tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post8599556415532825304..comments2024-03-27T03:14:07.652-04:00Comments on Seekerville: The Journey Continues: Conflict and Tension Part 3, When to Resolve ConflictMissy Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-85783045927779604822018-04-26T23:12:00.011-04:002018-04-26T23:12:00.011-04:00Indeed, Glynna! Tis not easy sometimes! The extern...Indeed, Glynna! Tis not easy sometimes! The external is usually easiest for me. I actually go ahead and start a story sometimes before I know the internal conflicts, hoping one will come to me as I start to write in a character's POV.Melanie Dickersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09752176517296691824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-12643672261418418432018-04-26T23:10:10.007-04:002018-04-26T23:10:10.007-04:00Aw, thanks so much, Patti Jo! I think my next post...Aw, thanks so much, Patti Jo! I think my next post will be how to create conflict using your hero and heroine's past.<br />Yes, Brain-Like-a-Sieve Disease is a very real, somewhat debilitating disease frequently seen in those who always seem to be plotting a story in their heads. :-)Melanie Dickersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09752176517296691824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-28738578635827047232018-04-26T23:05:27.972-04:002018-04-26T23:05:27.972-04:00Thanks for your comment, Vince! Multiple streams o...Thanks for your comment, Vince! Multiple streams of conflict are great. And I also like a book in which the reader is unsure if a character is friend or foe. I've tried to include that in a couple of my books. Come to think of it, that is really fun. I need to do that again. :-)<br /><br />Do you have an example of something interesting happening that isn't necessarily conflict? I'm trying to think of something like that. Maybe in my books it would be a dance in which the hero and heroine are starting to bond. I think readers do like that, and there isn't necessarily any conflict in that, but it's interesting. Readers often say about certain of my books that they liked the back-and-forth dialogue between the hero and heroine. But that usually involves at least some tension, but mostly it's just meant to be funny and, again, some bonding between the characters as they're falling in love with each other but don't realize it yet. I personally get annoyed sometimes if there's too much conflict, especially misunderstandings between the hero and heroine. So it's a point well taken.<br /><br />I like setting up the reader with making them interested in either the hero and heroine of the next book in the series. That can work very well to entice readers to want to read the next book. :-)<br />Melanie Dickersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09752176517296691824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-62587279073143714732018-04-26T20:25:53.964-04:002018-04-26T20:25:53.964-04:00Hi, Melanie! Like Patti Jo, I'm late to the p...Hi, Melanie! Like Patti Jo, I'm late to the party! What's with these day jobs anyway? :)<br /><br />Finding a book-length conflict can be so tricky sometimes--especially keeping secrets SECRET--so I like your ideas of spinning off to related escalating conflicts.<br /><br />I always try to give my hero & heroine each an external conflict as well as an internal one. Finding a satisfying external conflict is always the hardest for me, but I know some authors find that's the easiest part and struggle with the internal. Fortunate is the author who comes by both naturally!<br />Glynna Kayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11914006944057671962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-16592022216606528742018-04-26T17:17:05.142-04:002018-04-26T17:17:05.142-04:00Hi Melly! :)
Sorry I'm a day late, but loved t...Hi Melly! :)<br />Sorry I'm a day late, but loved this post. I've always struggled with having enough conflict and tension, and it's helpful seeing how talented authors (such as Melly!) handle it. I cannot wait to read The Beautiful Pretender---oh my! Sounds intriguing.<br />And thanks for identifying what I also have: Brain-Like-A-Sieve disease, LOL!! ;) <br /> Hugs, Patti JoCatMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09985658721138526298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-71307114943225733482018-04-26T16:45:54.733-04:002018-04-26T16:45:54.733-04:00Hi Melanie:
I'm coming late but just a short ...Hi Melanie:<br /><br />I'm coming late but just a short comment:<br /><br />I like it when there are multiple streams of conflict. I really like it when the hero and heroine have mutually exclusive conflicts….especially if there are more than one of them. These conflicts do not seem to run out of steam. They require a miracle at the end…like Julie's "Emma" book.<br /><br />I also like internal conflict created in the reader. This can happen when the reader is not sure if a character is friend or enemy or when the reader is not in favor of a character's actions. "Don't marry Charity." Even true objectives can be in doubt in the reader's mind. "What's she really up too?"<br /><br />Besides, I'm not sure readers want conflict directly. What readers want is something interesting 'happening'. We had a greeting in the military where we'd ask, "What are the happs?" The 'happs' did not have to be conflict but it needed to be something interesting. In the old west, when a stranger rode into town and went into the saloon, everyone wanted to know what the news was from out of town.<br /><br />Lots of conflict can also be very good for the next books in the series. Well, this may be a little longer than I intended but at least everyone else has already spoken. :) <br /><br />Vince <br />Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707773426729777989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-9145303203449975672018-04-26T15:33:57.737-04:002018-04-26T15:33:57.737-04:00Yes, exactly, Pam!!! It's better if it was alr...Yes, exactly, Pam!!! It's better if it was already there, or at least foreshadowed, instead of something completely new that got thrown in. Great point!Melanie Dickersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09752176517296691824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-60965998402387238302018-04-26T11:23:05.320-04:002018-04-26T11:23:05.320-04:00You're so right, Pam! And yes, it is good if y...You're so right, Pam! And yes, it is good if you do have a conflict that is strong enough to last the whole book. That is never a bad thing! But also isn't an absolute necessity. I think it's good to start off with several strong conflicts. Some can get resolved and others can get stronger as the story goes along. Like you, I used to think it was bad to resolve a conflict midway through the story, but I've learned it's okay, if it works for the story and there are other strong conflicts, to let one or two work themselves out early.<br />Thanks, Pam!Melanie Dickersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09752176517296691824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-27982364791679159872018-04-26T11:20:14.243-04:002018-04-26T11:20:14.243-04:00Ha! Yes! That's a good example, Mindy! Danger ...Ha! Yes! That's a good example, Mindy! Danger from without is always a great conflict, especially in suspense. Thanks for coming by, Mindy!Melanie Dickersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09752176517296691824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-57386342342516316922018-04-26T11:18:35.785-04:002018-04-26T11:18:35.785-04:00Haha! Yes, we all love surprises, especially good ...Haha! Yes, we all love surprises, especially good ones. :-) I didn't think to mention that it probably wouldn't be good to just have a series of small conflicts that get resolved and replaced with a new one all through the book, but if a big conflict doesn't last the whole book, make sure you have another big one that keeps the reader wanting to know what happens. You know all that, of course, being a pro! :-) Melanie Dickersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09752176517296691824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-27214245446360214972018-04-26T09:42:54.128-04:002018-04-26T09:42:54.128-04:00Melanie mentioned the movie Penelope in her post. ...Melanie mentioned the movie Penelope in her post. Since I'd never seen it, I went to wiki and read the plot. I won't give away any spoilers in case someone prefers, but a good example of introducing new conflicts/twists is when the reader (and then Penelope) finds out that one of the main characters isn't who he pretended to be (another pretender, Melanie!).<br /><br />Instead of introducing a completely new conflict from a new source or a new character, the new conflict has been part of the story all along and makes it richer. The reader is invested in the outcome even more than before.<br /><br />So, look for conflicts that can arise from existing characters. Secrets or surprises that throw the other characters for a loop. Having said that, more often than not, the reader is in on this secret/twist before the h/hn, so they know what's coming. Sometimes, though, the twist is a surprise to the reader and everybody.<br /><br />So, mix it up. :)Pam Hillmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08604636348596615139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-90484834639961399432018-04-26T09:31:38.890-04:002018-04-26T09:31:38.890-04:00Oh, Mel, this is great! When I first started writi...Oh, Mel, this is great! When I first started writing, I thought that there was supposed to be one conflict that carried the book from start to finish. And there's something to be said for that. Maybe there should be something that either the hero/heroine (or both) struggles with from beginning to the end.<br /><br />But then there are conflicts (questions) that arise and are resolved. Some take longer than others. When some are resolved, it might not be in the way that the reader is expecting, and good twists present a new direction for the hero/heroine.<br /><br />And these conflicts usually overlap each other and start/end randomly, depending on how they effect other parts of the story.<br /><br />Long story short... thank you for bringing this out. With some of my first work, I was worried that readers would feel cheated when I introduced a new "wrinkle" mid-way through, but done correctly, it builds conflict instead of tearing it down. :)Pam Hillmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08604636348596615139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-87371685684366512032018-04-26T08:32:32.390-04:002018-04-26T08:32:32.390-04:00Oh, good. Missy said she was late before I had to....Oh, good. Missy said she was late before I had to. <br /><br />Melanie, I love this series you've done and, as Missy said, I like how you point out that there may not be one conflict that lasts the whole book, but there can always be more conflict. Like when you're reading a suspense and just when you're convinced they've escaped the bad guy and everything's going to be hunky dory, you discover there's another bad guy. Aye yai yai...Mindy Obenhaushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15049730175697756032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-58335296773735024232018-04-26T08:27:15.854-04:002018-04-26T08:27:15.854-04:00Melanie, I'm a day late! I was out most of yes...Melanie, I'm a day late! I was out most of yesterday. I'm so glad to be able to get by today. Great post! I often get caught up in trying to find a book-long conflict, and it helps to consider tying that one up and ending with something else. As a reader, I think it's fun to have that happen! I love surprises. I think we, as writers, are always anticipating what's going to happen It's so nice to be wrong!Missy Tippenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-22359697885853908512018-04-25T23:12:31.299-04:002018-04-25T23:12:31.299-04:00Cool! :-)Cool! :-)Melanie Dickersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09752176517296691824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-4283701883999954532018-04-25T23:12:07.019-04:002018-04-25T23:12:07.019-04:00LOL!LOL!Melanie Dickersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09752176517296691824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-23132580260817474782018-04-25T23:09:50.032-04:002018-04-25T23:09:50.032-04:00Thanks, MJSH!Thanks, MJSH!Melanie Dickersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09752176517296691824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-39393101893004740542018-04-25T22:34:54.643-04:002018-04-25T22:34:54.643-04:00I think my biggest problem is that I'm basing ...I think my biggest problem is that I'm basing it off stories I've heard my grandparents tell about themselves when they were dating. Not too much conflict there. They met, fell in love, married, and lived together 66 years. Perfect happily ever after. But I can think of a couple of things, like when Grandpa was going to school several states away, called her, and then hung up before she got to the phone (it was across the street). That's conflict that would make me upset with my fella! :-)Amy Anguishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08227138959392552195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-35833592853244934912018-04-25T21:38:30.480-04:002018-04-25T21:38:30.480-04:00As a reader, I do love a complicated conflict that...As a reader, I do love a complicated conflict that takes twists and turns to resolve. I also do enjoy an unexpected resolution that leaves me gasping, to be surprised by another conflict. Love your books, Melanie! Can’t wait to read the latest. MJSHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01882770313220588622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-8380921989185125152018-04-25T20:11:05.294-04:002018-04-25T20:11:05.294-04:00Aw, thanks, Shish Lynn! It is sometimes a temptati...Aw, thanks, Shish Lynn! It is sometimes a temptation to just end it with their declarations of love, but it's much more satisfying to give the reader a bit more, making sure they get a peek at the wedding, and sometimes more than that, a peek at their lives together afterwards. Thanks for commenting! Entering you in the drawing.Melanie Dickersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09752176517296691824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-15224904082889033352018-04-25T20:07:58.521-04:002018-04-25T20:07:58.521-04:00Me too, Kim! Those are two must-haves right there!...Me too, Kim! Those are two must-haves right there! For me anyway. Although I did read Gone With the Wind seven times. But I would always imagine a different ending. Maybe Scarlett could realize much earlier that she didn't actually love Ashley after all! Ha! Melanie Dickersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09752176517296691824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-16369185070167987772018-04-25T20:06:12.239-04:002018-04-25T20:06:12.239-04:00Thanks, Beth! We all love surprises in our novels,...Thanks, Beth! We all love surprises in our novels, so the more genuine surprises we can provide, the better! Thanks for stopping by!Melanie Dickersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09752176517296691824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-24237427934227010022018-04-25T20:04:55.149-04:002018-04-25T20:04:55.149-04:00Aw, that's awesome, Jessica! I will be looking...Aw, that's awesome, Jessica! I will be looking forward to meeting you there! And thank you! You're in the drawing!Melanie Dickersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09752176517296691824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-34019593351361316892018-04-25T20:03:00.835-04:002018-04-25T20:03:00.835-04:00Elizabella, writer's block is the worst! Drumm...Elizabella, writer's block is the worst! Drumming up more conflict, also strengthening your character's goals and motivations, their childhood trauma story, inner conflict, etc. is very good for writer's block! Try brainstorming with a friend. Or thinking of things you've struggled with.Melanie Dickersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09752176517296691824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-74125540423501827462018-04-25T18:38:51.014-04:002018-04-25T18:38:51.014-04:00Totally agree. That's why you are one of my fa...Totally agree. That's why you are one of my favorites! I don't like conflict to remained unresolved until the end of the book. Or worse, throughout multiple books. I also want to mention that you are great at making the reader satisfied after finishing a book. The wrapping up never happens too quickly and the "prologues" are beautiful. I don't want a book to end with, "they finally kissed and said I love you to each other. The End". I'm sure other readers can relate. :)Shishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03288108504550651513noreply@blogger.com