Conflict: Enough? Right kind?

[wayfaringwordhack]

I suppose I should thank navicat (aka joanneanderton) and frigg for collectively plunging me into a world of despair. While "thanking" may seem an odd response, it's perfectly valid because the nasty dip has allowed me to see a problem I have in TTD and will hopefully keep me from repeating the same in WW. That is IF it's a problem.[1]

I don't know if my head is clear and my heart disengaged enough to judge.

The other day, navicat was pushing me to cobble together a query letter for TTD so she could kindly take those cobbles and pelt me mercilessly with them. Being a masochist, I naturally obeyed; and while flailing around on the threshold of despair, I pleaded with frigg to give me a hand, some insight, a swift kick in the rear, anything to unblock the block. Together we decided I needed to get off the pc, take up pen and paper, and map out the conflict, so I could play those things off one another in the query.

Which led to the revelation in all its horrid glory...

I took most of the major players from TTD and listed their needs. I then tried to map out how I had played those needs off one another in order to create conflict:

Defense Exhibit A: Diagram of Non-Conflict

Thankfully, the point here is not to read my messy handwriting, but to see that in terms of conflict, I think I fail in this story. Let me break it down for you.

The solid red lines denote needs that cause emotional conflict. The wavy/dotted blue lines show needs that are opposed so they cause tension, but not outright conflict. Only the doubled, dotted red lines show actual, tangible conflict in the story.

Oh, but you want to know about the green lines? They make the diagram look like things are hopping. But, no, sadly, that isn't so. That's several different parties wanting the same thing and YET NEVER ENTERING INTO CONFLICT OVER IT!!!

My main character? Basically only in conflict with herself. The POV down at the bottom? Yeah, pretty much only in conflict with himself, too. *wails*

Internal conflict is all well and good, but if it's the only thing floating this epic boat, I think querying it needs to be the last of my worries.

I'm not looking for reassurance[2] here but wondering what your thoughts are on:
1) internal conflict (how much is too much? When does it become the equivalent of navel-gazing?);
2) how you ensure that you are putting your characters through a variety of conflict;
3) when do you put that first novel aside forever (or until you have a few other finished, polished manuscripts and the experience that goes with them)?

Deciding it was better to get the conflict mapped out ahead of time in WW, I drew another diagram (on my whiteboard and then redid it in Photoshop to spare your poor eyes). Even without detail, I think it's clear that I've got the conflict covered in this one. Now I just have to write scenes that bring it to life.

 

Yes, that lack of conflict between Lelo and Mirco is bothering me, too--throws off the symmetry of it all--but I'm hoping something will occur to me when they meet up.
____________________________________
[1] These two articles, Crisis vs Conflict by Dennis G. Jerz and How to Write Conflict by Elizabeth Richards, which address conflict vs crisis, seem to say that maybe I'm doing ok. I did say "maybe."
(articles in a nutshell: crisis = circumstancial event/action; conflict = decisions/struggles that a character makes, often based on the crisis. Richards reiterates that conflict happens inside a character, while Jerz stresses that conflict encompasses introspection, exploration of values, examination of choices...)

[2] However, if you critted TTD and feel up to commenting, I'd be interested to know if, while reading, you kept asking yourself, "Where's the conflict?" See? Still not the same thing as asking for reassurance.

ETA: Sorry if the formatting is still wonky; tried to fix it to no avail. I give up.

Comments

[clarentine]

1) internal conflict (how much is too much? When does it become the equivalent of navel-gazing?);
2) how you ensure that you are putting your characters through a variety of conflict;
3) when do you put that first novel aside forever (or until you have a few other finished, polished manuscripts and the experience that goes with them)?

All my novels used to be internal conflict all the way, baby, and so angst-laden they dripped.

As a result of having been kicked, repeatedly, by critters who had a much better feel for plot than I have (can't say had, because I still have a long way to go), I became aware that my external plot, if one even existed, was only there as a framework on which I could hang my poor, overworked protag's internal struggles. External plot, therefore, is where I've been focused for probably four years now--it's what people talk about when they describe the books they love the best, it's what even *I* pointed at as being the most important thing in my favorite books. It's what I need.

Along the way, I realized that internal conflict not only came about as a result of external events, but could be made deeper if it mirrored, in some fashion, those external conflicts.

So now, that's what I do: I figure out what it is my protag wants. I figure out why they can't have it--what *external obstacle* stands in his/her way. And then I write the protag's struggle to gain that object he wants so badly, including the wants and desires and actions of all those around him who have their own lives to live. I pay attention to the antag, because it's his story, too; without him, there is no story.

As far as a variety of conflict is concerned...I can't say I ever look at it like that. I follow someone's advice of making sure that things are worse for the protag at the end of each scene. *Logically* worse, that is. Conflict unsupported by events in the story feels manufactured and is to be avoided, IMO.

Don't ask me when you finally give up on early novels. I'm still flogging mine...and it was one of those rewritten-ad-nauseum novels that finally caught the attention of an agent. (Thus far, no publisher interest, but I'm patient.) Of course, the current Canum novel rewrite bears very little resemblance to the angst fest that was its earlier incarnation! And, as much as I love reading well-founded angst, I'm glad this one has a real backbone to support the weight of Canum's occasional navel-gazing. *g*

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Wow, terrific answer. A lot to think about there.

Conflict unsupported by events in the story feels manufactured and is to be avoided, IMO.

This is exactly the thing I try to avoid because I royally detest it in books that I read, but I fear that in trying to steer clear of it, I haven't done as good a job as I could have in bringing the needs into conflict.

I have to find that sweet spot in making sure there is more external conflict that does not at all feel manufactured. :P

[footlingagain.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Sadly I can't add much that's useful since it appears that I'm congenitally incapable of analysing my own stuff even though I don't do too badly at analysing other people's. Sometimes.

I think internal conflict is necessary if you're not to have two-dimensional people. It only becomes too much if the action is constantly stopping so that the characters can have a good ponder before they do anything. Characters inevitably go through a variety of conflict when they interact with other characters, even when they seem to be getting along just fine. It's not always obvious, that's all and perhaps has to be made more so.

I can't really comment on putting first novels aside because I tend to put everything aside. I do go back to it later, though. Only to put it aside again. You need advice from someone with a bit more backbone than me *g*

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

*lol* Sounds like we're fist in glove on this. Or both spineless backs.

Where oh where are the backbones!

It only becomes too much if the action is constantly stopping so that the characters can have a good ponder before they do anything.

Agreed. I need to work on id-ing when enough is enough. And as you said, there is conflict going on all the time. I just have to work on highlighting it a bit more and not prematurely diffusing it.

[navicat.livejournal.com]

First: You and the whiteboard! Mate, that rocks (need to get me one of those)

Second:... mmmMMMmmm I'm not sure I agree that she's only in conflict with herself...next time we're online together we'll chat

:)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I reccomend whiteboards! I've wanted one for ages. We used to have a wee one, but it was too wee. :P This one is a decent size. Can still write a lot on it but small enough to be toted up and down the stairs. :D

Re: "second," looking forward to it. :D