Lucienne Diver is both an agent and an author, giving her two perspectives on the art and craft of writing. AWers may know her because she posted a series of answers to questions in the AW Agents forum. So when she posted on her blog the contents of a recent talk which she gave I quickly read it. It's in three parts. One part I paid especial attention to, the one on conflict.
One paragraph especially stuck in my mind.
"Every chapter/scene should have conflict of some kind. No chapter or scene should simply be informative or something that moves the characters from one place to another. Take every chance you can to up the tension, but remember there also needs to be quiet moments for the readers and characters to catch a breath."
This advice sounds to me that it would apply most to plot-heavy stories such as thrillers and adventure stories. Or any story which is a narrative about moving toward a positive such as a treasure, or moving away from a negative such as an invading army. But I've read many stories both commercially and critically successful which have little or no conflict, where the focus is on the characters or the setting rather than the plot.
What are your perspectives on conflict?
One paragraph especially stuck in my mind.
"Every chapter/scene should have conflict of some kind. No chapter or scene should simply be informative or something that moves the characters from one place to another. Take every chance you can to up the tension, but remember there also needs to be quiet moments for the readers and characters to catch a breath."
This advice sounds to me that it would apply most to plot-heavy stories such as thrillers and adventure stories. Or any story which is a narrative about moving toward a positive such as a treasure, or moving away from a negative such as an invading army. But I've read many stories both commercially and critically successful which have little or no conflict, where the focus is on the characters or the setting rather than the plot.
What are your perspectives on conflict?
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