, highlighting the societal argument for segregation and the perseverance of its author, Kathryn Stockett [04:02]

Analyzing 'Dead Man Walking' and 'The Help' Through Storytelling [05:10]

• The author's perseverance with "The Help" despite numerous rejections serves as a lesson in believing in one's creation [05:10]
• The dilemma is the source of a story and the mechanism through which theme is dramatized [05:10]
• A dilemma is a problem that cannot be solved without creating another problem, unlike an intellectual problem that can be solved [05:10]
• A protagonist struggling with a dilemma must let go of the meaning they made out of their goal to pursue what they need [08:11]

The Dark Knight of the Soul and Resolution [08:11]

• The "Dark Knight of the Soul" is when the dilemma becomes apparent to the protagonist, often experienced as a cry into the void, feeling alone or having failed [08:11]
• This stage signifies recognizing the impossibility of getting what they want with their current approach [08:11]
• Storytelling is not about whether protagonists get what they want, but whether they will die to their old identity or old meaning to pursue what they need [08:11]
• By pursuing what they need, it becomes possible to get what they want, if what they want truly belongs in their life and will be satisfying [08:11]