The Problem With Conflict

                                                                                  Pat Zabriskie

Would you believe I know a writer who doesn’t like to put conflict in her stories? Maybe I should say “unpublished” writer. We had quite a discussion the other day.

My friend is writing a book. I asked her if there was conflict in her book. She said no. I explained that she needs to give her leading lady some opposition. She has a goal, but things keep getting in the way in her journey to the goal.

But, no, my friend doesn’t want to give her character any problems, just breeze her way to fulfillment. I asked, “Well who would read your book?”

She had an answer. “People like me,” she said.

She believes there are people who will read “nice” stories where nothing happens. I had no more to say. She’s my friend and I want her to succeed, but she’s set in her ways.

Maybe I’m wrong, but I wouldn’t read more than a couple of pages of a book like that. A new book came in the mail yesterday. I plan to enjoy it and see how the 30 Days project we’re doing fits her outline.

The first chapter introduced us to a character who is recently divorced and shows us her flaws as we meet other characters, some who are “perfect” in her eyes. By page 26 this nice woman has been roped into being the PTA secretary which is a bed of roses—thorns predominant. The school principal is a witchy, unpopular woman. She does things without consulting the parents/taxpayers.

And, you guessed it—by page 50 the principal has been murdered.

We are launched--middle of the book coming up.

The reader has been introduced to a new neighbor, the love interest. So, besides her being bombarded by PTA parents calling and telling her things, and asking her what to do, and friends whispering about her new beau, there will be lots of scenes to take us through the middle.

That’s as far as I’ve read, but I’ll be looking for short-term goals getting thwarted and characters getting disappointed.

I’m entering the “middle” of my story outline and I’m concerned I don’t have enough to do the goal—thwart--disappointment thing over and over.

I once asked my respected mentor how you get through the middle and she said simply, “Scenes.”

So I’m off to write scenes and put my characters in jeopardy and, I hope, get through the middle.