Women Writing the West

10/21/2014

Recently I attended the Women Writing the West. What an inspiring meeting it was. I've been struggling for weeks with a new book I've started writing. As I sat listening to the speakers, it dawned on me what my latest problem was. I don't have enough conflict between my hero and heroine. I'd settled one issue - my antagonist wasn't strong enough. After changing who the antagonist is to be and giving him reason for his actions, I wrote 4 chapters. Up came conflict at the WWW conference. As soon as I got home, I looked up the definition of conflict - conflict is a state of disharmony between incompatible persons, ideas, or interests. It is the opposition between characters or forces in a work of fiction, and this opposition does not have to come from tragedy. There can be internal and external conflict. The definition helped. Now I'm losing sleep over how to build conflict between my hero and heroine so it doesn't sound contrived. but I'm coming up with ideas.

6 Comments

Shanna Hatfield link

10/21/2014 09:14:01 am

You can do it, Mary! Sounds like a great class you attended. Wish I could have been there!

Sandy Cody link

10/21/2014 10:59:13 am

Wow, Mary, that must have been an inspiring conference. 4 chapters! Good for you.

Karalee Long link

10/21/2014 12:27:41 pm

I'm glad the meeting got you thinking about conflict. Conflict makes the story move forward, makes the reader turn the pages, and makes the reader root for the good guy/good woman. The conflict has to be serious and strong. In a romance, the external conflict is solved first, and then the internal conflict that is standing in the way of the happily ever after has to be solved afterward. I hope this helps. Wish I could write four chapters that quickly. Keep going.

Jessica Aspen link

10/21/2014 08:53:43 pm

Sounds like you had a terrific time at the conference. Glad it got you past the speedbump in your book. :)

Amanda Cabot link

10/22/2014 07:20:03 am

Mary -- Conflict is HARD. I think part of the reason for that is that we try to avoid it in our real lives. But it is, of course, what makes a book compelling. If you haven't already read it, you might want to consult James Scott Bell's book CONFLICT AND SUSPENSE. All of us at FRCFW who've studied it have found it extremely helpful.

Tina Newcomb link

10/22/2014 11:22:40 am

Love your website Mary. I'm glad you got the inspiration you needed to write. I can't wait to read it.

Women Writing the West

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