I enjoyed this post and think you have a strong point...conflict also invites readers to pick sides, but this can quickly become simplistic and tip the practice of reading toward an exercise in "right" vs. "wrong." I'm all for more stories that invite complication, multiple interpretations, "no easy answers," and situations that show legitimate character needs/desires that may exist in complicated and not-quite-copacetic ways without flaring into the high drama of Conflict.
Yes, great point Cyan. It is that reductivism around the word conflict that gives me pause for thought. Like you I prefer my stories a little less clear cut than the idea of conflict often allows, I’m all for ambiguity and complication, because it reflects much of the mess of life.
I enjoyed In The Absence Of Light, too. Particularly liked the line, "The Guide sees the places where each piece of the shadow falls, how it molds to the shape of everything."
Thanks for taking the time to comment Jacqueline, I appreciate it. And glad you liked that line, I guess it’s as much about the Guide seeing that, as it is about the way shadows fold around things.
This is one of those rules that started out as a rule of thumb and then became a constriction, where you end up with mental Twister trying to give yourself permission to write: well you could class that as a conflict with the protagonist's own conscience so I guess that's ok. The very first creative writing workshop I went to, nearly 20 years ago (yikes!) the tutor said every short story needs 'a moment of change' and it can be subtle: a shift in attitude, a glimmer of understanding. I've tried to bear that in mind ever since. I like your suggestions of dissonance or friction though, I'm going to keep those tucked away too.
Exactly this Jacqueline, these ‘rules’ get hammered down and simplified so much.
I definitely think stories need to produce a sense of change or movement (either for the characters, or in the understanding of the reader) and there’s a whole palette we can use to do that, not just the slim concept of conflict.
Thanks Nancy. Yes, I think it is a loaded word and very narrowly defined as the only definition of what can bring change. Interestingly (for me at least) when I was making that list of alternatives, so many of them began with D. Not sure if that’s significant or not!!
I enjoyed this post and think you have a strong point...conflict also invites readers to pick sides, but this can quickly become simplistic and tip the practice of reading toward an exercise in "right" vs. "wrong." I'm all for more stories that invite complication, multiple interpretations, "no easy answers," and situations that show legitimate character needs/desires that may exist in complicated and not-quite-copacetic ways without flaring into the high drama of Conflict.
Yes, great point Cyan. It is that reductivism around the word conflict that gives me pause for thought. Like you I prefer my stories a little less clear cut than the idea of conflict often allows, I’m all for ambiguity and complication, because it reflects much of the mess of life.
Looking forward to reading your story--and loved your list of "conflict" alternatives. Thanks!
Thanks Rebecca!
I enjoyed In The Absence Of Light, too. Particularly liked the line, "The Guide sees the places where each piece of the shadow falls, how it molds to the shape of everything."
Thanks for taking the time to comment Jacqueline, I appreciate it. And glad you liked that line, I guess it’s as much about the Guide seeing that, as it is about the way shadows fold around things.
This is one of those rules that started out as a rule of thumb and then became a constriction, where you end up with mental Twister trying to give yourself permission to write: well you could class that as a conflict with the protagonist's own conscience so I guess that's ok. The very first creative writing workshop I went to, nearly 20 years ago (yikes!) the tutor said every short story needs 'a moment of change' and it can be subtle: a shift in attitude, a glimmer of understanding. I've tried to bear that in mind ever since. I like your suggestions of dissonance or friction though, I'm going to keep those tucked away too.
Exactly this Jacqueline, these ‘rules’ get hammered down and simplified so much.
I definitely think stories need to produce a sense of change or movement (either for the characters, or in the understanding of the reader) and there’s a whole palette we can use to do that, not just the slim concept of conflict.
Thanks for pointing this out. I've also struggled with the whole idea of the term "conflict". I much prefer your alternate words.
Thanks Nancy. Yes, I think it is a loaded word and very narrowly defined as the only definition of what can bring change. Interestingly (for me at least) when I was making that list of alternatives, so many of them began with D. Not sure if that’s significant or not!!