Conflict is Key
Every good fiction writer knows that conflict is key. The main characters in a novel must have clearly defined desire lines … something they want badly enough to persevere in the face of every obstacle … and internal conflicts give their story depth and intrigue.
Establishing that desire line in the reader’s mind is a particular sort of challenge when the key characters have desire lines based on abstract goals–making a contribution to the world or being seen as loyal and dependable–rather than concrete goals such as becoming president of the U.S. or finding the murderer.
As with all good fiction, the story arc must still be based on desire lines that conflict and build tension. But where the goals are abstract, many of the problems the characters are trying to solve have been created by the characters themselves. Throughout the story, the characters are often the source of the obstacles that get in the way of a solution.
Just like in real life. This is the dilemma most of us live with until we break out of our comfort zone and learn to do things in a different and more productive way.
In fiction, as in life, The Enneagram system, which classifies personality types based on unconscious motivation, can be helpful. As I’ve noted in previous blogs, each of the personality types can be evaluated in terms of the effectiveness with which they go about converting their abstract goals into real world accomplishments.
In A Fitting Place, my protagonist (Lindsey) is a “thinker” who takes prides in being knowledgeable, capable and self-reliant. On her good days, she is thoughtful, perceptive, and a good listener. On her bad days, she can be self-absorbed, secretive, and remarkably unaware of the emotional mood of her environment.
In contrast, my antagonist (Joan) is a “missionary” who loves to be helpful and nurturing. On her good days, she is compassionate, sympathetic and highly attuned to how others are feeling. On her bad days, she is possessive, manipulative, and masterful at inducing a sense of guilt into those who reject her overtures.
Because both my characters are flawed, the opportunities for mayhem and misunderstanding abound … as do the possibilities for significant personal growth and development.
A Fitting Place is a story in which the challenges, mis-steps and successes of characters in conflict should be familiar to readers who (like most of us) have both good days and bad. Good days, when we are happy with who we are and how we respond to the people around us. Bad days, when we are our own worst enemy.
Do you ever have days on which you are your own worst enemy?
This blog continues the discussion on themes in my novel. I welcome comments and guest blogs from my readers based on their own experiences. Let me know if you’d like to do a guest blog on one or more of the issues relevant to A Fitting Place.
More information about The Enneagram can be found in past blogs on this site, as well as here.
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