Reason #3 – Limited conflict or attention

4 thoughts on “Reason #3 – Limited conflict or attention”

1. Plih.

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2. Oh yeah?

   Well, so there!

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3. I yield to the pressure….

   How many times have you read a story that goes something like this?

   “We need to talk Derek,” Susan said.
   Derek folded his arms and glared at her.

   *

   An hour later, Susan stepped into the cab while Derek sat on the front step with his face in his hands.

   We know something of consequence has happened due to a conflict but we aren’t given access to the scene. Why? Because the writer has felt uncomfortable writing the fighting—the conflict—in the scene. Yet, contained in the asterisk is information about the motivations of the character and how she responds under pressure.

   Conflict is the “C” of our ABCs*.

   Conflict is the gasoline (petrol for the Brits) a story runs on. According to James N Frey, “Conflict not only moves the plot, it brings characters to life. For, in the light of conflict, character is defined. That’s because the way people respond to obstacles, resistance, barriers, and conflict sharply characterizes them, telling us who they are. This is largely because conflict forces them to make decisions and act. So, when you bring your characters into conflict, you breathe a soul into them.”

   * ABCs (Agenda, Backstory, Conflict, & setting) courtesy of Eric Witchey at the Willamette Writers’ Conference. For more information see Witchey’s article in The Writer magazine.

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4. There, and nobody’s banging anyone else’s head against the wall yet.

   Thanks, Norm and the Conference.

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