MC's problem: help, control or avoidance

questions
#1

Hello.

I’m selecting my MC’s problem, but I just can’t decide between some options. Any help or comments regarding how each one would influence are appreciated.

In my story my IC is a junkie, and the MC works at a rehab center. MC makes a forced intervention to get IC into rehab under his supervision. And I want to ave only two characters, the MC and IC.

In the software the question is “Choose MC’s Problem”. “Describe the true source of MC’s personal problems”
I think it could be one of these three options (including their Gists)

A)Avoidance (preventing someone from doing something) - because MC wants to prevent IC to getting drugged and its consequences.

B)Control (limiting someone’s actions) - because it was a forced intervention.

C)Help (helping when it is not wanted) - same reason - forced intervention.

Which one would you choose and why? How it would affect the story?

Thanks.

#2

What is the dynamic opposite of avoidance? Avoidance might fit for the IC, imho.

1 Like
#3

As I understand it, the MC’s problem is something that exists outside of the story. That is to say, if your story never happened, he would still have this problem.

Maybe the way to look at it is to determine what’s driving the MC, and if he’s a Change character, what is the nature of his change.

The key is when the software says, “Describe the true source of the MC’s personal problems”. The Problem is personal to the MC. You’re thinking more in terms of the Subjective Story or perhaps even the Objective Story.

The MC Throughline is limited to the MC. In the story, there are external forces acting on the MC, and the MC will either Change or remain Steadfast.

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#4

@JSensebe:

I think now I get it. Of course it would be some possible to choose any of them. So, if I’m getting it right, regardless of the story, the MC maybe:

B)Is that guy that is always preaching/bossing others about how to do things (Control). He even tells the experts (e.g. doctors, chefs) how to do things even when he is not an expert in those fields.

C)Is the guy that always wants to help but he’s so clumsy he ends up being an annoyance. And he believes he’s helping.

Or he could be:

A)Avoidance (preventing someone from doing something). He avoids listening to others opinions, wants to do things his way, even if that means preventing others from doing something he thinks it’s wrong. In short, he avoids reality and tries to impose his point of view. All of this happened before the story and would happen if there’s no story. And because of the story he may change or remain steadfast. Right?

#5

It would make sense for him to avoid his own lacks/faults/problems/bills, if the main thing in his own life is controlling/saving others. Karl Marks’ family lived and died in abject poverty, didn’t they? If you like avoidance, it would work. If you like another, that could be manipulated. Maybe he is controlled in his personal life. Couldn’t he have some family members avoiding something? Aged parents not wanting to go to assisted living, even if their safety is at stake, comes to mind.

#6

Thanks for the help. After reading your comments and playing around a little with the software, I think I’d go with control because then the RS issue is automatically selected as denial, which may suit more my story.

When I select Avoid, the RS Issue is Hope, which maybe is not the story I want to tell.

#7

It sounds like a powerful choice, for the characters involved.