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Published
by The Institute of Children’s Literature, Novel Advice, and Gotta Write Network For
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"The
Ins and Outs of Conflict"
by
Richelle Putnam
Most people go to incredible lengths to avoid
conflict. But not writers. Like crazed addicts, they
seek out criminals and earth destroying comets. They place innocent children in
the hands of kidnappers, forcing them to stay until the last unnerving moment.
They might even attempt to destroy the world. Why? Conflict is the key to a
successful story.
Five Basic Conflict Categories
Character against god-made crises (nature, disease,
and sickness)
Character against unknown (space, spirit
world, fantasy)
Character against character (protagonist,
antagonist, hero, villain)
Character against Society (law, government,
religion, rules, authority)
Character against Self (insecurities,
disabilities, physiological, emotional)
These can be further summarized into two
categories--outer and inner.
Outer Conflict
These are situations that occur OUTSIDE the
character's mind, elements beyond his control. Examples are god-made crises, the
unknown, society, murder, espionage, robbery, stalkers, rivalry, competitions,
other characters, and so on. OUTER CONFLICT can cause INNER CONFLICT.
Inner Conflict
These are situations that occur INSIDE a
character's mind, such as jealousy, envy, love, anger, hurt, fear, insecurity,
phobias, rejection, and so on. Characters can control their reactions to inner
conflict. INNER CONFLICT can cause OUTER CONFLICT.
***************
In THE WATCHER by James Howe, we have
character against character, and in OUT OF THE DUST by Karen Hesse, we find character against nature. Here's an example
from THE WATCHER by James Howe, Aladdin Paperbacks, publisher, ISBN
0-689-80186-6
========
[Margaret] was glad for [the empty beach]. It
made it easier to believe she was invisible when there were fewer eyes to see
her. What would they have seen anyway? A bony girl with loose
brown hair falling across her face and shoulders. A
baggy t-shirt and pink and powder-blue flip-flops, one of which was held
together with packing tape. That's all. Just her body,
just her clothes. They would not have seen her. No.
For Margaret, the outer conflict that caused
her inner conflict was an abusive father (beyond her control). But whether or
not she told authorities about the abuse (inner conflict) was within Margaret's
control.
Here's an example of an outer conflict in OUT
OF THE DUST by Karen Hesse, Scholastic, Inc.,
publisher, ISBN 0-590-37125-8
========
Mama has rules for setting the table. I place
plates upside down, glasses bottom side up, napkins folded over forks, knives,
and spoons. When dinner is ready, we sit down together and Ma says,
"Now." We shake out our napkins, spread them on our laps and flip
over our glasses and plates, exposing neat circles, round comments on what life
would be without dust.
For Billie Jo, the outer conflict is the
In THE WATCHER, Margaret fantasizes about
other families that appear so perfect. However, page after page, reality seeps
in and reveals the truth. In OUT OF THE DUST, Billie Joe is determined to leave
the grim life of dust she copes with every day until she discovers a strength
within herself she has never perceived.
Cause and Effect
So, what is happening here? First, conflict
is introduced, then it heightens, progressively worsens, and as characters face it, they are strengthened and change takes place.
This is called "cause and effect."
After overcoming one obstacle, another pops up even more complicated and
challenging. This continues until the final conflict/climax, which seems
insurmountable.
How does a writer not only create inner and
outer conflict, but also heighten and maintain the pace until the final climax
and story resolution? First, establish the ultimate goal and, once characters
begin their quest, start hurling obstacles in front of them to maintain the
pace. Below is a very simple outline of progressive conflicts:
Goal: Teenager wants to go to a party
Obstacle: Parents won't let her
Solution: She plans to sneak out the car
Obstacle: Her best friend who is spending the night doesn't
want to get into trouble
Solution: Main Character talks friend into going, saying they won't
get caught and it'll be fun
Mounting Obstacle: Policeman stops car because girls are out after the
Mounting Solution: Main Character tells officer that her best friend is
sick and wants to go home.
Intensifying Obstacle: After girls get to party, best friend feels
uncomfortable because of drinking and drugs and wants to leave.
Intensifying Solution: Main Character decides to take her friend home and go
back to the party.
Heightened Obstacle: On the way, Main Character, who has had too much to
drink, runs off road. Car flips several times. Best friend is knocked out. Main
Character smells gasoline and sees the small fire. Door is stuck. Main
character panics. She kicks at crushed door. It won't open. She kicks at front
window. It won't break. She screams and cries. Then she calms down and
remembers that an automobile's side windows aren't as thick as the front
window. She kicks and kicks her window. She feels the heat intensify. She kicks
harder, harder. The glass cracks. She kicks. It cracks some more, until finally
her foot crashes through. She grabs her best friend. The fire is crackling. Her
arms ache trying to pull her injured friend out. Her head is whoozy from drink and fear. She cuts her arm on broken
glass, but ignores it. She pulls and pulls until finally, she yanks her friend
through the small window, dragging her away from the car, which is now engulfed
in flames.
Heightened Solution: Friend in hospital, a small chance she might make it,
but most probably she won't. Main Character stays at hospital
day after day dealing with guilt and regret. She speaks out against
drinking and driving, losing many friends in the process.
Climaxing Obstacle: All the friends she wanted to impress at the party
mean nothing anymore. Even though
they have showed up at her side now, she doesn't care. Only one person matters
to her now: Her best friend. The one who had accepted her
when others hadn't, and stood by her at any cost. She'll never forgive
herself if her best friend dies.
Final Resolution: Best friend finally responds. Soon she is sitting up,
getting better day after day. The two are reconciled. Main Character learns
from her destructive behavior and grows from the experience.
Pacing, Pacing, Pacing!
A novel should consist of mini conflicts and
climaxes, inner and outer, all possessing beginnings, middles, and ends, and
all leading to the ultimate conflict, climax, and resolution. Nevertheless,
don't rush from conflict to conflict. Your readers will become nervous wrecks.
Use thoughts, narratives, descriptions, and flashbacks as calming affects
before going to the next conflict.
In closing, no story can succeed without
inner and outer conflict. Characters have to strive for something, and, as we
all know, even in real life nothing comes easy. Readers long to struggle with
characters, celebrating their successes, and crying over their losses.
Struggles don't have to be riddled with blood and violence, but must be
dramatic and moving. Endings need not be happy, but something that readers are
not likely to ever forget.
Don't fear conflict. Confront it, tackle it, and then go on to the next one.
Richelle Putnam is a
former writer for All Headline News. She
has been published in Common Ties, E2K Literary Journal, World Wide Writers,
Orchard Press Mysteries, Southern Hum, The Copperfield Review, Cayuse Press,
Writer’s Journal, Obadiah Press’s Living By Faith Anthology, A tribute to
Mothers Anthology, A Cup of Comfort for Mothers and Daughters, and more. Her children’s literature has been published
on the Institute of Children’s Literature’s website, Writing Korner, and Wee Ones, Boy’s Quest, Appleseeds,
and Hopscotch Magazine for Girls; Her work is
soon to be released in Flashquake, Fireflies in Fruit Jars Anthology, and GCWA
“Mississippi” Anthology. Her novel, Fallout, was released in 2000; She is the
Founder and President of Mississippi Writers Guild. www.richelleputnam.net