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Monday, August 6, 2018

Conflict, by Michael E. Gonzales


The one common denominator in all fiction stories, regardless of genre, is conflict.

Whether it is the conflict brewing within the hearts of lovers, or the international conflict between nations, or even worlds, it is conflict that drives our stories.



It has been said that there are really only two stories; someone enters town, someone leaves town. Whichever your story starts with there must eventually (and rapidly) be conflict.

Why? Because it is conflict and its ultimate resolution that the reader craves.

The key is to invent a unique conflict and an even more unique resolution. In between the story must titillate, entice, direct and misdirect the reader. He must be entertained, amused, and often scared senseless. 

How hard can that be?

This is the job of the fiction writer.


Additionally, the more conflict in your story the better. A band of unlikely heroes departs on a desperate journey to save their world from a villainous despot. Among them are two whose races have hated each other since beyond the reach of memory, record, or tradition. A man and a woman who despise one another. Another who holds all with him in low regard.

So, in addition to the obvious bad guy, the villainous despot, you have all that lovely conflict between the heroes. (The lord of the Ring comes to mind).


With so many characters in conflict it is imperative you keep meticulous records on each. A detailed description of the character physically, a list of his strengths and his weaknesses, and a bio detailing who she is, where she has been, what she has done and of course, her antecedents.

You must also map out each conflict to its end. And keep in mind not all resolutions have to be happy endings. “Death come to us all.” I have read stories where the hero fails and dies in the end, but recent events in my literary life have proven to me that the timing of such deaths is of paramount concern.

In conclusion I submit that the conflict in our stories is our story.

“Nonsense!”

“Who said that?”

“I did! You could not be more wrong! I have enjoyed several novels that contained no conflict!”

“Name one.”

“The Mezzanine, by Nicholson Baker.”

“Okay, you may be right there. It’s a story entirely without a plot. It relates the thoughts of a man over the course of his lunch break. He snaps a shoelace, and by the end of the story, he manages to buy a new pair. That's about it. And even then, it could be argued, the conflict was between the man and his shoes.”

“Hmm…a man and his shoes?”



“Conflict. Learn it, embrace it, love it.” 




 Please visit my Web Site:  http://www.mikegonzalesauthor.com/home.html


Thank you!




4 comments:

  1. You are absolutely right, Michael, without conflict there is no story. I have read a few stories where nothing happened, no conflict, no disagreement, no crisis--no nothing...and it stunk.

    I particularly like a story where misfortune, mayhem, and mishap build up and up until I wonder, how the heck are these characters ever going to get out of this mess. It takes something extraordinary to dig them out of that calamity and that is the exciting and innovative part I truly enjoy.

    I even like it when the main characters have conflict with one another, but there is this underlying feeling the writer inspires that the characters are definitely going to overcome the conflict between them as they work out the resolution to the main plot conflict. Oh yes! Now that makes a great story.

    Excellent post, Michael.

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  2. Thank you, Sarah. This post sprang from a debate (dare I say...argument) I had with a colleague on this subject. So...I recommended Baker's The Mezzanine and ... well, she changed her opinion. :)

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  3. Mike,

    You make important points. Conflict is crucial to move the plot along and to keep the reader engaged with the story. As always, I enjoy reading your subtle (and not so subtle) humor. :-)

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    1. Thank you kay. I realize I was preaching to the choir here, but, the subject was on my mind, and, ah...I had procrastinated to the last minute.

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