#main conflict

[theforkedtongue]

[authors-haven]

I am trying to write a fantasy adventure with different dynamic characters. I have already thought of some of the characters and have a plan for the direction of the story to go but I'm trying to figure out how to start it like the perfect hook to get people to read it or to start a flow of action. Any tips?

Hi! I’d love to help.

You could start with the event that kicks off your conflict. For example, if your conflict is that your antagonist wants to overthrow the royalty and rule the kingdom, you could start with your characters getting news of your antagonist’s first attack on the royalty/the kingdom’s army. Start with the main problem, so that your readers know what to expect from your story – anything else will be extraneous.

You could also start with your characters’ call to action. For example, maybe your characters have heard about attacks against the royalty/the kingdom’s army, but what causes them to take action? Does someone force/talk them into taking action, or do they decide enough is enough and start moving? (Keep in mind that whatever your characters do to start with, they should probably start small – we call it “rising action” for a reason!)

You could also start with a scene or two to introduce a couple of your main characters, and give some info on the background/setting. For example, in Stephen King’s The Stand, many characters from many different places come together, and he follows somewhat of a formula: the first chapter is Character A’s POV; the second is Character A’s and then Character B’s; the third is Character A’s, then Character B’s, then Character C’s; and so on. Depending on how many characters you have and how quickly you want to start the rising action, this might be a good route for you. (Keep in mind, though, that Stephen King had somewhat of an introduction/preface in which the inciting incident – a deadly virus being unleashed from the government laboratory in which it was stored – takes place, and all his character introductions are the union of his characters and that problem – in other words, in chapter one, Character A is introduced to that virus as others around him get sick; in chapter two Character A’s saga continues and the virus is brought into Character B’s world; and so on. So even if you use this method, don’t wait too long to introduce your main conflict.)

I hope this helps! If you need anything else, please feel free to ask! - @authors-haven

[authors-haven]

Hi authors-haven!!!! I was just wondering if you could help me with my little problem... The thing is, I'm currently writing my first story to put on wattpad but i have an issue with the first chapter... i don't know how to start it 😣 i have all these ideas but can't seem to word them right. I'm trying to have the main character be in a car crash at the beginning and pass out at the end. Any advice on how to make a compelling introduction to the story??

Hi! I’d be more than happy to help.

Firstly, think of the main conflict – the car crash can’t be your character’s only struggle, or your story will be incredibly short and probably not all that interesting. I don’t know your story, but just let me name a couple of random examples: your character could be a policeman, and he could be puzzling about a case (which will be the main conflict of the story, solving that case); he could be a lovesick teenager thinking about how much he loves a girl (and that will be the main conflict of the story, getting/keeping the girl). Have your main conflict established quickly, so that the reader knows what to expect from the story.

Also, establish your character’s personality really well, so that your reader will be more shocked/feel more sympathy when the crash occurs. Anything your character does reflects on his character: maybe he blares his music to try to distract him from his problem, or maybe he turns the radio off so that he can talk himself through his problem; if there’s any dialogue in your scene, how he speaks will tell a lot about him (as well as what exactly he says). If the scene is in his first-person POV, let his personality come through in the writing: if he’s very cynical, refer to everything with doubt and scorn; if he’s nervous, have him gnaw at his problem like a rat gnawing at the insulation in an attic; if he’s very cool-headed, have him approach his problem methodically, step-by-step. Knowing your character a little better will encourage sympathy from your audience.

(And just make sure that the car crash has some kind of bearing on the main conflict and isn’t just stage dressing: for example, if your character is the police officer trying to solve a case, injuries could make it more difficult to solve his case, and if your character is the lovesick teenager, his dream girl could start to take care of him, which would kick-start the romance. As long as it has a purpose, the car crash is a pretty good option – just make sure you’re not doing it for shock value.)

Personally, what I would do is have your character thinking about his problem (the main conflict), and have that distract him from his driving – then the car crash happens. Depending on his injuries, he could pass out immediately or not pass out at all. (Keep in mind that long, dramatic struggles for consciousness only really have an effect when 1. your character has a concrete reason that they have to stay awake – maybe someone they love is in danger, or they’re very close to death and they know it, so they don’t want to lose consciousness because they’re afraid they’ll never regain it – and 2. if your audience knows your character well enough to care. Even if they like him based on the little bit you’ve given them so far, they don’t know him well enough to feel anything but vague pity – nothing near the heart-wrenching suspense you’re aiming for. So use that device sparingly.)

Hope this helps! If you need anything else, please feel free to ask! - @authors-haven