"Conflict comes from the interaction between character and plot." Learn more, with Plot/Character Exercises: #Writing Advice #amwriting #writingworkshop

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Conflict comes from the interaction between character and plot. Let's look more closely at character.

Six basic human needs influence character:
Growth (working toward a personal goal)
Contribution (feeling needed, worthwhile)
Security (knowing the future)
Change (desire for variety, excitement)
Connection (feeling part of a group)
Independence (personal identity and freedom)

Which of these are most important to your main character? Create conflict by setting up situations which oppose that person’s needs.

Who are the best characters
for ghost hunting?Exercise—Write a story, starting with plot.

Come up with a challenge – a difficult situation for someone. This can be anything from facing the first day of school to wanting to make a sports team to solving a crime to fighting zombies.

Then ask, What kind of person would have the most trouble in that situation? Plan or write a story about that character in that situation.

Exercise—Write a story, starting with character.

Write a brief character sketch, covering basics such as gender, age, personality characteristics – introvert/ extrovert, optimist/ pessimist, etc. – with a few likes and dislikes. You can base this on someone you know.

How would they define or describe themselves? (“I always…I never…I’m the kind of person who….”)

What happens when a shy,
sheltered girl goes on a quest?•    If these statements are true, a situation that challenges the belief will create conflict. For example, if you have a character who is honest, put him in a situation where there is a good reason to lie.
•    If these statements are false, a situation that exposes the delusion will create conflict.  For example, if someone sees himself as courageous, but isn't really, a situation that requires courage will be especially painful because it shakes up his view of himself.

So, what situation will most challenge this character? Summarize or write a story about that character in that situation.

You know you need both an interesting character and a strong plot to make a good story. As you develop an idea, think about how your character and plot interact, and design your character for your plot. As you write the story, work back and forth between plot and character.
One more exercise:
Look at your work in progress. What is the problem? Why is it important? Why is it difficult? 

Given those answers, is your character the right character for that situation? Could you give your character different needs or desires, to make the situation more difficult for him or her?

Hire Chris for a developmental edit or take a self-paced online class:

Advanced Plotting—Keep Those Pages Turning

Learn advanced techniques that will make a decent plotdynamic. Start with a “grab you by the throat” opening, pack the plot full,maximize your pacing, and use cliffhanger chapter endings to drive the storyforward.

Take this online course at your own pace. It includes sixvideos plus handouts with notes and more resources. Get Advanced Plotting here.

Please note: If you are new to EzyCourse, you will need to sign up and get a password first. Then return to the course page to enroll and pay. You will not have access to the course until you "Complete Purchase." 

You Can Write for Children

Learn about children’spublishing—opportunities and challenges, genres, age ranges, book and magazinemarkets, and resources to keep you going. Watch this three-session video courseat your own pace. GetYou Can Write for Children here.

Chris Eboch is the author of  Advanced Plotting. Get Advanced Plotting from Amazon. Children's writers will get a great overview of writing books for kids in  YouCan Write for Children : A Guide to Writing Great Stories, Articles,and Books for Kids and Teenagers. It is available in Kindle, in paperback, or in Large Print paperback. Get  You Can Write for Children .
Chris has published over 100 books for children, includingnonfiction and fiction, early reader through teen. Her novels for ages nine andup include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; TheWell of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventure; The Genie’s Gift, amiddle eastern fantasy; and the Haunted series, about kids who travel with aghost hunter TV show, which starts with The Ghost on the Stairs.Her writing craft books include You Can Write for Children: How toWrite Great Stories, Articles, and Books for Kids and Teenagers, and AdvancedPlotting.
Learn more at https://chriseboch.com/ or her Amazon page.
Chris also writes for adults under the name Kris Bock. Kris Bockwrites novels of mystery, suspense, and romance. In theAccidental Detective series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles thechallenges of turning fifty. Kris’s Furrever Friends Sweet Romanceseries features the employeesand customers at a cat café. In the AccidentalBillionaire Cowboys series, a Texas ranching family wins a fortune in the lottery, whichcauses as many problems as it solves. 

Sign up for the Kris Bock Mystery and Romancenewsletter and get a free Accidental Detectiveshort story and bonus material, a free 30-page sweet romance set in the world of the FurreverFriends cat café, and a printable copy of the recipes mentioned in the cat cafénovels.

Learn more at www.krisbock.comor visit her Amazonpage.