Robert Ferrier writes the second monthly article on fiction craft for Inscriptions Magazine.

"Fiction Craft: Conflict"

By

Robert Ferrier (rferrier2.cox.net)

Want to hook readers? Write compelling scenes.

Last month we covered the first element of a scene: Goal. The second
element is conflict.

What grips readers? Tension. After discovering the character's story quest
and the scene's goal, readers want to experience a good fight. That's why
conflict hogs 95% of a scene.

The definition of conflict: opposition to the character's scene goal.
Elements of Conflict:

1. Opposition happens moment-by-moment, in the character's viewpoint,
leaving nothing out.
2. Action is portrayed by stimulus-response, give-and-take.
3. Character and opposition contest each other.
In my novel, "The Witchery Way," Josh Wade has fallen into a rattlesnake
pit. His scene goal: escape the pit and save his girlfriend, Amy.
----------------------------

Josh pulled the knife and stuck it into the side of the pit, but the soil
was too soft to take any weight.

The rattlers drowned out everything, and he felt them slithering over his
boots. Ish Maytubby's corpse flashed through his mind.

He looked up and saw Amy's face. Trace Gottschalk was holding her.
He wore the black hat with the conch shell band. Amy was bound by the
wrists and gagged, her eyes wild with terror as she looked into the pit.

Josh reversed the knife in his hand, judging his chances of throwing
without hitting Amy.

Trace smiled, holding Amy with his left arm and leveling his rifle on Josh
with the right. "Won't work. Just drop it down with the snakes."

Josh paused, measuring the throw.

"Drop it! Or I'll shoot you in the knees and put you down with them."
Josh let go of the knife. The rattling grew louder, and he felt one of the
snakes coiling around his ankle. He prayed that the itse would buy him a
few seconds.

Trace said, "You're too predictable, Railroad Boy. So is she." He looked at
Amy. Her eyes darted, and she struggled, trying to free herself. She was making
a fight of it.

Trace jerked her back against him. "Hold still!" He looked down at Josh.
"You've got guts; never thought you could take One Eye."

"Let Amy go. She not part of this."

Trace laughed. "After what she's seen?" His eyes went flat. "She's going to
be down there with you." He smiled, looking down at Josh's leg. "That big
one is climbing past your boot. Let's stir them up with another customer."
He shoved Amy toward the mouth of the pit.

Avoid Common Mistakes:

1. Confusing bad luck or adversity with true conflict -- a give-and-take
struggle between story people with opposing goals.

2. Failing to increase the stakes of scenes as the story unfolds.

3. Forgetting to increase the challenges to the character with each new scene.

Write true conflict in your scenes and you'll hook readers into turning pages.

Next month: Ending a scene.
©2001 Robert Ferrier