3 Golden Questions

“Where is the problem? What is the problem? Why is the problem?” the neurosurgeon said, his eyes piercing his spectacles.

The year was 2001 when I heard these three questions for the first time.

As a fresh neurosurgical trainee at CMC Vellore, I felt that the questions were superficial, even frivolous. But unknown to my naïve ears, the three “simple” questions were loaded!

Because, while trying to answer them in earnest, I would discover the foundational knowledge needed to determine the location, nature, and cause of neurological problems — knowledge that is held in high esteem by neurosurgeons and neurologists world-wide.

As years passed, I acquired this vast and wonderful knowledge through deep study and by examining thousands of patients. Finally, the three questions that had set me upon this lengthy adventure got etched in my mind as the Three Golden Questions.

Let’s fast forward to the early twenty-teens.

By now, I was immersed in the craft of writing stories and had turned a gray hair (or more).

At this juncture, I heard a whisper that if one merges two disparate disciplines elegantly, the “idea-babies” born will be truly unique. So I wondered…

Can I create an idea-baby by merging my two passions: neurosurgery and writing?

The answer came to me one snowy evening, when I was not really pondering this conundrum. The neurosurgeon in me gently prodded the writer-me to pen stories through the lens of the Three Golden Questions: Where, What, Why!

The thought took root, and an idea-baby was born! Allow me to share it with you.

Using the Three Golden Questions as guides, we will construct the scaffolding for the basic unit of a story — called “Scene”.

Where is the scene (happening)? aka the “Setting”.

Is the setting appropriate for the mood (or tone) of that scene? In books and movies you’ve read and seen, you might have noticed that happy scenes occur in warm, colorful places, while scary (and suspenseful) scenes usually take place in dark, bleak locales.

Here’s an example from a Stephen King novel that I love — “The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.” 

By cleverly matching the setting with its scene, adept writers suck readers into the story world, inviting them to conjure up images & emotions, thus elevating the reading experience beyond the words on a page.

What is (happening in) the scene?

Is it a fast-paced action scene? Or is it a slower scene in which characters chat in a tavern with a crackling fire, drink ale, as they reflect upon their life and motivations? Does the scene bring characters together or drive a wedge between them?

Or is it a landmark scene that deflects the trajectory of the story, propelling characters along paths uncharted, dangerous, and sometimes bizarre?

While the “Where?” creates the atmosphere of a scene, deliberating the “What?” forces the writer to add depth & nuance to the plot, characters, and dialogue — all of which are important building blocks of a story.

Why is the scene (there)?

Does the scene move the story forward? Does it deepen the central conflict of the story? And does the scene fit well within the context of the overarching story?

At times, when a scene I’ve written does not justify its “Why”, that scene gets deleted, no matter how much I love the prose. In other words, I don’t hesitate to “kill my darlings”.

If this article inspired you to write stories (either professionally or just for fun), but you’re not sure where to begin, click the picture below and download a free PDF.

In this PDF you’ll find my top 10 book recommendations for creating Captivating Characters and Nail-biting Plots. This foundational knowledge will hold you in good stead at each step of your writerly journey. All the best!

And if you are a medical student or a physician interested in understanding the basics of the human nervous system, click the picture below to download a free PDF.

This PDF contains my top 3 book recommendations to study the nervous system in a simple and systematic manner. Wish you the best!

Thanks for reading & have a great day,

A. David Singh