In this recent Fool & the Page interview with author Carolyn Cohagan, we chatted about her new novel Ida and the Unfinished City, how Carolyn creates both thorny characters and spooky creatures, how she’s learned to come home to the power of telling her own story, and much, much more—plus, we pulled King of Swords as an ally and creative guide.
This card invites you to consider: What is my unique power as a storyteller? As a truth teller?
Oh, and how can I sink into that power, as opposed to questioning it? How can I write boldly and bravely?
Challenge a character who thinks they know everything and encourage them to tell the truth!
It’s fun to rethink our way into story alongside an overly confident character. Even the strongest characters falter—and they have to! Otherwise, we wouldn’t be so interested in them.
Even the characters we know so well can struggle to see things clearly—a notion that inspired Carolyn and I to create the prompts below. Writing these characters’ journeys into truth can teach us a lot about the story as a whole, and maybe even something about ourselves as creatives, as storytellers, and truth tellers.
Imagine a character—from your work-in-progress, or someone who wanders into your head right now—who is a know-it-all. Think self-assured, confident, unafraid.
Tell us everything about how they look, dress, move. How do they smell? How do they speak? Give us the details. Write for eight minutes.
Now present that character with something totally unexpected—it could be scary (a house everyone claims is haunted), or challenging (a confrontation with another character), or surprising (maybe something isn’t quite as they thought it was), and they have to DEAL. Write a scene in which they're forced to confront this unexpected happening and navigate that weirdness. How does their arrogance get in the way? Write for nine minutes.
How does that character find a way to tell the truth after this whole experience? How do they communicate to the world—and that includes themselves—that they've learned something? Or accepted something? Or learned to face themselves? Write a scene in which this character owns up to the truth, letting this character lead you down whatever winding path comes with it. Write for eight minutes.
Take a deep breath. Sit up tall. Stretch your arms to the sky. Thank yourself for taking the time out to write and reflect!
How did it go? Did you dig it? Subscribe to The Fool & the Page for more guided writing and cosmic conversation.