WRITING CONFLICT

Let’s face it conflict is what makes a good story great. It’s how the characters handle conflict that determines their success or failure and usually drives the plot.

Sarah has two motives. She’s been offered a great job in Europe but she also wants to marry Ben at home. She will be facing hugely conflicting wants if she has to sacrifice one for the other. Both choices have positive and negative characteristics: a once in a lifetime opportunity to make her mark in her career or her once in a lifetime opportunity to marry the man she loves. She cannot have her cake and eat it i.e. Ben cannot go to Europe. There are no easy solutions. How will she decide? What could possibly go wrong?

• Will she wring her hands and cry or will she get down to action and make the best of her difficult choice?

• Will her faults, failings and weaknesses hinder her progress?

• Will her strengths and confidence lead her to a rash decision?

• Is she making decisions that cause further conflict?

• Finally, has she made a big mistake in her choice? She thought she’d made the right decision, the one that would be the best for her but now she’s not so sure. Will it all turn out right in the end?

In this example, the protagonist has conflict at every turn. Spread over 80k words that’s a lot of conflict and heartache and it’s exactly what the story needs to be exciting and credible. If Ben had said he’d go to Europe it would be a very different story. What sort of conflict could that bring?