First, a coaching comment: My best coaches and critique partners have been those who ask great questions. Michael Gamer, Art Holcomb, Deanna Brady, Troy Lambert, Katie Weiland, Todd Gallowglas, Don Campbell, Alycia Crane, all were great at spotting what wasn’t working. All offered opinions or suggestions to fix a problem. But the reason each of them comes to mind immediately is they way each would ask insightful questions that reframed the problem for me. Honestly, their suggestions often didn’t fit with what I was trying to accomplish with the story— because it wasn’t their story. It was mine.
And every one of them recognized that and reminded me of that, in their own idiosyncratic ways. They knew their questions carried more freight than their suggestions.
My own clients tell me the same thing, and I am honored: I would rather ask the question that bursts the dam and releases a flood of creativity than offer a solution that patches a tiny leak in a story.
(Although I’m happy to do both as needed!)
As for a midpoint moment in my own life: I am in one now. After 35 years of building a life and a creative career in Los Angeles, I am moving to the Pacific Northwest to help care for my in-laws (whom I love). It will mean starting over in so many ways, and I’m a bit past where the midpoint revelation ought to go in a story (unless I live an unusually long story).
Everything Jim Bell says in that book applies to a life’s midpoint too. (Say hi to Jim when you see him, we don’t do the same conferences anymore, I guess)
I am one of those people who are waiting eagerly, but I know your book will be worth the wait :)
Congrats on all the progress you've made so far! I hate writing middles so I know how difficult that midpoint magic is hard to find.
First, a coaching comment: My best coaches and critique partners have been those who ask great questions. Michael Gamer, Art Holcomb, Deanna Brady, Troy Lambert, Katie Weiland, Todd Gallowglas, Don Campbell, Alycia Crane, all were great at spotting what wasn’t working. All offered opinions or suggestions to fix a problem. But the reason each of them comes to mind immediately is they way each would ask insightful questions that reframed the problem for me. Honestly, their suggestions often didn’t fit with what I was trying to accomplish with the story— because it wasn’t their story. It was mine.
And every one of them recognized that and reminded me of that, in their own idiosyncratic ways. They knew their questions carried more freight than their suggestions.
My own clients tell me the same thing, and I am honored: I would rather ask the question that bursts the dam and releases a flood of creativity than offer a solution that patches a tiny leak in a story.
(Although I’m happy to do both as needed!)
As for a midpoint moment in my own life: I am in one now. After 35 years of building a life and a creative career in Los Angeles, I am moving to the Pacific Northwest to help care for my in-laws (whom I love). It will mean starting over in so many ways, and I’m a bit past where the midpoint revelation ought to go in a story (unless I live an unusually long story).
Everything Jim Bell says in that book applies to a life’s midpoint too. (Say hi to Jim when you see him, we don’t do the same conferences anymore, I guess)