Conflict the Cornerstone of Fiction

"When you think your hero is cooked, turn up the heat."

This is the advice to the scribe of fiction. Put your hero into the worst possible trouble you can imagine and make it even more intolerable.

I recently saw the movie, Up (Disney Animated Feature). I recommend every writer see it for story study. The main character, an elderly man, embarks on a quest to bring his house to a place called Paradise Falls. Some storybuilders would call that the goal.

His motivation? He made a cross-your-heart promise to a young girl that they would take an adventure to Paradise Falls, a waterfall in the rainforests of South America. Now, in his old age, he seeks to fulfill that promise.

Enter the other main character, a child by the name of Russell, a wilderness explorer (scout) who needs to help an elderly person in order to complete his row of merit badges. That's his goal. Motivation? He wants someone who cares about him to pin it on.

Now these two characters are at cross purposes. The elderly man doesn't want the boy to help him. Often times Russell's attempt to help create new levels of conflict for the elederly man. And the elderly man's refusal of assistance continues to create frustrations for Russell.

As the conflict escalates, the viewer is taken on a journey of laughter and tears, spoils, frustrations, dangers and life lessons learned (character arc).

Exercise:

1. Name a character

2. What does your character want?

3. Why does he want it?

4. What are the obstacles preventing him from obtaining the goal? These can be internal (values conflict) or external (those events that happen to your character that stand in the way of his achieving his goal).

5. What life lesson will your character learn from his journey?

Now you have the kernel for a story. Care to share?

INTRODUCTION

'The pen is mightier than the sword'

These words are attributed to Edward Bulwer-Lytton in his play Richelieu; Or The Conspiracy, (1839)

True, This! -
Beneath the rule of men entirely great,
The pen is mightier than the sword. Behold
The arch-enchanters wand! - itself a nothing! -
But taking sorcery from the master-hand
To paralyse the Caesars, and to strike
The loud earth breathless! - Take away the sword -
States can be saved without it!

Other writers have been quoted with similar references to the power of the written word. Throughout the course of history words have had power to incite war or to put an end to conflict.

I think the most powerful two words I have ever read are, "Jesus wept" (John 11:35).

The reader wonders why? Those who saw him weep supposed he cried because his good friend had died. Some assumed he cried because of Mary and Martha's lack of understanding. Some suggest Christ's tears were for the suffering Lazarus endured. But, these words powerfully show us Christ's humanity.

"It's only words," says the song. The young man laments that words are the only tool at his disposal to win the heart of the girl he loves.

This blog will explore the power of words. Each week, will present a snippet for your consideration. If there is a topic you'd like to see covered, please leave a comment.

EXERCISE:

Write your favorite words. How do they touch your inner being? If you'd like to share, please do and leave a comment.

Next week: the power of writing lean