Lots of different pieces make up a story, but one thing is always there. Conflict. Nothing gets a story moving faster. When characters clash, it stirs up their emotions and pushes them to do things they wouldn’t normally do. Both make for good reading. So I thought I’d write a little blog about it for the young writers out there.
The most obvious conflict between characters is between a hero and a villain. When the goodie seems hopelessly outmatched by a powerful enemy, it creates suspense. You know the feeling. Without realising it, your muscles tense, your eyes stop blinking, and the world around you gets quiet and eerie. Maybe your mouth goes dry, or your breathing becomes shallow. Gulp!
Another kind of conflict happens inside the hero’s head, when all the challenges they face push them to reconsider how they think. By the end of the story, we realise they have changed. That’s powerful because as readers, we have been with them on that journey.
But some of the most enjoyable conflicts are between friends, and you should try to put that into your story too.
Have you ever had a blow-up with a family member or friend about something that seemed desperately important at the time, only to look at each other a moment later and burst out laughing because you realised it was so stupid? One moment you had a fistful of each other’s hair, the next you were red-faced and howling together, the best of friends.
And it doesn’t even need to be that obvious.
A great place to start is by bringing characters with different personalities together. This can be a lot of fun to write, and will make your characters more likable. It can also create some really funny moments.
Below is a scene from my second book, The Ancient Machine, between Georgie’s best friend, Thomas Finnigan, and Cutty, the leader of a troupe of travelling daredevils.
Thomas is a boy who is not naturally very brave. In fact, he has a healthy tendency towards self-preservation.
Cutty is a talking eagle who befriends Thomas on their journey. Unlike Thomas, Cutty is absurdly brave and mistakenly believes Thomas is as fearless as he is. In Cutty’s eyes, poor Thomas is the perfect companion for any death-defying deed. (You can see where this is going.)
This personality clash creates heaps of opportunities for humour throughout the book, which can lighten even the most tense scene and give the reader a good chuckle. And who doesn’t love that? Have a read, and then think about how you can add some conflict to your next story.
Later that evening, Colonel Cutty could be seen pacing up and down a line of golden armadillos, all standing smartly at attention. He peered at each one with his good eye. ‘Chaps, there’s no point painting a pretty face on it. This is a suicide mission, and I’m looking for volunteers.’
Thomas shuffled around nervously. ‘Look, is this entirely necessary?’
The eagle continued, unabated. ‘Sir Thomas, here, is going to his imminent death, and he’s looking for beasts with nerves of steel who aren’t afraid to die with him!’
Thomas gulped. ‘I wouldn’t quite put it that way.’
The eagle eyed his recruits fiercely. ‘If you’re caught by the enemy, you’ll be killed, then tortured, then if you’re lucky, they’ll kill you again quickly!’
The armadillos stood up even taller.
‘I think the objective here is to stay alive,’ Thomas put in weakly.
Colonel Cutty narrowed his keen eye. ‘We need brave lads, like the good Sir Thomas here. Why, he wouldn’t bat an eyelid if someone pulled off his nose, sucked out his eyeballs, and used his head for a bowling ball!’
There was some disturbance as Thomas fainted.
Cutty glanced at the floor. ‘Right you are, Sir. It’s time we all got some shut-eye.’ Turning to his volunteers, he gave them a sharp salute, which they returned. ‘Operation, code name “Absolute Stupidity,” commences at oh-six-hundred hours. Company dismissed!’
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