Maddy

Maddy asked Mary Beth Keane:

How do you come up with a good, solid conflict in a novel? I can come up with characters and traits etc I admire and would like to use, but I struggle fitting them into a concrete story that has a problem to resolve that is also interesting to read.

Mary Beth Keane I think characters determine plot more than plot determines character. A writing teacher of mine once said that you don't need to have characters doing big things, you just need them TRYING to do things, and a reader will root for and identify with the trying. It always helps me to put characters in motion, see what happens, then one thing leads to another. But also remember that none of this will feel good or right in the first several drafts. Don't give up. It takes a long time (at least for me).

More Answered Questions

A Goodreads user

A Goodreads user asked Mary Beth Keane:

Just finished reading Ask Again, Yes. A great novel dealing with complicated emotions and humanity. The book was divided into 4 parts by using 4 different sub titles including Gillam, Queens, Two By Two, Muster. While Gillam and Queens were referring to where the story happened, what Two By Two and Muster as the third & forth sub titles meant regarding to the chapters following?

A Goodreads user

A Goodreads user asked Mary Beth Keane:

what was your springboard for this tale of unrequited love btw Kate Gleeson & Peter Stanhope? it reminds me of the tragic bond of Romeo and Juliet. kinda romantic. very sad too.

Judy

Judy asked Mary Beth Keane:

no ? just entered giveaway & wanted to give you a shoutout > WAHOO! WAH!

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Mary Beth Keane

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