Unthinkable Options Are Still Options

In writing, as in life, we are often in situations that have countless options. In life, we are told to consider all of our options and choose the best one. We don't always do that, though. And in writing, we especially don't have to.

Suppose a guy thinks a woman is attractive, but he is terribly shy. What options does he have? He could go up to her and pretend to be a cocky bastard. He could approach her and be a cool, regular person. He could do nothing and silently pine for her, praying that she will come forward and approach him.

Now, are those his only options? Of course not. There are nearly limitless things he could do. Some of them, though, are unthinkable. He could go home and slit his wrists because death is so much easier than dealing with the petty bullshit of life. He could kidnap her and rape her. We're nont allowed to tell those ones though. They're bad and wrong and horrible. Beyond unspeakable, they are unthinkable.

No matter how vile and disgusting these things are to consider, they are still options. Are they good options for life? Hell no. But they're still options. They're always options. And if you are writing a story, your characters can exercise these options. Sometimes, people do horrible things. It happens in life. It can happen in stories, too.

Not every story has to be pleasant and use upstanding citizens. Not every story has to star the scum of the earth either. I'm not saying that you should write about these options. You could go your entire life and never have your characters do anything so terrible. What I am saying is that they are still options. And if you are going to consider your options, you should consider all of your options, even the unthinkable ones.