We all know that conflict is the difficulty between the hero and
heroine that threatens to keep them from getting together. It’s as simple as
that.
What we need to decide is what will cause our hero and heroine
to be at odds with the other? What inhibits them from being too content? It all
boils down to, what are they disagreeing about? Another important question is,
what does the hero and heroine have at risk? Once you ask that question be sure to ask, why
is this situation so critical to each of them? Oh, but more important, why is it important to
your reader?
So many people believe we show conflict by creating intense arguments
or shouting matches, but two people can be locked in opposition without ever
raising their voices, and they can also dispute nonstop without ever tackling the
issue.
If an event delays the hero’s or heroine’s progress toward a
goal it is only an incident. Consider this, if another character distracts the
heroine to resolve an unconnected situation, and this distraction keeps her
from confronting the hero, that’s not conflict.
The one I hate the most is the story that tries using the ‘misunderstanding
each other,’ as conflict. Think about
it, drawing the wrong assumption, jumping to conclusions, or wrongly judging
one another are not instances of conflict.
They are merely the hero and heroine’s failure to communicate and make
themselves understood.
There is also the writer that uses the problematic interference
of another person. Keep in mind that if the intrusion of another character
causes glitches, your hero might appear passive and unable to take charge or
stand up for himself or the heroine.
This is not how we want to our reader to perceive the hero.
I don’t know about you, but I think in a relationship the hero
should always be attracted to the heroine.
Oh, he might not want to find her quirky and irresistible, but that’s
part of the conflict. The extreme of his
unwillingness to admit that the heroine is attractive doesn’t work. Characters wrangling
internally to not admit there is attraction
can work, but keep in mind with this conflict lies triggering motives why it
seems wrong or reckless to fall in love with this person.
So, you see, even when creating conflict you need to make sure
it’s believable. Just creating two
people who do nothing but argue, disagree, quarrel, dispute, bicker, and fight
attraction does not create believable conflict. Always keep in mind there has to
be a reason the hero and heroine are disagreeing. Be sure to address, what does the hero and
heroine have at risk? Once you ask those
questions be sure to ask, why is this situation critical to each of them? And never forget to ask, why is it important
to your reader?
I sort of think that the conflict arising out of miscommunication and other people inserted has been a major problem for beginning writers from the get-go. Thanks for pointing out that it doesn't really work, and as in real life, conflict goes much deeper.
ReplyDeleteYou're right...conflict goes much deeper. If the conflict isn't strong enough - I think we just let the reader down. Thanks for your comment. :) Rita
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