We all know without conflict, there is no story. Romance writers can use two types of conflict--internal and external. I tend to go with the external. Something or someone trying to keep the couple apart. Most writers go the route where differences in the characters' pasts, outlooks on issues, and their varying ways of reacting to problems are just a few examples of internal conflict on the way to their black moment.
But all conflict isn't bad.
It certainly isn't always an argument. And thank goodness for that. Conflict is anything that keeps the heroine or hero from attaining his/her goal. Linda wants to fly from Chicago to New York to witness the birth of her first grandchild. Thanks to a huge snow storm, all the flights are cancelled out of O'Hare. Getting to her daughter's bedside becomes her conflict. She catches a ride with a truck driver. He could have a great sense of humor, be going through a rough marital patch where Linda can advise him, or be an eight-handed Romeo.
Writing romance helped me realize some things about myself. For one, I don't handle real-life conflict well. Writing about it can put me in a bit of a depression. Another issue I have is either a pale gray dark moment or an over-the-top deep purple one that can make a reader roll her eyes and mumble, "For pity's sake!"
But life isn't always grand in romance--or in reality. As I write this, I'm watching a nurse clean Calvin. He went into a rehab facility on Sunday and this morning had a small stroke. He can't speak clearly; he mumbles and jerks his chin around to communicate. He can't raise his right arm. The doctor hopes these things are temporary. For a retired English teacher and radio announcer, back in the day, not being able to talk is doubly frustrating.
He can't say my name, but when I ask him if I'm his sweetest angel, his love shines in his eyes and in the small smile he can still make.
I'm supposed to be writing, but I have too many irons in the fire right now. I get our taxes done tomorrow. Someone baked into my rental car Allstate arranged while ours is being repaired. And a lens popped out of my glasses.
Life happens and it "ain't" always grand.
Follow me on www.vonniedavis.com and stay well.
Showing posts with label internal conflict. Show all posts
Showing posts with label internal conflict. Show all posts
Thursday, April 12, 2018
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
How Much Conflict is too Much? by Jannine Gallant
The course of true love never did run smooth. ~ William Shakespeare
I think we all agree conflict makes a book interesting. But is there such a thing as too much conflict? Most straight contemporaries are driven by internal conflict. Boy meets girl. They have major issues (past pain, goals, beliefs, etc.) that keep them apart. They work through these problems and reach their HEA. In suspense, much of the conflict is external. Sure they have a few internal issues, but the serial killer stalking the heroine is generally the biggest deterrent to their HEA. These books are likely to be more plot driven. The contemporaries are usually character driven. Then there are historicals. (Yes, I'm leaving out a bunch of other sub-genres because these are the only ones I write! LOL)
My historical are a mishmash of internal and external conflict. They're character and plot driven. In a nutshell, I threw everything I could at my poor hero and heroine and told them to deal with it! In An Uncertain Destiny, Megan was brought up in the old Celtic religion to worship the Mother Goddess. Nicholas was raised in Puritan New England and believes in an angry God with fire and brimstone and eternal damnation for those who don't conform. He is promised to another woman and is driven by duty. She is a free-spirit with no patience for intolerance. That's probably enough internal conflict to carry a book, right? Except I didn't stop there. Oh, no. I tossed in a contingent of angry town folk who throw Megan in jail for being a witch and condemn her to hang. During the big escape, Nicholas is seriously wounded. Megan flees to an unknown destination to save him from the drama and danger surrounding her.
Yep, that's a LOT of external conflict to go with the internal dilemma. Too much, or do readers enjoy seeing the h&h tortured unmercifully at the hands of a sadistic author? Tell us what you think. And if you're wondering if Megan and Nicholas ever manage to find their HEA, well, you'll have to read the book! Just click HERE.
I think we all agree conflict makes a book interesting. But is there such a thing as too much conflict? Most straight contemporaries are driven by internal conflict. Boy meets girl. They have major issues (past pain, goals, beliefs, etc.) that keep them apart. They work through these problems and reach their HEA. In suspense, much of the conflict is external. Sure they have a few internal issues, but the serial killer stalking the heroine is generally the biggest deterrent to their HEA. These books are likely to be more plot driven. The contemporaries are usually character driven. Then there are historicals. (Yes, I'm leaving out a bunch of other sub-genres because these are the only ones I write! LOL)
My historical are a mishmash of internal and external conflict. They're character and plot driven. In a nutshell, I threw everything I could at my poor hero and heroine and told them to deal with it! In An Uncertain Destiny, Megan was brought up in the old Celtic religion to worship the Mother Goddess. Nicholas was raised in Puritan New England and believes in an angry God with fire and brimstone and eternal damnation for those who don't conform. He is promised to another woman and is driven by duty. She is a free-spirit with no patience for intolerance. That's probably enough internal conflict to carry a book, right? Except I didn't stop there. Oh, no. I tossed in a contingent of angry town folk who throw Megan in jail for being a witch and condemn her to hang. During the big escape, Nicholas is seriously wounded. Megan flees to an unknown destination to save him from the drama and danger surrounding her.
Yep, that's a LOT of external conflict to go with the internal dilemma. Too much, or do readers enjoy seeing the h&h tortured unmercifully at the hands of a sadistic author? Tell us what you think. And if you're wondering if Megan and Nicholas ever manage to find their HEA, well, you'll have to read the book! Just click HERE.
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