Writing Problem: The Scenes Are Void of Meaningful Conflict
Problem: The Scenes Are Void of Meaningful Conflict
Solution: Character growth and story arcs don't occur in isolation. Conflict-guided scenes and conflict-guided storytelling, more broadly, open the narrative to moments in which the characters are continuously tested to validate their knowledge, skills, or relationships.
To drive the story forward with measured purpose, focus on building, developing, and testing a character's desires. If necessary, implement story or relational dynamics to economically assess, judge, and curate a character's failure (and the consequences thereof). Conflict needn't be grandiose; writers must be in tune with the different levels, types, and intensities of conflict that drive their story. Conflict should be multifaceted.
Writing Resources:
A Few Words About Conflict (Glimmer Train Press)
Conflict Thesaurus (One Stop for Writers)
6 Secrets to Creating and Sustaining Suspense (Writer's Digest)
Emotions in Writing: How to Make Your Readers Feel (Jericho Writers)
The Primary Principles of Plot: Goal, Antagonist, Conflict, Consequences (September C. Fawkes)
How to Master Conflict in Young Adult Fiction (Writer's Edit)
Failure, Conflict, and Character Arc (Writers in the Storm)
❯ ❯ Adapted from the writing masterpost series: 19 Things That Are Wrong With Your Novel (and How to Fix Them)