Conflict comes in different forms: with self, with others, with the environment, with society, etc. Today, because I'm chin deep in conflict with another person in my inner circle, I'll only talk about conflict with others. Hey, blogging is cheaper than therapy.
When crafting conflict between two characters, keep in mind that there will be more going on besides the central problem facing the characters. Hone in on the characters' fundamental differences. Consider the things in their personalities that are inherently contradictory, the things neither see as a problem nor think should be changed. These are the things that complicate problem-solving and contribute to convincing conflict.
For example, you have a central problem brewing between Character #1 and Character #2, perhaps one accused the other of betraying her confidence in some way. You can deepen the fictional problem by mimicking reality. In real life, people hold against each other certain aspects of their personalities or psyches, which become factors when trying to resolve the central problem.
What if Character #1 is a person who was so affected by her chaotic upbringing, that she developed a strong work ethic, an appreciation for material objects she worked hard to obtain, and a low tolerance for disorganization in herself and others. Enter the second character, who is spoiled by a life of ease and financial abundance, so that Character #2 is careless with her belongings since there will always be a maid to clean up behind her or a credit card to replace what's missing or broken. These characters are dealing with a breech in confidence, but their fundamental differences, in real life, would come into play. Write them into your fiction and you'll have a riveting, believable conflict.
One possible direction to take this example is to have Character #2 feel justified in breaking confidence, because Character #1 is, in her opinion, a judgmental witch. You could write frustration into Character #1, who feels that Character #2 always plays the "judgement" card. Character #1 would have been exasperated in the past with Character #2's habitual behavior: always late for get-togethers, forgets to wish Character #1 a happy birthday year after year, offers Character #1 the guest bedroom that's normally where the dog lives (shed fur everywhere, smelly and stained rug, etc.), etc. Character #2 would, in turn, hate always feeling like she has to apologize for herself to "Miss Perfect" Character #1.
Real life is like this, isn't it? When there's conflict between people, a fight never stays within the perimeters of the immediate problem. The past gets dragged into it, personalities and "isms" come into play, and anger just stirs up old, smoldering coals until a new bonfire is blazing.
Conflict in fiction that feels the most authentic mimics real life. It pays in the long run to spend time writing scenes or short stories about the characters' past interactions, their history together, and the reasons they act and react the way they do in the present. Even if you don't use those stories verbatim in the novel, your knowledge of the characters' experiences, in life in general and in their history together, will create realistic conflicts and problem-solving. Readers will readily buy into the characters' predicaments when they mirror both the compassion and the ugly realities of interpersonal relationships.
In preparation of a new WiP, do you write short fiction or vignettes about your characters' experiences outside the time frame of the novel? Do you write from each character's first person POV, (despite the eventual POV choices of the novel), letting them talk about the other characters? Is writing therapeutic for you, too?
27 comments:
Great post on conflict. I liked how you mentioned that the past gets dragged into it. I'll have to remember that.
Writing is theraputic for me, but I've noticed that I don't have the talent to separate my own conflicts enough to actually use them in my stories in more than just the most indirect way--otherwise it becomes a mary sue disaster. But even still, I do write about it--I just never have any notion that what I write will ever be usable in a story! ;)
Writing is very therapeutic for me. I don't always have time to write out the vignettes I'd like before hand and they usually end up in the story anyway.
I think this is where my backstory writing takes over. I always write backstory (way too much) so I can get a handle on the characters. It helps me to see the whole picture. Of course, during revisions I end up taking most of it out, which in the end makes a better story but at least I know who my characters are.
Hmm, interesting to think about writing out-of-story vignettes first. I have interviewed characters so they answer in first-preson and that is an eye-opener. I can see how establishing the conflict areas and writing those short pieces first would make for a more focused rough draft. Great idea.
I'm with you! My main characters had conflicts from all angles. And yes, I outlined their pasts in detail so I'd know where the internal problems and conflicts originated.
Nicole,
This is a timely post for me since Right now I'm reading a book on writing which talks about adding conflict in stories in general and I am working on this in the current chapter I'm editing.
As for character development, yes, I do write a biography for my MCs and since my current WIP is in the first person, the character biography is in the first person too.
Writing is very therapeautic! And yes, I write the characters from diff POVs, diff situations, etc - all in an effort to KNOW them. So things wind up in the story, many don't
Great post
You're so right ... one other thing my editors have hammered into my head is about conflict = stakes. What do the characters have to lose? If it's just pride, then a character could look vain and shallow and stubborn.
I have back stories in my head, but I've only written down some. I should do it more often.
Great post!
This is a really helpful post. I've read some manuscripts where the characters aren't flushed out.
While I don't write out cards or summaries, I think about the whole person as I write or even before. Backgrounds, prejudices, weaknesses, strengths, motivations. What they think vs. what they reveal is very important.
It's a believability issue. If the characters don't behave in a way that's consistent with what we know, then they don't come across as authentic.
That's why other readers are important. If the reactions to conflicts don't seem "in character" are critique partners should let us know.
Vignettes? That sounds too much like work to me. I can see the rationale and benefit behind it, but its a luxury I just don't have the time, or patience, do utilize.
Vignettes? That sounds too much like work to me. I can see the rationale and benefit behind it, but its a luxury I just don't have the time, or patience, do utilize.
I had a story that involved a hermit as a tangential character.
Everyone liked the hermit, even me. Where'd he come from? they asked. Who is he? Why'd he do that?
So I decided to write a background on him. I do that sometimes, like you suggested, write out their childhood, who their parents are/were, whether they have siblings or an ex or a kid who died young.
I wrote about this hermit's life, why he ran off to the woods. You ever thought about that, what it'd take to make someone abandon society? He wasn't insane. He just didn't want any part of the world.
And it turned into a book about when he was a kid and how his father's suicide drove him into the woods.
Then I had to do backstories on his dad and mom.
Sometimes back-stories go a long, long, long long way.
I accidentally wrote that book, see.
- Eric
This post is so timely! Our Monday night writing class was all about conflict. I'll send the link to our students!
And writing is therapeutic. I love writing something that I know will make Laura laugh. And I love writing about the person I wish I would have been strong enough to be back when I was 15.
Sometimes I have trouble working out my MC's fundamental difference, but when I do, their actions and words come much more easily to me. Great post.
I also write outer conflict much better than inner conflict. I need to look inside my characters for their own personal conflicts.
Absolutely. I'm inside everyone's head. I ask myself the question, what is the motivation for this character?
Great post. I think writing is like a huge experiment in social engineering. I know my characters well enough to allow them to remain true to themselves: they often don't make the choices I would make. I make them up and set them off.
I don't write extra short fiction or vignettes for my characters but I have been known to sit down and interview them.
And is writing therapeutic? You betcha it is!! Without being able to write, I'd be sitting in a padded room somewhere else right now.
Everyone has issues in life.
This is what I tell myself when writing fiction. This is what drives me to the heart of truth, no matter how difficult it may be to write about.
Excellent post!
Good advice! It's so true of real life so adding the extra baggage to fictional conflict makes sense.
Writing is therapy for me too.:)
Excellent post! I'm definitely going to try writing vignettes about my characters, maybe if in their own POVs, before the story begins. That's such a great idea. Thanks for the tip!
"Even if you don't use those stories verbatim in the novel, your knowledge of the characters' experiences, in life in general and in their history together, will create realistic conflicts and problem-solving."
Amen! I feel like I've been trying to say this 5 different ways, but you said it better than I could! It's so important to know those details about your character -- what makes them tick, what annoys them about others (and specific other people, too) and even if you don't end up writing a full-blown fight, these little grudges DO show up in every day dialogue.
Fabulous post!
Great post! Yes, it's the conflict that drives our story forward. working towards resolution. Great points you've made and lots of helpful pointers.
I love writing the conflict. I get stressed when my MCs aren't happy - but I'm learning to live with it :)
I don't write anything in advance of the ms itself - but I do let the characters walk around in my head for a couple of weeks before I start writing.
I have to have constant conflict of some kind or I get bored.
Hm... maybe this is why I've had three marriages....
What a kick a** post (I didn't think great was great enough, LOL) I've never taken the time to write little short stories about my characters before hand but it wouldn't be a bad thing! Maybe I should start!
I don't tend to intentionally write bits that don't end up in the book, although I do make extensive notes with details that may not make it into the text.
Not to mention bits I write that end up getting cut!
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