Great Story—Stupid Decision

Have you ever noticed how all the best stories ever written are based on some really stupid decisions? Why did Don Quixote think he was doing the right thing by charging a spinning windmill? Did Captain Ahab actually think he had a chance in a fight against a massive whale while riding on a wooden ship and using a metal tipped pole as a weapon? Everyone loves Alice in Wonderland, but seriously, she was clueless. What child whose brain is even partially functional would follow a talking rabbit into a dark hole in the ground?

True, the examples I mentioned are all fabricated characters, but that really doesn’t matter. If Don Quixote had made the correct decision and realized the windmill was not a dragon, he may have spent the rest of his life with Dulcinea, but then no one would have ever heard of him. All Ahab needed to do was admit that a big fish bested him and ate his leg. He should have moved on with his life. Instead, he and his crew became fish food. Great story based on a really poor decision. And last but not least, we have Alice. The only thing I can say to her is, “Drugs kill.”

Granted, my previous examples are all imaginary characters, but that doesn’t make my point any less valid. I’d be happy to replace my fictitious crew for some real people. Davey Crocket might be a good place to start. There were a lot of capable explorers and trailblazers during his time, but he’s the one that Disney immortalized in movies and on TV. What Walt left out was that Davey was fighting at the Alamo because he had made some bad financial decisions as a senator and thought it would earn him some quick cash. Not the wisest move he ever made.

We can move up the timeline for a few years and stop at the battle of the Little Bighorn. General George Armstrong Custer, known as the boy general, was a very effective leader during several major Civil War battles. Unfortunately for him, fighting an organized military differs greatly from battling a militia style force. The General was more interested in regaining his previous glory by winning a resounding victory than listening to his advisors. He made a classic blunder by dividing his troops into three sections. Then he placed them at too great a distance to back each other up. We all know how the rest of the story ended.

This pattern of successful and intelligent people making stupid decisions leading to disastrous results repeats itself throughout history. Ceaser didn’t have to cross the Rubicon, but he wanted to become emperor. Napoleon knew it was a bad idea to attack Russia in the winter, but his lust for power was too strong. Richard Nixon was about to end the Vietnam War and would have been re-elected on that alone. He didn’t need Watergate, but once again, a stupid decision has been the inspiration for countless numbers of marvelous stories.

By now, you are probably wondering where I’m going with this story, so it’s time for the great revelation. When creating a story, be it fiction, sci-fi, romantic comedy, history, even memoirs, think of the dumbest, most improbable situation your character might find him or herself in and put them in it. Dumb decisions sell because it’s what people do. How many times have you read a James Bond or Jack Reacher novel and asked yourself, “who would do that?” Then, you keep reading to the end and start another book in the series. Great stories come from stupid decisions!