How do you do it?
Simple, think about your story’s central conflict. Now come up with as many reasons as you can that make this conflict worse. Do not censor yourself. Write an exhaustive list. When you think you’ve gone as far as you can, go further. Think disastrously bad.
Are you finished?
Pick as many of these ideas as possible and weave them into your plot.
Why do we do this?
We want to write a story with increasing amounts of tension. We want to write a story where the problem gets worse and worse until it seems hopeless. Remember what Dwight Swain said? A good story builds tension. And a good ending releases that tension. The higher the tension, the more satisfying the release at the end.
Question to Ponder: Have there been times in your life when tension escalated to a maddening level?
I remember being late for one of my first days for this receptionist job I got in Madison. And wouldn’t you know it, I got a flat tire. I about lost it. Who am I kidding? I did lose it.
Lindsay – we went to JC Penny's this past weekend. We were sorta disappointed in the overall pics. We definitely want to use the lady you use for his one year! I'm glad you like the pic though!
Sorry, this has nothing to do with conflicts or tension. But when did you get Brogan's pictures taken?? I love the one you posted, it's adorable!! He's such a cutie 🙂
Hey everybody! A lot of you bring up some great points!
Eileen – I agree 110%. I think the key is raising the stakes realistically. Making the disasters coincide with the story. And do so believably. Because there is nothing worse – nothing that brings me out of a story more – than when my belief is not suspended. I read a book once (won't say who the author was, of course) where all these catastrophes started happening to the MC, and they weren't really related. I found myself rolling my eyes. I just didn't believe it.
Jeannie – I didn't lose my job, can you believe that? But I most definitely did lose my sanity. I'm still trying ot figure out if I've ever found it since then. 🙂
Carol – I totally agree with you. I am a HUGE fan of subtle conflict. Sometimes I think this type of conflict is incredibly powerful, even more powerful than overt conflict. But that's just me.
Yep, Galen. straight from Donald Maas. 🙂
And I think there is something to be said about torturing our character. Somebody told me once that I have a tendency to let my MC off the hook, which zaps the tension off the page. This wise woman told me to let my heroine suffer….don't let her off the hook. And my writing is SO much better for it. 🙂
As always, thanks for the comments everybody!
THIS WEEK! My list to do is long and my time within to do it in is short. Every day the stakes get higher…. and I sweat a little more.
Or.. the time when Scott and I took in foster kids. A GREAT experience… but wow. Talk about raising the stakes. And then I found out I was pregnant… (did I mention we had THREE foster kids plus TWO of our own already… not including the one in the "oven"?)
Yeah… Krista's nerves were non-existent for a while!
Good post, Katie! I don't think we can ever have too much conflict, but sometimes we might need to re-think our definition of conflict. Beth is probably smart to consider if it's wise to overfill our stories with one unbelievably nasty misfortune after another. Conflict also includes stress, confrontation, constant worry, disagreement, etc. There are times when subtle conflict can be useful in keeping the tension going without log-leaping from one major catastrophe to another.
Carol Garvin
Another great post. I'm working out some conflict details in my outline right now, so this is helpful. I'm wondering though, if there can be TOO MUCH conflict, like to the point where it seems ridiculous? Not sure. Love your new pics by the way!
Ohhh. you've been reading Donald Maass, right? If not, he makes the same point, and, you're both, right. So, ratchet up that tension.
Best Regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog
This is so true. It's sometimes hard to do though. At my crit group last night, I was like, "I think you should torture her some more here," and the other girl was like, "Hasn't she been tortured enough?"
I've thought about that questions. Can we torture our characters too much with conflict? Hm…
katie – my question to you is: did you lose the receptionist job? or just lose your sanity? 🙂
jeannie
Where Romance Meets Therapy
Hurray for conflict. That's a great way to come up with more ideas, make a list until it gets worse and worse. I need to do this with my new WIP.
Definitely! I've had those weeks where I thought I would explode! That was not fun. Some of that stuff I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy… but maybe a good "bad" character! :0)
Very valuable information… thanks!
Your flat tire reminds me of when I broke up with my boyfriend, was told I was no longer needed at my babysitting job, had pink eye and punctured my tires twice in one week. Now that was as week to remember! 😀
~ Wendy
I love your weekly writing tips! They are such good reminders! I will be thinking of this today as I plot out my novel!
I know this is so true, but there is something to be said for making it seem real, instead of contrived for plot building purposes. That's what I really need to work on, is building the stakes in such a way that I'm not taken out the story rolling my eyes in the unbelievableness of it all. You know what I mean?
OH yes, bad things sometimes happen at the worst times! I love books that raise the stakes, books where I can't figure out how the mc is going to survive. LOL!
You are so right here. I probably could have increased the tension abit more and will remember to do that the next one:) Thanks for great pointers!
Ha! My poor hero got so many cuts and scrapes from all his "battles"…I thought I might have overdone it! 🙂
Increasing tension… hmmm. I am wondering if my memoir could handle any more of this? I will go back and check. Maybe I can sharpen it. you can always sharpen the tension hey? 🙂 Great post Katie.