Inventing Reality: A Guide to Writing Science Fiction
Emotional disturbance
Often a story is not about defending the world from some outside menace (see out-of-whack event) or about obtaining some item (see macguffin) but is about overcoming some internal, man vs. himself struggle. In science fiction workshops, this type of storyline is called an emotional disturbance.
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. define an “emotional disturbance” as “when a character’s inner state is unstable and he must do something to restore equilibrium.” In short, to solve the main problem of the story, the main character must undergo an inner journey of self-discovery and change.
A common example of an emotional disturbance is Luke Skywalker’s journey from self-doubting farm boy to a confident Jedi knight, as seen in “Star Wars IV-VI.” Skywalker garners skills and a deeper understanding of the universe – and himself along the way – through the mentoring of Obi-wan Kenobi and Yoda. These experiences cause him to grow intellectually and spiritually.
Often stories that center on an emotional disturbance include an out-of-whack event or a macguffin. Skywalker wouldn’t have experienced an emotional disturbance if not for an out-of-whack event – the rebel theft of the Death Star blueprints – that set the movie series into motion. In quest novels, such as “The Lord of the Rings”, the seeking of an object often sends the main character on a journey that parallels his internal struggle and growth. Usually the main character must overcome some internal flaw in order for the out-of-whack event to be resolved or for the object to be recovered.
Sometimes, however, the emotional disturbance is the reason the out-of-whack event occurs. This typically occurs in stories where he main character falls, and we learn through his descent about the nature of good and evil. Such is the case in “Star Wars III” in which Anakin Skywalker’s gradually shift to the dark side helps cause the collapse of the Republic.
You Do It
Look back at the story openers you wrote for that involved an out-of-whack event and a macguffin. Now add to one of the openers (or rewrite it if necessary) to incorporate and emotional disturbance.