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Your professor gave you a character who's experiencing a creative block. Can you help them?

Remember to:

1. Identify the real issue (you can use the Five Whys to do this);

2. Determine ways to resolve it and overcome the block;

3. Be compassionate with your character (blocks are tricky!);

4. Use your creativity! (Divergent thinking, brainstorming, brainswarming...);

5. Share what you learn;

6. Have fun with this exercise.

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His story:

His niece is the daughter of his younger sister who is single

So he helps take care of her

They are a very close family

Chad is stressed because the bash is just before his annual trip to Florida so he has to plan 2 things

He ends up with the PTA president who helps him plan the bash

The real problem:

He is too stuck in his routine

Chad doesn’t believe in himself

Not enough confidence

He is scared to disappoint his niece and the PTA president

Solution:

Ask for help/support/feedback

Look for inspiration online/with others

Therapy (medication for OCD?)

Listen to our myth presentations (breed myth specifically)

Make friends with the PTA moms (PTA president <3)

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Karl’s Core Problem: Overthinking & Fear of Judgment

Karl is stuck in a loop of second-guessing himself. He spent a long time perfecting his presentation, but now he’s doubting everything.

What if the audience doesn’t get it?

What if they think he’s not smart enough?

What if he embarrasses himself?
Karl's real challenge isn’t his idea—it’s his fear of being judged and not being “good enough.”

What Does Karl Have in Common with Others?

Like many people, Karl wants to be seen as competent and struggles with perfectionism.

His inner critic, just like the "Doubt Demon" in the drawing, whispers all the reasons why he might fail.

He hesitates to act because his fear of failure is greater than his trust in his own ability.

New Solutions for Karl (and Others Like Him)

1. The “Name the Critic” Trick – Karl can personify his self-doubt (e.g., "Professor Overthink") and treat it like an annoying character instead of the truth.

2. Reverse the "What Ifs" – Instead of "What if I fail?" Karl can ask, "What if this presentation goes great?"

3. Confidence Through Action – Instead of thinking about the worst case, Karl can practice in front of a mirror, record himself, or present to a friend.

4. Embracing Imperfection – No presentation is perfect. Karl should focus on connection over perfection—if he communicates clearly, he’s already succeeding.

5. Set a “No More Edits” Deadline – Karl must commit to stopping tweaks by a certain time and trust himself.

Final Thought:

Karl isn’t alone in this struggle. How do your characters battle self-doubt? What solutions might work for them AND Karl?

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She is a perfectionist and most everything works out for her so she hasn’t experienced much failure and making mistakes

She’s a ceo so she has to do everything right

She’s been programmed to not take as many risks because she went to a really strict college and didn’t go out much

She didn’t have as many friends in college because she was always working so hard on her studies

Her parents pushed her really hard and they wanted her to be a lawyer like them but she didn’t want to

She wants to live up to her parents standards and wants to impress them and make them happy

She’s happy with where she’s turned out but not sure if she’s happy with the work she’s doing. She needs to find fun and satisfaction in mundane tasks. I know she’s trying to escape through a creative outlet like painting but she has to remove judgement from herself and let herself express what she’s feeling freely. She needs to find a way to get past negative self talk so that she can express herself through painting and let it be what it will be. Then maybe she’ll get back in the groove of things. Maybe she should do the painting activity with her kids to bring her joy and she may get creative thoughts through that because after all kids are super creative. She also must come to terms with mistakes being ok. Failure is a part of learning and that’s when people grow the most

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Justin believes that he is a “left-brained” individual, meaning he sees himself as logical, analytical, and not naturally creative. Because of this, he assumes that creativity is simply not a skill he possesses. However, in order to qualify for a work-study program, he must submit a creative project as part of the application process. This requirement makes him feel uncertain and even paralyzed because he has never considered himself to be a creative person. Additionally, Justin has always focused on tasks that he is already good at, reinforcing his belief that creativity is outside his abilities.

However, the idea that Justin lacks creativity may not be entirely true. To be good at everything he does, he must use problem-solving skills, adaptability, and innovative thinking—these are all aspects of creativity. Creativity is not limited to traditionally artistic activities like painting or writing; it also includes finding unique solutions to problems, thinking critically, and approaching tasks in unconventional ways. Since Justin has a strong track record of success in many areas, it is likely that he is already using creative thinking without realizing it.

Instead of seeing creativity as an innate talent that he does not possess, Justin should reframe his perspective. He can explore different forms of creativity that align with his strengths, such as developing a unique study technique, designing an efficient system for completing tasks, or even presenting data in a visually engaging way. By shifting his mindset and recognizing that creativity is not a fixed trait but a skill that can be developed, Justin can approach the work-study program’s requirements with confidence rather than fear. Through this process, he might even discover that creativity plays a larger role in his life than he ever realized.

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Karen is knee-deep in a midlife crisis. Karen had real potential as a young girl to get into theater and Broadway, but young love swept her off her feet and a one year break turned into 25 years raising her children. With Karen now being an empty nester, she longs to have the attention back on her and be someone else for the duration of a famous play.

What's the real problem?

Karen has dedicated her life to her children and lost her hobbies and interests when she was raising her children

She has left no time for her interests and hobbies and has no identity past being her children's mother

What could they do to solve it?

Read scripts and monologues from plays that you previously loved

Practice some scripts with your pets before checking out some local theater auditions

Maybe sign up to be an extra in some theater plays as a low-stake way to get into the community

Volunteer backstage to get back into the swing of things and immerse yourself

Take some improv classes or acting exercises

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Story:

Lucia is a writer and has a lot of creative ideas (like a book of poems about corn). She spends all day thinking her ideas, but can’t get them organized or out of her head and onto paper.

Problem: it seems like she’s a master procrastinator, but I think she make something super successful and is afraid to live it down by making something else

Solution: reframe her situation and realize that she already created something successful and that others liked, so there’s no risk in failing - she made it

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Jim may tend to be more introverted, possibly due to growing up as an only child. It seems that, while he is highly skilled and excels in many areas, this might lead to feelings of loneliness or alienation, especially if others around him feel jealous. Jim could benefit from becoming more humble and reflecting on his accomplishments. Visiting a museum that highlights historical disasters or tragedies could help him gain perspective and appreciation for his own life, encouraging a more grateful and grounded attitude. Cultivating humility and gratitude might improve his relationships and overall outlook. Jim can also benefit from having a girlfriend he should loosen up and open up to people because people are awesome.

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Burt’s core problem is that he comes from nothing. He lived in poverty his whole childhood so once he found his niche, comedy writing, he worked like a dog to make as much money as possible. This stress and overwork has then led to his health problems (tumor and carpal tunnel) which is leading to his block today.

The solution: He needs to do some reframing, and maybe talk to a therapist/loved ones. He had already been a part of multiple successful TV shows with CVS, and has made his money. He needs to take some time off of work to focus on his health and spending time with his family. If we wants to keep writing, he can utilize voice-to-text technology and AI to reduce his carpal tunnel pain. He can also keep listening to his Backstreet Boys. By focusing on health and family, he can unblock himself and get back to the writing he loves!

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The real issue:

She has a problem with procrastination because she is always worried that something better is on the horizon.

Deadlines are a large anxiety of hers but instead of starting early to make sure there is no issue getting it on in time, she pretends the deadline doesn't exist. Which ultimately makes her anxiety worse.

She is worried her next book won't be as successful so she is scared to start it

A lot of self-doubt. Worried she won't be able to meet her own expectations

She made the mistake of reading all the bad reviews on her first book and is now super worried about what others think

Solution:

She only has two days to get it done so she has to just start. She should use divergent thinking to get all her ideas on the page and then use convergent thinking to narrow it down. She can ask someone close to her or even her editor what they think about the ideas and then she needs to just start!! Sometimes just starting the project can help form clarity. She can try meditation or words of affirmation to calm her anxiety and remind herself of her worth.

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Desi Ner is a new architect who is has some designs she wants to present, but is scared there is something missing or if they are not good. She feels like she lacks knowledge about the industry.

Core problems

Imposter syndrome - she does not actually have trouble producing products, but rather having confidence that they are good

Lack of knowledge - she feels unmoored about the practical aspects of her industry

Solutions

Find a mentor - an older figure in the field who can provide feedback and insight into the industry

Submit her projects anyway - even though she is scared they may be lacking something, submitting her projects to competitions will provide the opportunity for feedback and a networking space where she might be able to find a mentor

Use her university resources - even though she is graduated, networking through her university could be a good way to utilize existing resources and possibly find a mentor

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24 hour challenge at a school with her friends

Fell and hit her head in the art supply back room

Can’t leave for the ER because they are committed to the bit

Wakes up and sees a bunch. Of canvases

Obsessed with them. Bought 50,000 of them and sold her family house for it. Everyone is homeless

Tries to paint with them but they aren’t good, can’t sell

Scarred by the canvas fiasco. Buys paints but is afraid of using the canvases now.

She meets a canvas manufacturer nd they fall in love. Now she has an endless supply, but they still hold slot of value to her. Pressure to perfect is real. Slowly she will open up again and continue painting?

Not a matter of inspiration but of canvas trauma

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Story: Dylan is a young Investment Banker in NYC who started DJ’ing in college as a hobby. However, due to his lack of fulfillment in his career and the vibrant NYC underground house scene, he wants to start monetizing his craft (inspired by John Summit). His apartment is a mess and disorganized due to his demanding work schedule, which is affecting his mental health. His dual life, banker by day and DJ by night, is ruining his life. He needs to commit to one or another but doesn’t know what to do!

5 Why's:

1. Trouble getting organized (shows up late to gigs, messy apartment)

2. Cannot commit to his career or his hobby (which he hopes to make a career)

3. Indecisive

4. Fear of Failure

5. Disapproving parents

Potential Solutions:

1. Wait to go pro until he has true proof of concept (his music is popular and getting streamed, large attendance at gigs)

2. If not, maintain current career and look for fulfillment (either in his career or outside the office)

3. Decide whether DJ'ing is his true passion or just a way to fill the clear void in his life

4. Implement Healthier Habits: Get more sleep, clean his bedroom, maintain a better schedule. Start small!

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5 why’s

cold feet

an entirely new life

opening a new store

becoming successful

has goals

problem: thinks too much about other people and doesn’t put herself first, thinking too far into the future and isn’t living in the present, in a toxic relationship

solve: dump chad

stop stressing about what could happen and just do it, instead of worrying about what negatives may arise think of all the positives, have the mindset if someone doesn’t want to be with you for you they don’t deserve you, this is her dream she should follow through for herself and only herself, focus on how she feels and what feels right, talk to chad if she’s that worried about it but don’t depend on his responses

reevaluate ur relationship

put chad to work

celebrate with people who are supportive

probably just jealous of her

communication is key

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by daniella

his parents went thru a messy divorce and never had control who’s house to live at or which school he’d be going to. because of that, he craves control. now he’s settled in one home for the first time in his life and doesn’t want anything to change.

solutions:

dude needs intensive therapy and longer showers he sounds like he smells

people named chad never think they need therapy so i will hypnotize him to get him there. i will also hypnotize him to bark whenever someone says his name but that’s just for fun

he needs to be shaken out of his routine. get that man on a christian dating app

he needs to go on a shopping spree

and do rejection therapy. this will probably make him start a podcast but that’s a risk we’ll have to take

get him out of whatever frat he’s in immediately

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Rosie- her problem is that she has nothing to turn in for her final creativity project.

Why? She hasn’t done any of the sketches that she was supposed to do?

Why? She forgot her sketchbook, forgot to do the work while on the train

Why? Time got away from her

Why? She’s a procrastinator

Why? She wasn’t disciplined enough

What could she do to solve them?

Stop procrastinating the project

Tweak the project to work for the time crunch

She needs to pivot

She doesn’t have much time left

There is no way to go back in time

How?

Look back at pictures that she took while traveling

Use those pictures to create sketches- the pictures were part of the ongoing creative process

Incorporate other things from that time period- such as momentos, videos, notes on her phone, etc

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Ann is afraid to publish her work because she fears it will hurt her family’s feelings, and she worries they won’t understand or criticize her, which could impact her mental health and writing confidence.

Ways to Resolve:

1. Communicate Openly: Talk to her family about her writing, its importance, and how it’s not meant to hurt them.

2. Set Boundaries: Anonymize or fictionalize certain aspects to protect her family’s privacy.

3. Seek Support: Consult with a therapist to build resilience against criticism.

4. Test Reactions: Share parts of her work with a supportive family member first.

5. Reframe the Fear: Focus on the larger societal impact her writing can have, rather than family reactions.

Compassionate Approach:

Recognize that Ann’s fear comes from love and concern. Embrace these fears without judgment, understanding that many creatives face similar struggles. Being compassionate with herself will help her move past the block.

Creative Solutions:

Anonymize: Use pseudonyms or change details to protect identities.

Trigger Warnings: Include a disclaimer about sensitive topics.

Self-Publish/Pseudonym: Publish under a different name to maintain distance.

Write a Letter: Explain her intentions to her family before publishing.

These steps can help Ann move forward with her writing while protecting her relationships and mental well-being.

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Issue: Phil and Dwain are brothers and work in a family business as carpet salesman. Phil is optimistic and has new ideas for the business but Dwain is a pessimist and therefore Phil is afraid to share his ideas with Dwain.

I think Phil needs to speak his mind and be confident and confront his brother about his ideas especially because he is already a successful salesman

Dwain needs to lose the pessimistic mindset because he is only harming himself this way as well because he is potentially hindering his creativity

Phil will probably be able to bring in more business with his new ideas and with business already booming maybe Phil can be given a budget for his new ideas

I think Phil and Dwain need to have a sit down conversation and they need to both let each other talk without one interrupting the other - they should have a talking stick to help this

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Pippa and Poppy- vegan zombie restaurant

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Pippa and Poppy- vegan zombie restaurant

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THE REAL ISSUE: wonderful vegan restaurant (All That and Dim Sum) but no one will eat bc zombie apocalypse

UNTAPPED MARKET: the zombies!

SOLUTION: sell vegan brains!

the apocalypse was started by a fungus. USE THE FUNGUS for our alternative protein

<3 ethical sustainable delicious vegan brains <3

and using the fungus means human customers can be zombies too :D

background: pippa is very energetic and sweet. she is tall and energetic

poppy is short , masc, and lowk a little mean, she runs the business while pippa does the cooking

their love will survive the apocalpsye

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(Samantha Sungs idea for an app)

Sam’s creative block stems from fear—fear of failure and fear of regret.

Why? Because she worries her app will flop.

Why? Because she’s unsure how people will receive it.

Why? Because she hasn’t tested it. Why? Because she feels she must launch it perfectly.

Why? Because she ties success to self-worth.

To break this cycle, Sam needs a mindset shift. Creativity thrives on iteration, not perfection. First, she should brainstorm wild, no-pressure versions of her app—what if it were a game? A social experiment? A parody? This playful approach can reignite her passion. Next, she should release a tiny test version (a “minimum viable product”) to get real feedback. To make it fun, she can frame it as a challenge: “Can I get 10 strangers to try this?” Lastly, she should remind herself that even “failures” teach valuable lessons.

Sam, your idea is brilliant—but brilliance means nothing if it stays in your head. Take the leap!

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Story

Patent attorney

Mother of three

Volunteers at animal shelter

Works to organize town festival every year

Plays marimba in a small jazz band

Wants to write music

Claims she doesn’t have time to

Believes her community needs her

ADDED: Mother is the old mayor of the town and ran it near perfectly in Anita’s eyes

Why she’s blocked

Carries the weight of others’ success

Constant comparison to her mother fueling her self-imposed need to make an impact on the community

Comparison to the creative people she’s working on patents for and fear that she’ll never amount to what they’ve created

All of this overwhelms her and destroys her intrinsic motivation to create something new

Solutions

Therapy! Definitely therapy!

A real conversation with her mother explaining her self doubt and hopefully clearing the air and being reassured by her mom that she should become her own person and leave behind her own legacy

Figure out how to separate work life and individual life

Comparison is the thief of joy.

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This is a representation of Myrtle, very sad due to the circumstances but persistent nonetheless 

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Myrtle:

-Amazing playwright, mad goated

-Approaching her prime, half way through a masterpiece

-Sadly, her husband passed away unexpectedly from an illness

-Burt was the husband, he was a comedian and super funny and the love of her life

-she now has writers block

Solution

-definitely some sort of grief therapy to help her deal with losing Burt

-she’s really gonna miss Burt

-she can incorporate some elements of Burt’s comedy into her play as a memorial for him

-dedicate the play to Burt

- continue writing plays because it makes her happy and she she’s good at it, but implement challenges to help her enter a flow state

-for example, implementing Burt’s comedy into her plays can be a challenge for her

-she can eternalize Burt’s legacy through her plays

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Toby Lerone is an inventor with a brilliant idea for a new kind of chocolate that will be a huge hit in international airports. He has spent 18 years researching in his free time yet has not gotten around to actually prototyping, testing, or producing… what if this is his only good idea and it’s a bomb?

Well….

He worked many years in the factory of Willy Wonka and realized international airports were the one place their chocolates never sold. He wondered, why? So he spent those long 18 years researching and exploring different departments of the factory. He feels too dedicated to the factory to leave, yet too scared to propose his idea to them so it can be prototyped and tested. So one day, he takes some chocolate home, and mixes it with some random ingredients in his house that are seemingly staple items cross culturally. For example, salt, butter, milk, rice, nuts, and so much more. He realizes many of them taste weird, yet some taste delectable. Hmm. Maybe one day, after he perfects his recipe, he’ll add lots of new flavors! He also had a random inclination.. how else will people know this chocolate bar is not like the others? The SHAPE. Why make it a classic rectangular chocolate bar when there are SO many more shapes? He pondered and pondered for weeks. What could be a good shape? Circles? Done. Squares? Basic. Hmm…. TRIANGLES?! Brilliant. He presents the idea to the factory, with taste testers of the chocolate he made from the ingredients of the factory mixed with his own, out of a triangle shaped cheese grater he used to chill them so they would hold their shape. While Willy wonka loved the chocolate, and told Toby he was going to go far, the rest of the team said they didn’t have it in their budget after the new Willy wonka movie with Timothy chalamet had come out and changed their rep and focus, warping the true backstory of the factory. Sales were too low to add another bar. So wonka gave Toby a donation to start off.. and he had to make a name for HIMSELF, and his chocolate bar.

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Frank Lee, talented singer specializes in love songs. He’s about to sing his love song, but he right befire he goes on stage, his girlfriend Abby texts, “we need to talk.”

What do you think the real problem is? How can he solve this?

He’s assuming the worst-case scenario. Not discrediting the fact that it could also be the most likely one. But he needs to lock in and be able to perform on stage and showcase his talents.

After the performance though, he needs to follow up with Abby and go from there (maybe suggest a place to meet up?) I also recommend he sends the love-song he performed (assuming it was written about her). These are some solutions I came up with.

Maybe she’s texting about him about a plethora of things: Winning the lottery, being pregnant, etc. (Not a breakup convo just yet!)

If Abby does break up with him, it shouldn’t affect what he’s passionate about. If he wants to be a love singer he should pursue that and after some time, seek a new girlfriend.

Comparing to other characters:

All are facing a social (husband passing away, not fitting in with others, etc.)

Solution: Seek help from others (help pour thoughts into the solution)

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problem:

needs sleep and is not getting enough sleep

needs to work and is not getting enough work done

An early bird - can only work in the morning

Morning constraint - kids wake up early and he helps them get ready for school while he needs to work

Night constraint - kids keep him busy so he can’t go to sleep early

Root cause analysis results:

He’s a busy busy dude, doesn’t have an organized enough schedule, and isn’t encouraging independence in his kids

Solutions:

reorganize his/kids’ schedules so down time can happen earlier and therefore so can sleep

Pack their school lunches/prepare breakfast (as much as is reasonably possible) around dinner/clean up time. Have them help with cleaning and cooking a little bit to make the processes go a bit faster

Wake up a bit earlier than your kids!

Once they wake up, they have a gamified self-led morning routine that can be mostly done on their own while working

This way, you get alone time in the mornings, your schedule is less overwhelming, everyone is getting enough sleep, and the kids are learning more responsibility and developing a strong sense of self-efficacy! Win/win

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Rowan is feeling stressed

He is not doing work for himself anymore but for other people; this can drive you away from enjoying your own things when they're made for someone else’s amusement

He needs to find something that he can enjoy on his own and not being asked for- this can help to get rid of the pressure from society

Meaninglessness can lead to boredom and self doubt which cant happen because he’s so good and gained so much respect especially for the community he was following and supporting.

He needs to journal and write down what is meaningful to him

i think he’s just feeling overwhelmed!

how to solve:

fun started to become work- change that

ask for support from the people around you

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Priti is someone who works in marketing and for years was able to consistently come up with brilliant ideas and now has a block.

I think she is burnt out. I feel like she just needs to try new things to give her different perspectives. Also I think she could bounce ideas off of people to get more inspiration

Emily Haglin

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Story: Dan's grabdpa was a pro oboe player during his youth and took Dan to his first concert; however, he passed while Dan was a kid. Since then, Dan wasnt able to touch an oboe again. Ever since his grandpa died, Dan's life went downhill. He became his highschool's bop and ended up dropping out. Howevever, he met a girl named Hope who told him to get it together. So, he got a job as a janitor at his former highschool and has been working there ever since.

Solution: Dan should start posting daily videos on tiktok and try to go viral (perhaps create an online persona) If he posts enough on tiktok and gets his message out/tries to grow his instagram following, he'll develop a fanbase and can also start getting brand deals. While growing his following, he will be simultaneously practicing the oboe while also taking oboe lessons using the money he gets from brand deals to improve even more. From there, he can can broadcast his goal and perhaps start booking smaller gigs. Once he starts getting more recognition, he might have a shot at backup (I would also try auditionig on the low until hearing a yes).

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1. Reframing Success

Instead of comparing talent, focus on perseverance. Many talented people quit, but you pushed through challenges. That resilience is part of why you’re being recognized.

Talent alone doesn’t lead to success—execution, consistency, and dedication matter just as much.

2. Acknowledging Growth

If you feel others were more talented, consider that talent isn’t static. You’ve grown as a filmmaker through experience, learning, and hard work.

Recognition is often about impact, storytelling, and persistence rather than just raw talent.

3. Separating Self-Worth from Awards

Awards don’t determine your value as an artist, but they do acknowledge the effort and creativity you put into your work.

Instead of questioning if you deserve it, ask yourself: Did I put in the work? Did I create something meaningful? If yes, then the recognition is well-earned.