Conflict
Conflict is very important in a romance novel -- and really in any kind of a novel at
all. What would the story of Romeo and Juliet be without the family feud? How
good would Gone with the Wind have been if Scarlett realized from day one that
Ashley wasn't the man for her, and that Rhett was her true love? And even in Toy
Story, if Buzz hadn't shown up, and threatened to take Woody's place.... Well, you
get the idea. Ah, the interest conflict brings to a story!
What is not conflict?
Fights. Arguments. Misunderstandings.
What is conflict?
There are two kinds of conflict in a story, internal and external. I feel they are both
needed to carry most plots.
Internal conflict is something that is set inside your character.
Blair was in love with a cop, and he was killed in the line of duty. Now she finds
herself falling in love with one of her late husband's friends, another cop. There is
no way she will do that without a fight. The fear of losing him the same way is just
too strong. It will cause an internal battle that she will have to fight before she can
love him.
External conflict is just like you guessed, something on the outside.
Sam has growing feelings for Linda, but she is rich, from the right side of town, and
so are all of her friends. Sam is going to school full time, trying to work, trying to
keep up his grades; he can hardly make ends meet. Linda's father is a judge, upper
crust, his family line can be traced back to the Mayflower. Sam's family line can be
followed back to share croppers, his dad worked in a sawmill once, and died in
prison, after Linda's father sent him there--which brings us back to internal
conflict. If you have plenty of both in your story, it should help keep your plot
clicking along, and your readers turning those pages.
Charlotte Dillon ~ www.charlottedillon.com
all. What would the story of Romeo and Juliet be without the family feud? How
good would Gone with the Wind have been if Scarlett realized from day one that
Ashley wasn't the man for her, and that Rhett was her true love? And even in Toy
Story, if Buzz hadn't shown up, and threatened to take Woody's place.... Well, you
get the idea. Ah, the interest conflict brings to a story!
What is not conflict?
Fights. Arguments. Misunderstandings.
What is conflict?
There are two kinds of conflict in a story, internal and external. I feel they are both
needed to carry most plots.
Internal conflict is something that is set inside your character.
Blair was in love with a cop, and he was killed in the line of duty. Now she finds
herself falling in love with one of her late husband's friends, another cop. There is
no way she will do that without a fight. The fear of losing him the same way is just
too strong. It will cause an internal battle that she will have to fight before she can
love him.
External conflict is just like you guessed, something on the outside.
Sam has growing feelings for Linda, but she is rich, from the right side of town, and
so are all of her friends. Sam is going to school full time, trying to work, trying to
keep up his grades; he can hardly make ends meet. Linda's father is a judge, upper
crust, his family line can be traced back to the Mayflower. Sam's family line can be
followed back to share croppers, his dad worked in a sawmill once, and died in
prison, after Linda's father sent him there--which brings us back to internal
conflict. If you have plenty of both in your story, it should help keep your plot
clicking along, and your readers turning those pages.
Charlotte Dillon ~ www.charlottedillon.com
Copyrighted 2002 by Charlotte Dillon
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newsletter or on a free website as long as 'my name and a link to my
homepage' is given. You may not include my articles in an e-book
without asking unless it's a free e-book and my name and link are
included. You may not charge in any way for others to read or reach
these articles. They may not be used in any way for profit, like in a
workshop, class, site where people have to pay for a membership, ect...
If you find my articles being used in any way that isn't free and open
and including my name and link, please report the situation to me so it
can be handled. If you are unsure if your use will fall under what is
allowed, please contact me and ask. Thanks!