CHAPTER 8
CONFLICT
So now you should have some
characters in mind, not just character types. You have characters your reader will care about. However, how are you going to keep your
readers caring about your characters throughout an entire story? By giving your characters
conflict. WHAT IS CONFLICT? Conflict is defined as “opposition in a work of
drama or fiction between characters or forces (especially an opposition that
motivates the development of the plot).” Conflict (two forces in
opposition) is naturally exciting.
It challenges your characters and your readers are initially happiest
when your characters are challenged.
Why? Because they don’t
know what’s going to happen next.
It’s the unknown possibilities that are exciting and engaging. After all, if you’re writing a romance,
your reader already has an expectation that the answer to the Story Question
(will the protagonist defeat the antagonist?) will be “yes.” However, what the reader doesn’t know
is how
this will be achieved. What keeps
your readers engaged with the story is their desire to see what your characters
will do in the face of conflict. According to Lori Wilde, ”Most books start with a
bang because if you don't catch an editor or agent's interest in the first
page, they'll stop reading. You
don't want that. Some books do
start out slower but if you start slower, your writing must be very
compelling. Here's the real thing
that holds the editors/agents interest--conflict. If you can put conflict on each and every page of your
story, you've got it made.” In a romance, there are
three types of conflict that a character faces. Conflict
can be: 1.
Internal Conflict: Emotional or internal struggles. This tells us how the character feels about a particular
situation, belief, or compulsion, but often impacts how the character behaves. Therefore, a character’s internal
struggles can drive the plot; 2.
External Conflict: Situational or external struggles. Obviously, a character will outwardly
react (or maybe consciously fail to act) in response to External Conflict. However, once again, how a character
reacts to External Conflict often gives us insight into that character’s
emotional state or personality traits.
Both External and Internal Conflict drive the character growth resulting in
Character Arc; and 3. Romantic
Conflict: Romantic
struggles. These are both external and internal struggles that directly
impact a romantic relationship, drive character growth, and impact the external
plot.
