The trolley problem

a writers dilemma

The Trolley Problem is a famous ethical dilemma.

Here’s how it goes:

Five people are tied to a railway track, and a runaway trolley (i.e. a railcart) is racing towards them.

You *just happen* to be standing near a lever that, if pulled, will switch the trolley to another track… Only problem is that track has a person tied to it.

Basically you have to decide:

Do you let five people die or sacrifice one?

The trolley problem is about weighing the consequences of action versus inaction but I think the larger, just as obvious and true to life point is that:

Whatever you do, you can’t please everyone.

Even if you save 5 people, someone’s not going to be happy!

This applies in less life-and-death settings too. Like writing for example.

If you’ve ever gone onto Goodreads, you’ll quickly see that the same book can get a one star review and it can get a five star review. Some people will think it’s the greatest thing ever written, and others are complaining how it arrived late in the mail. Some people think it was funny or sad or heartwarming, others are like ‘this writer’s a total try hard’.

It’s not that the book changes—it’s that the reader does.

I love the idea of writing something everyone will love – on the surface, it’s a good aim. But also, unrealistic.

Trying to write something everyone will love is often just a way of avoiding the fear or the vulnerability or discomfort of writing something that some people will hate.

I remind myself of this, as I’m slogging through the first draft of an awful thing that I love and hate, am pleased with and know to be terrible all at once.

Got a favourite ethical dilemma? I’m keen to hear.

Happy writing,

Katherine