So, I’m embarking on an adventure and writing my first novel, a Christian romance. Those of you who are experienced, can you help me recognize a good conflict, a conflict strong enough to support a whole book?
I know that the main conflict of the book must be character-driven, allowing for the growth of both the heroine and hero. This is what I’ve got so far…
The hero genuinely cares for others and wants to save them from making mistakes, especially the mistakes he’s made. He’s smart and he knows he’s smart. His help and advice can come across as arrogance and control. He thinks it’s his job to help everyone and doesn’t understand why at times people don’t appreciate his help or don’t do what he says they should do. The more he cares for someone, the more he tries to “help” and the more controlling he seems.
Heroine’s dad was strict, even harsh, with her and her mom, often letting the heroine learn lessons the hard way and allowing her to suffer the consequences of her mistakes. As a result, she is independent and doesn’t like being told what to do, especially by men. Heroine sees men as harsh and controlling, vowing she would never let herself get under a man’s thumb. Heroine is attracted to hero and knows his heart is in the right place, but just can’t tolerate being told what to do, which he does a lot.
By the end of the book, heroine learns from the hero that men can be nurturing and caring while allowing her to be her own person, making her own decisions. She also learns the value of taking advice and considering it rather than doing everything on her own.
By the end of the book, hero learns from the heroine that people do appreciate his help but need to make their own decisions and don’t always agree with his advice. He learns to be helpful and make his advice available without pushing his opinion on others.
What do you all think? Strong enough conflict for a book?
Thanks so much for your help!
I know that the main conflict of the book must be character-driven, allowing for the growth of both the heroine and hero. This is what I’ve got so far…
The hero genuinely cares for others and wants to save them from making mistakes, especially the mistakes he’s made. He’s smart and he knows he’s smart. His help and advice can come across as arrogance and control. He thinks it’s his job to help everyone and doesn’t understand why at times people don’t appreciate his help or don’t do what he says they should do. The more he cares for someone, the more he tries to “help” and the more controlling he seems.
Heroine’s dad was strict, even harsh, with her and her mom, often letting the heroine learn lessons the hard way and allowing her to suffer the consequences of her mistakes. As a result, she is independent and doesn’t like being told what to do, especially by men. Heroine sees men as harsh and controlling, vowing she would never let herself get under a man’s thumb. Heroine is attracted to hero and knows his heart is in the right place, but just can’t tolerate being told what to do, which he does a lot.
By the end of the book, heroine learns from the hero that men can be nurturing and caring while allowing her to be her own person, making her own decisions. She also learns the value of taking advice and considering it rather than doing everything on her own.
By the end of the book, hero learns from the heroine that people do appreciate his help but need to make their own decisions and don’t always agree with his advice. He learns to be helpful and make his advice available without pushing his opinion on others.
What do you all think? Strong enough conflict for a book?
Thanks so much for your help!
