So why have conflict at all?You are writing a romance. Surely it's more romantic when a couple take one look at each other, fall head over heels in love . . . and live happily ever after?
While a lack of conflict might be a nice goal in life, unfortunately it’s very bad for a story.
Without sufficient conflict there is no story at all, simply a long drawn-out visit with some nice people
It's all about the EMOTIONAL JOURNEY
Your characters begin with flaws or wounds or beliefs that prevent them from finding, giving, accepting love in their ordinary world.
The growth they need is frightening and painful, something most humans resist unless forced into it
YOUR JOB IS TO PROVIDE THAT FORCE THROUGH THE UNFOLDING PLOT.
Unless the plot’s events cause your protagonists physical or emotional suffering/distress they will never find the strength to overcome the challenges that would destroy their unimproved selves / and that create a different one
THE HARDER YOU MAKE YOUR h&H WORK FOR – AND SO DESERVE THEIR HAPPY ENDING – THE MORE READERS WILL ENJOY AND CHEER FOR THEIR VICTORY
There will be more emotional satisfaction for the reader as a result.
Who a character really is becomes defined by their response UNDER PRESSURE
Without sufficient conflict there is no story at all, simply a long drawn-out visit with some nice people
It's all about the EMOTIONAL JOURNEY
Your characters begin with flaws or wounds or beliefs that prevent them from finding, giving, accepting love in their ordinary world.
The growth they need is frightening and painful, something most humans resist unless forced into it
YOUR JOB IS TO PROVIDE THAT FORCE THROUGH THE UNFOLDING PLOT.
Unless the plot’s events cause your protagonists physical or emotional suffering/distress they will never find the strength to overcome the challenges that would destroy their unimproved selves / and that create a different one
THE HARDER YOU MAKE YOUR h&H WORK FOR – AND SO DESERVE THEIR HAPPY ENDING – THE MORE READERS WILL ENJOY AND CHEER FOR THEIR VICTORY
There will be more emotional satisfaction for the reader as a result.
Who a character really is becomes defined by their response UNDER PRESSURE
Conflict is a struggle that exerts that pressure.
A compelling romance is one where there is enough conflict to raise that important question:
How will these two ever manage to overcome their differences and make it to the altar/registry office/commitment ?
Without conflict it will be the shortest story ever told
Conflict makes the sparks fly between your hero and heroine
If Romeo and Juliet’s parents said ‘OK get married’ the sexual, tension between them would vanish
And I'm not just talking about sex
Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester barely even kiss – but there is a huge charge between them. One that is remembered by readers for years after they read the story. One that has lasted for centuries since the book was written.
A compelling romance is one where there is enough conflict to raise that important question:
How will these two ever manage to overcome their differences and make it to the altar/registry office/commitment ?
Without conflict it will be the shortest story ever told
Conflict makes the sparks fly between your hero and heroine
If Romeo and Juliet’s parents said ‘OK get married’ the sexual, tension between them would vanish
And I'm not just talking about sex
Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester barely even kiss – but there is a huge charge between them. One that is remembered by readers for years after they read the story. One that has lasted for centuries since the book was written.
Romance is about the SIZZLE and the sizzle comes from conflict.
(c) Kate Walker 2010
5 comments:
This is really great, Kate. Thanks for doing this!
great stuff!
Brilliant post! After I read your book and the chapter about conflict, I realised exactly what the problem was with a couple of stories I had written. One, written during NaNoWriMo, I had felt for some time that while things happened in it, NOTHING actually happened. There are tidbits of conflict, and that's where the story gets interesting, but that doesn't last...
The other one is actually a romantic story, and while it's sweet and does have plenty of conflict, it doesn't really have any consequences. She might be risking a few (technically not THAT important) things by entering into the relationship, but him? Absolutely nothing whatsoever. The stakes aren't high enough. In fact, there aren't any. So in order to proceed, I need to figure out what's at stake for both of them. - And write backgrounds. ;)
I'm surprised I hadn't really thought of the importance of backgrounds before, considering I've been doing online roleplaying for almost a decade now, and the FIRST thing you do is to write a character background before you can start playing - because without a background, you don't know your character, and if you don't know them, how can you play (write about) him/her? Duuh! Why should it be any different for a novel? So your guide has been incredibly helpful, not just for writing romantic fiction, but writing in general! Forever grateful - thank you! :)
Great advice Kate! Thanks. Caroline x p.s payday today and just been to Tesco where A Good Greek Wife? landed in the shopping trolley. Looking forward to reading it tonight.
Really thought-provoking. Thanks for doing this, Kate. Feels like I'm filling in on what I missed at the conference. Hope the Caerleon course goes well.
Jo Scapens.
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