My son is in marching band, so I found myself at the homecoming game last week as snack mom. :) What’s more, since I was snack mom and had to stay for the whole football game, I told his friends’ moms that I would drive their children home.
This means that I was at a high school football game with no friends to talk to. It was chilly, I hadn’t dressed appropriately, I was by myself, and I don’t watch football. And, every time I turned to watch my son instead of the game, (flirting in the stands with several different girls, it appeared), he frowned at me.
So I took my notebook out. Yes, I was the only person at the football game doing work, but luckily I’m able to block out announcers’ voices, cheering/booing crowds, cheerleaders’ chants, and curious looks. And who cared if I were embarrassing my son, since I was already embarrassing him by just being there? I made some progress on the new book.
But then—I found there was one force of nature I couldn’t block out—the avid football fans seated directly behind me. And this, apparently, was the biggest game of the season that I had innocently wandered into.
The problem with the bellowing of these fans (“Where’s the flag, ref?! “GET HIM!! GET HIMMMMM!!!” “GO! GO! GO!”) is that I had absolutely no idea when they were going to start yelling, since I wasn’t watching the game. So as soon as I got really embedded in my story, they started screaming behind me and I’d jump about two feet off the bleacher.
In fact, I ended up watching the game, which became a very close one (which meant the Avid Football Fans got louder and louder.) And I became aware that of all the people to be near each other, we had to be the most radically different: the nerdy woman trying to beat a deadline by writing a murder mystery at a football game, and the sports fan who has been closely following games since before I was born.
It occurred to me once again that playing with opposites is incredibly useful for a writer:
It can help provide a comic foil. I’m sure I looked funny juxtaposed miserably with the Avid Football Fans. And vice versa.
Opposites create conflict and tension in scenes. I know how I felt when I was around the Avid Football Fans…I wasn’t exactly relaxed. We can also use opposites to provide internal conflict for our characters (what do they want most? What’s the direct opposite of that? Can they want the opposite thing, also?)
Playing with opposites can be helpful in creating a character arc for a story. There can be two people—romantic interests, rivals, enemies—who hate each other at first, then grow to like or love each other.
It supplies contrast to show more information about our protagonist.
Do you enjoy using opposites in your stories?
I married a football player (HS) and he tried his best to teach me the game. It never happened that I would understand the game. Eventually, I told him to stop and watch the game and I’d stand when others stood and clap when others clapped.
Later I would sit through other FB games with my son who played AND my daughter who was Drum Majorette for the band.
We need to make characters uncomfortable at times for conflict. If I have to suffer, he/she must suffer. :)
Elizabeth – Oh, I’ve embarrassed my daughter more often than either of us cares to admit, so I know what you mean about that ;-).
And as to opposites? Yes that can add a lot to a story. I’ve done just a bit of that, ‘though not consciously. I think sometimes we unconsciously create that sort of tension in our stories without thinking where it comes from. Thanks for the focus on this; it’s helping me make some sense of some of the stuff going on beneath the surface in my writing.
I should do it more than I am at the moment. Especially in first draft stage, I can forget that not every obstacle my characters face needs to be something directly opposing them, or even needs to be something which can be removed or fully overcome.
Some challenges are made all the better because there is no solution other than to bear with it.
Very good observations of “life” moments. It does help to go into situations where we feel uncomfortable, and know how we feel. I love the part where the fans screamed and you jumped (because you were into your story–happens to me too, even as I’m in my house and my husband has had to remember to knock first before entering).
Great post. I’m glad I found you/your blog!
Opposites provide conflict and humor and tension… but they also provide one more thing: they provide illumination. They fill out the world of the story, providing perspective. They can be a reflection or contrast to your other characters, and help illustrate why your character’s actions are good or bad or fun or useless.
But, of course, that’s what conflict, humor and tension are really about.
I love the conflict inherent in opposites. Nice post.
Paul–It does help, I think, if the conflict is generated by an opposite. Maybe because it’s easy for readers to quickly grasp? Helps to situate them in the story, I think.
Lorelei–Isn’t it funny how we get so deep into our story that real life ceases to exist? Then we scare ourselves to death when the dog sneezes or the doorbell rings, etc. :)
Journaling Woman–I *sort* of understand football. That’s because I live in the South and understanding football is a survival skill! Aside from the big stuff, I don’t get it, though. Like you, I’ve found that mimicking the crowd’s reaction during a game is the safest thing to do! Sounds like you’ve REALLY had some football in your past. Too much! I think you should write a story with football as conflict. :)
Margot–The worst is when I think I’m *not* being embarrassing and I clearly *am*! I always wonder what I’ve done wrong…
E. Arroyo–Thanks so much for coming by. :)
The Daring Novelist–A very good point and well-put!
I think you’re right. First presenting the reader with a character they like, then facing that character with an opposite, creates an immediate tension and sympathy.
I think that the work I’m revising is based on that, in its entirety- the protagonist keeps being dumped into situations opposite of the ones she had before her husbands accidents – financially comfortable to skint; life of the mind to one of the spirit; no family to way too much family; surface to substance. Thanks for letting me know I’m on the right track!
I like dumping opposite characters together. Think I did that even more with my second book than the first.
I just realized that I should put in more of opposites in my road novel (in progress). Two buddies traveling together, but I need some more tension between them. Thank you for reminding me >:)
Cold As Heaven
I like creating opposites in characters. I have always loved the stories with the very level headed character who maybe analyzes too much, and the highly clueless impulsive character who will either destroy the world or save it.
Great post – thanks!
Opposites definitely make things more interesting. Great post.