| CONFLICT PAGE 2 |
THREE IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS OR WAYS TO CREATE CONFLICT FOR YOUR CHARACTERS. Number one, Character: You can create conflict through character by having your MC’s goals and or motivation conflict with another character’s goals or motivation. The key to character conflict is the disparity or deep contrast between these characters. The more different your characters are, the more interesting their relationship will be. Conflict forces the characters to modify the difference they have in both traits and perspectives. Characters learn from each other. By overcoming their differences they could, as in romance stories—fall in love because of their equality. Think of “The King and I” or The Sound of Music,” the MC’s in these films are so diverse and their goals so opposite that there cannot help but be conflict. Remember the old adage “opposites attract,” Conflict between the MC is the hook these stories are hung on. Character growth is what keeps the story moving and your reader turning pages in story as in life, living through conflict, “whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” Dwayne Dyer Good examples of character development through conflict are in any of Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Milhone mystery stories. From the first word she draws the reader in and puts them in her story world. Number two, Point of View: Point of view is also a tool of conflict. Your choice of view point character can bring our reader in where they feel the emotional conflict of the main character. The “I” voice. “Call me Ishmael,” is such a voice. Or, the voice of Armand, in Anne Rice’s The Vampire Armand. You can choose to hold your reader at arms length and let him see, hear and feel the world around your MC as with the omniscient view. Point of view helps tell the type of story you decide you need to relate. In the early stages of your story you may want to try out several view points to see which one will tell the story best for the story you want to tell. In Misery, King uses only the thoughts of his MC, Paul Sheldon to tell the story and as a result we feel closely tied to Sheldon. We worry for him, we root for him. In Beth Ann Erickson’s book The Almach, the story is told through the MC’s point of view for the most part. That limits the thoughts and reasons behind some of the actions in the story. But we know how Penny Andrews feels about her capture and the thugs who stole her away and everything that happens to her throughout the book. As Erickson switches POV from Andrews to her guard Benjamin, we understand more plot and conflict by being inside the head of more than one character. Our attachment to Andrews is not quite as intense as it was in King’s novel, but we gain insight into other characters, their goals and motivation. We see the conflict as it develops in each character. If you write from several view points, it is a good idea to switch POV at least once in the early pages of your story to let your readers know what to expect in the way you are telling your story. And lastly number three, setting: Setting is a wonderful source of conflict in your story. As a back drop for character action, the dark stormy night speaks differently than a cacophony of spring birds sounds in the bright early morning light. In William Nobel’s book Conflict, Action & Suspense,” he gives examples of setting that automatically set up conflict. He says, “The point is to think in terms of contrast…It will develop conflict almost automatically.” For instance; an exclusive resort for the rich and famous as a setting for torture and murder, or the Chicago Stock Yards with adorable, cavorting kittens. A beautiful terraced and manicured estate, a formal garden that houses a maze where victims are released and then hunted by the owner as prey in a bizarre game. A cemetery after dark produces a different tone to your story than cheerful bouquets splashing color against gray tombstones on a balmy summer day. You get the idea Don’t waste your setting. It can be a major source of conflict for your character. In some stories setting is treated as a character. All settings have personality, use yours to help set the tone, create the conflict. |