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This might seem like a strange idea for Christians, but when it comes to novel writing, CONFLICT is the meat of all that you will probably ever write.
Think about it...Even the entire bible is chock full of conflict. Man in conflict with his Creator, Satan in conflict with God, man in conflict with Satan, man in conflict with man and on we could go. The biblical narrative is driven by it. And any good novel will be driven by it as well.
So then, conflict is something that we need to know how to create as fiction writers! Otherwise your readers will have to be poked with a stick to keep them awake. More likely they'll just toss your paperback in the "gar-bage" and never read you again
At the moment I can't think of one single fiction book that does not have some level of conflict in it. It might be as simple as Winnie the Pooh has to save Piglet from the kite blowing him away into the hundred acre wood or as profound as a world wide catastrophe! But it sure better be interesting to your intended audience.
If you're going to write fiction your going to write conflict--now you just have to figure out what sort of conflict you will tackle in your story. It all depends on the genre that you're writing for. Some 60ft. shark on the rampage naturally isn't going to appearl to your romance audience.
Generally you'll find that the great novels have a major point of conflict and several layers of smaller conflicts all brewing beneath. These might take the form of twists that add to the uniqueness of your main conflict. Most people would say that all possible plotlines have already been done---but maybe it's more about how you create interesting combinations and levels of conflicts, all of which present your characters with problem of resolving within 300 pages.
Conflict will pull the reader along--think about it. Who wants to sit and read endlessly of a spring day with butterflies and daffodils, birds chirping and how lovely the sun feels on your main characters buttermilk soft skin. Everything is fine in their world, no problems whatsoever, not even any internal schisms or demons to contend with....just peaceful, tranquil....(snoooooreeee)....oh, I'm sorry, must've dozed off there
People want CONFLICT to pull them in and pull them along. Don't pass on a good situation that brings conflict, especially if it's on many levels---oooh, ahhh.
Not only does the hero have vicious baddies to contend with, but he's battling inner demons the likes of which mere mortals cannot fathom. Not only does the heroine have cancer to battle, but she's in love with a man her kids despise because they feel he's taking the place of the dad who died in a horrible car accident.
Ah, sweet conflict...the fiction writers greatest ally...the essential ingredient of any great story
blessings,
James
Think about it...Even the entire bible is chock full of conflict. Man in conflict with his Creator, Satan in conflict with God, man in conflict with Satan, man in conflict with man and on we could go. The biblical narrative is driven by it. And any good novel will be driven by it as well.
So then, conflict is something that we need to know how to create as fiction writers! Otherwise your readers will have to be poked with a stick to keep them awake. More likely they'll just toss your paperback in the "gar-bage" and never read you again
At the moment I can't think of one single fiction book that does not have some level of conflict in it. It might be as simple as Winnie the Pooh has to save Piglet from the kite blowing him away into the hundred acre wood or as profound as a world wide catastrophe! But it sure better be interesting to your intended audience.
If you're going to write fiction your going to write conflict--now you just have to figure out what sort of conflict you will tackle in your story. It all depends on the genre that you're writing for. Some 60ft. shark on the rampage naturally isn't going to appearl to your romance audience.
Generally you'll find that the great novels have a major point of conflict and several layers of smaller conflicts all brewing beneath. These might take the form of twists that add to the uniqueness of your main conflict. Most people would say that all possible plotlines have already been done---but maybe it's more about how you create interesting combinations and levels of conflicts, all of which present your characters with problem of resolving within 300 pages.
Conflict will pull the reader along--think about it. Who wants to sit and read endlessly of a spring day with butterflies and daffodils, birds chirping and how lovely the sun feels on your main characters buttermilk soft skin. Everything is fine in their world, no problems whatsoever, not even any internal schisms or demons to contend with....just peaceful, tranquil....(snoooooreeee)....oh, I'm sorry, must've dozed off there
People want CONFLICT to pull them in and pull them along. Don't pass on a good situation that brings conflict, especially if it's on many levels---oooh, ahhh.
Not only does the hero have vicious baddies to contend with, but he's battling inner demons the likes of which mere mortals cannot fathom. Not only does the heroine have cancer to battle, but she's in love with a man her kids despise because they feel he's taking the place of the dad who died in a horrible car accident.
Ah, sweet conflict...the fiction writers greatest ally...the essential ingredient of any great story
blessings,
James