Mysteries are full of conflict. It’s a good versus evil struggle with internal and external conflicts abounding.
Most novels, in fact, are heavy on conflict. Otherwise, it’s a dull book. Even if the scene’s conflict is a monkey-wrench thrown in a character’s carefully planned day, that’s conflict.
External conflict is everywhere. It’s on the evening news, it’s happening during raucous PTA meetings and toddler playgroups. I’m a person who doesn’t like making waves and doesn’t like being involved in conflicts. But I don’t mind observing them as a third party.
I was in a shipping center the other day to mail off a package. A radio was playing the news in the background and the sad story of the girl who’d been kidnapped and held hostage for so many years came on.
The owner, who wasn’t originally from the US, said loudly, “This is disgusting! Do you want to know what’s wrong with America?”
The people in the line were politely pretending that they didn’t hear him and all began messing with their cell phones. I cleared my throat. “I do,” I said. “I want to know what’s wrong with America.”
There was a collective groan behind me. But come on. Great way of finding out what bugs people. What bugs people in their everyday, ordinary life provides wonderful conflict for someone like me.
In the kind of books I write, the things that just get under your skin may end up in a mysterious death.
The guy at the shipping center was delighted to launch into a rambling monologue of American ills. It was extremely educational and might be used for future material. :) On the downside, I think my fellow customers were about ready to string me up at the end of his discourse.
I get lots of other material from the local news…the more local, the better. In fact, if there was a subdivision newsletter, that might provide even more ideas for plot conflict.
Conflicts I’ve observed in local news include:
*Land disputes
*Irritating, obnoxious neighbors
*Long-time family feuds
*Church schisms
*Teenagers with too much family money and not enough sense
*Fraudulent financial planners
*People furious at real estate developers
*People furious at the local school board for changing zoning
*A man who has a sign posted, saying, “The Town of Matthews Stole my Farm.” (An eminent domain issue.)
Really, the newspaper is a treasure trove of ideas for plot conflict, especially for mystery writers. There’s certainly lots of other conflict out there, but again, I won’t touch a friend’s personal problems.
But conflict makes the plot go ‘round for fiction writers. And, luckily for us, inspiration is everywhere.
I couldn’t agree more that ideas are everywhere. I carry a small notepad to jot down phrases, ideas, or when inspiration strikes. Sometimes I can’t read my chicken scratches later but other times they wind up in a work in progress.
The line, “Only Trouble is Interesting” is what keeps readers turning pages. I recall a very early crit group member, way back when I had no clue about crafting a story, who said, “Please, don’t have anything else bad happen to Sarah!”
Well, if nothing else happened to her, the book would have been over. We might like the happy ending, but there have to be obstacles on the way to getting there.
I’m heading out for a 5 day cruise. I know I’ll be adding to my “what if” library of ideas.
There is never a shortage of ideas, just a limit on a writer’s ability to perceive them. That’s what I think, anyway. Any time I feel strapped for writing material, I try to keep this in mind and I find it oddly comforting. “Sure, I might not be able to think of anything to write now, but if I keep sitting here, thinking, searching, asking what-if? an idea will occur.” It’s maddening in the meantime, but…
Elizabeth, I love that you asked the guy what he meant, but I can just see the other people on line fuming. I’m reading your book now, “Pretty is as Pretty Dies,” and you know from what you speak. It is fraught with internal and external conflict. I’m loving it!
Karen
Ooh–that’s a great idea! Thanks for the tip for “finding” more conflict! Sometimes we just need to be aware of what’s going on around us.
I admire your nerve for responding to the gentleman’s rhetorical question as I admit my probable reaction would have been in my head and decidedly not using G-rated vocabulary.
Thank you for the timely reminder that curiosity is the key to the magic kingdom of our imaginations.
Elspeth
Conflict is perhaps THE most important element to include in your stories. Aside from gnomes, of course.
I had to laugh at you asking for this guy’s opinion. I could just see the line contemplating how to string you up by your toenails. It certainly shows that you have an inquisitive mind – and are always on the lookout for plot ideas.
Helen
Straight From Hel
Good thoughts and ideas on confilcts, which, I agree are essential elements in any interesting book. That’s life, right? Also internal conflict is to me important in good character development. The striggle within oneself between right and wrong, maybe pathological disorders and neurosis, etc., makes for more interst than just black and white thinking characters.
Marvin D Wilson
Now I’m wondering what is wrong with America according to owner and can he fix it!) I think that saying about truth being stranger than fiction is why so much truth ends up in fiction.
I spent time with many of my aunts and uncles this past weekend. Out of 6 brothers in the family, two of them ended up completely opposite in lifestyles and morals. Talk about conflict! That afternoon certainly got my brain working.
What a lovely rich post and bunch of responses! Yay conflict! I don’t read the papers much anymore and my radio broke in the car which has afforded me much surprising peace. I thought at first that I’d have to get it fixed toute suite but as the days lingered on I realized – nah! I like it. I sing by myself. All good. I’m heading out for a big family gatilly tomorrow morning and I KNOW that one of us, my brother, my sister, my dad or me will mention a fat 14 year old boy who snapped at his mother 50 years ago – at Cadilac Mountain, NH (think)in a very snotty tone – “Mother, you’re a fool!” Man were we impressed! A kid yelling at his mother. Wow.
We’re still trying to figure out what she’d done. Possibly something like what America has done. Or Canada for that matter. Just trundled along as best we could or a little less.
David–Too funny, David! I’ve got some chicken scratches on a notepad from the car that I’d made at a stoplight. Can’t make heads nor tails of them.
Terry–Have a great cruise. Let lots of bad things happen to Sara while you’re there!
Helen–I think the customers all thought I was nuts. I’m sure they couldn’t figure out why I’d piped up like that.
Marvin–And the more internal conflict, the more complex the character.
Jane–Well, according to the shipping store fellow, American problems are primarily caused by A) We don’t know our neighbors anymore (fairly apt analysis in some respects) and B) We homeschool too many of our children, thus creating a super-class of academic elites who won’t be able to meld successfully into the workplace later on. I’m still trying to digest his logic.
Jack–That’s true. Or take a drive to Walmart. Wow…that’s a cesspool of conflicts right there.
Karen–Thanks so much, Karen! I hope you enjoy it. Myrtle is a difficult woman, but I do like her. And yes…the people at the store had steam coming out of their ears.
Kristen–Good luck with it! It’s everywhere out there.
Elspeth–Nerve? Or stupidity? I’m lucky no one tried to run me down in the parking lot again (on purpose this time.)
Alan–Gnomes are a must!
Janel–Ohhhh….family conflict. Ugh. But very, very real and powerful in a story. Think of King Lear!
Jan–My kids would be in SO much trouble if they did that! Actually, I’d be taking them to the emergency room to get an MRI done and see if they’d suffered an aneurysm or something. Can you imagine? I bet you were just awestruck! (And your parents horrified..)
I mine the online news stories for ideas, not just for a book, but, for combining and making one story from several odd news items. I cut and past them into one of the software packages I blogged about some time ago. Easy place to keep them all stored. I’d never be able remember them without some kind of aid.
Best Regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog
I love hearing unexpected viewpoints, like the immigrant you mentioned. When a taxi driver is prattling at me on the way to the airport, I listen. I listen to the complaints of my elderly neighbors when my husband rolls his eyes and wants to keep walking. And while I don’t borrow tragedies from my friends, I do borrow viewpoints. I’m usually drawn to a person because they’re different from me: different socio-economic strata, race, country of origin, religion, even political agendas (though it’s hard to be more than an acquaintance with someone who votes opposite of me–I try but the irritation becomes too much after a while). In college, I was automatically drawn to the person who arrived late for zoology, wearing a costume for their performance art class, and talking to the professor like an old friend…Getting to know such people was never disappointing. At the time, I did it subconsciously; later, I embraced it as a way to enrich myself. Now, I can use those viewpoints for writing!
I adore that you gave this guy permission to give his opinion! And informed or not, I bet it made GREAT material. I’m sending you safe from citizens karma, as I think most people prefer to remain ignorant.
I think I adore books most when they make us understand the less obvious side of conflict. Normal thinking people (not that we are the majority) have certain though processes, but I think we become better human beings for being able to really grasp the other side. (plus it makes for a GREAT story)
Galen–Great idea, Galen. Otherwise it’s too hard to make sense of the jumble we end up with. You’ve got terrific software solutions for writers–
Hart–It was! He was a fantastic character, actually. I should have asked him if I could film him with my phone, but then the customers really would have gone after me. :)
I think you’re so right. We have to be able to grasp someone else’s POV or background, etc….otherwise, in murder mysteries, the murderer will be flat. It’s not *fun* to be in their heads, but it’s necessary.
Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
Great way of using real life experiences for conflict material in your stories. This is a brilliant idea and is exactly how I teach my students to incorporate conflict into their writing.
By the way, I would have been one of those people groaning. However, I would have listened intently to the person’s point of view.
Great way of getting your finger on the pulse of controversy. I think using every day experience is a wonderful way for finding realistic threads for weaving into our stories.
Nancy, from Realms of Thought…
Thanks, Chary! That would be a great approach for teaching writing.
The fellow was a little odd, which made it interesting as he became animated with his monologue. His opinions were both on-target and peculiar–but what bothered him were problems that I ignore every day. It was interesting to hear a recent immigrant’s take on everyday, annoying American culture.
Nancy—I think so, too. I guess we’re treading a thin line when we do so (we’re writing fiction), but it makes the story richer, in my opinion.
Lorel–It’s interesting, isn’t it? I love to hear people prattle on, especially if the people are unusual. It can be hard, like you mentioned, to keep objectivity sometimes but I like to listen, anyway. And think or write about it later.
I’d like to have met your friend from zoology…
Elizabeth
I am so glad I am not alone. In a similar situation I would have done exactly what you did, even to the point of expecting to be strung by my toes for holding up the line.
As a person, and more so, as a writer, the one thing you need to know is what the other guy thinks, and how else are you going to do that, except by listening without judging.
One of the things I picked up many years ago about creating/developing conflict in stories is to ask yourself: “What is the worst thing that can happen now?” And then, “What’s one more ‘worst’?”
Just ask people about their day; you’ll hear most people gripe about something. As you said, Elizabeth, we’ve all got conflict.
Unfortunately, I’m not so direct as you are and give you tremendous credit for asking the fellow to tell you what was wrong with America. I tend to eavesdrop on conversations held in public – just in case I hear anything interesting. I usually don’t, but every once in a while, something really neat takes place. Like the day the woman in line behind me at the bank was talking on her cell phone, complaining about how her boss at the club where she was dancing took all the tip money out of her g-string and she needs to get a new job…
Thank you for yur starred list of conflicts that exist. i wull use some of this in book next my, I sure.
Rayna–Most writers have to experience life to write about it well. (Except, I guess for the Emily Dickinsons of the world). When I look at conflict and people’s gripes with a journalist’s eye, it seems to go better for me.
Linda–It’s great to hear the gripes! Usually I’m an eavesdropper, too (my introverted nature.) But when no one else would prompt him…I wanted to hear his story.
I didn’t think of it, but a stripper *would* need to go to the bank a lot. All those dollar bills. :)
Elizabeth–
Yes, maintaining objectivity while still empathizing is tough.
As for my zoology friend, she was a breeze to get along with: independent, creative, loved animals, knew how to sword fight and fix cars, joined the air force and brought me a bottle of wine when she came back from being stationed in Czechoslovakia. We kept in touch for years, but unfortunately being half a world away from one another took its toll and we lost touch… I’ve just been inspired to look her up on Facebook!