So...how is NaNoWriMo going for you? Getting those words in?
After spending time fleshing out my characters yesterday, I carved out 230 words, getting me back on track—but it wasn't easy. I couldn't figure out WHAT was going to happen next, even though this story is quite well plotted out. Then I realized what it was missing: conflict.
Conflict, conflict, conflict. That's the crux of any story, regardless if it's 5,000 words, 50,000 words, or yes, even 5. (Hey, don't laugh, a very famous story by Ernest Hemingway was written using just 6 words!)
Conflict is the story's problem. It's what prevents—or delays—the character from reaching his or her goal. And the more conflict in the story, the more exciting it is for the reader. (And, if I'm being honest, the more exciting it is for the writer, too.)
But what kind of conflict? Turns out, there are a couple of types:
Person-versus-person: This is the most popular, because conflicts between people are most fascinating to readers. For example, Superman versus Lex Luther. Or, in the case of my story, my protagonist versus the zombie.
Person-versus-nature: This usually involves natural disasters or survival skills, like in Lord of The Flies or Jurassic Park. In my story, I'm thinking about introducing a spooky graveyard, which would put some obstacles in the way of my character's survival (not for real, of course, but it will seem that way at first.)
You can absolutely combine conflict types—such as I'm doing in my story now. But just remember, you want to include obstacles, but you should also understand how the conflict will be resolved. Conflict resolution...hmmm, maybe I should do a post about that?
Do you have enough conflict in your story? Gotta jet—but keep writing. See you tomorrow!
~ Chase Superman Duffy
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