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.”
“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.”
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Thank you!
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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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
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. :)
ReplyDeleteMike,
ReplyDeleteYou 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. :-)
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.
Delete