Saturday 25 June 2011

BASIC CONFLICTS COME IN 3 FORMS... OR 4

In a novel, conflict is an essential part of the plot.

There are three varieties of conflict you can inflict on your MC: inherent, external, and internal.

Inherent
Inherent conflict exists within the novel from the beginning - the environment, social mores within your society, previous experiences.

External
External conflict is the rub of one character upon the other - the antagonist. The external conflict can also be provided by environmental changes such as extreme weather.

Internal
Internal conflicts are driven by fear, doubt or failure and the MC's need to protect themself from physical, mental or emotional pain.

There is a fourth kind of conflict.

Extra-personal
I see this as the writer inviting the reader to bring their knowledge, understanding and fear into the plot eg when a character says it's time to go for one last swim, take the short-cut home or how kind it is to help the guy with the broken leg load his shopping into the car, I'm cringing and looking ahead to see if it is safe to read on. ;)

Without conflict, there is no novel.

I have no favourite kind of conflict but pitting an MC against nature leaves me cold ;)

Which kind of conflict do you love to read or write?

3 comments:

  1. When there's a mystery to be solved, and you, the reader, as well as the characters are trying to work out what is going on.

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  2. I enjoy reading and writing about escalating conflict. Small nuggets of unrest that turn into epic battles.

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  3. Hi Jamara
    I love puzzling out the mystery with the MC - the very essence of "show don't tell" :)

    Hi Melissa
    I agree (with the exception of Jude the Obscure) I love reading escalating conflict :)

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