My job is thick with jargon. It’s packed with enough specialty terms, acronyms and lingo to quickly gum up your brain. So when I heard the phrase “human-centered design,” I figured it was not only another buzzword to cram into my cranium, but a ridiculous one at that. Human­-centered design? As opposed to what, cat-centered design?

But then I started learning about it. And I started seeing how valuable it was in problem-solving. Instead of looking at the problem, with human-centered design you start with the person. After all, most problems don’t exist on their own—they’re problems because they negatively impact human beings. (Or, cats, if you’re talking about a cat-centered design project.) Human-centered design is about empathy, first and foremost. And that’s something I can definitely get behind, jargon or no.

Great, but what’s that got to do with writing? Well, what’s writing a manuscript besides solving one set of problems after another? As a writer, you have all sorts of decisions to make with character and plot, word choices and voice, and each presents its own problems and opportunities. Who hasn’t stared at that blinking cursor on your work-in-progress and thought, “What do I do now?”

Unfortunately, human-centered design can’t answer that question for you. But using a human-centered design mindset can help. According to IDEO, the organization that came up with human-centered design, there are seven mindsets, or mantras to keep in mind as you use this approach to problem solving. I think they apply really well to writing. Check it out.

Empathy: Empathize with the characters in your story. Take time to truly understand their perspectives, their goals and desires, their needs. That understanding will not only help guide your work, it will also make your characters more real. And, be empathetic with yourself too. Writing is hard. Take care of you.

Optimism: Know that you will find your way through this story. You will find the words. Even if you don’t know how right now, you’ll figure it out.

Embrace ambiguity: It’s okay not to know everything about your manuscript. It’s okay to be super uncomfortable about that. Sometimes in the trembling, awkward space of not-knowing, creative things can happen.

Make it: Write. Just write. Let that crappy first draft fly, just get the words down.

Learn from failure: There are some mistakes in that crappy first draft? Shake it off. Fix what isn’t working and move forward. Your next manuscript will be better for it. Heck, this manuscript will be better for it.

Creative confidence: You. Are. Creative. You will come up with a creative way to answer the questions in your manuscript. And others are creative too. Your critique partners are an excellent source to draw from if your creative well is running dry.

Iterate, iterate, iterate: Every time you pick up the pen or put your fingers to the keyboard, you’re bringing more experience to the table. The first manuscript might not get published, nor your second. But every time you try you learn, grow and improve your craft.

© 2018 Rachel Martin. All Rights Reserved.