You probably know by now that to make a story interesting, you need conflict. Lots of it.
You might have heard that one great way to create conflict is to make the main character want something and then make something that's stopping him from getting it. But there's a way to take the conflict one step further:
The main character wants two things... and he can only have one of them.
You might have heard that one great way to create conflict is to make the main character want something and then make something that's stopping him from getting it. But there's a way to take the conflict one step further:
The main character wants two things... and he can only have one of them.
In other words, in order to get one of the things he wants, he has to give up the other desire. Boom! Instant conflict. The best part about this conflict is that it's built right into the story and it's relatable because it's realistic.
You can't have your cake and eat it too, after all.
Does your main character want success? Then she has to relinquish love to get it (La La Land). Does he want adventure? He'll have to give up a safe and peaceful life (The Hobbit).
Maybe what your character wants is not worth the sacrifice. Will he learn that along the way, or only after it's too late?
Conflicting desires add the internal conflict that makes a character developed and three dimensional. Every time we see a character make a choice, we learn more about who he is, and conflict forces characters to make choices.
That trade off--making a character really want something and then not only ripping it away from him but making him deliberately give it up to get something he wants or needs even more--that creates the bittersweet ending that feels real and conveys your message about what's really important.
So what stories have you read that use conflicting desires to create tension? Do you think they succeeded?
You can't have your cake and eat it too, after all.
Does your main character want success? Then she has to relinquish love to get it (La La Land). Does he want adventure? He'll have to give up a safe and peaceful life (The Hobbit).
Maybe what your character wants is not worth the sacrifice. Will he learn that along the way, or only after it's too late?
Conflicting desires add the internal conflict that makes a character developed and three dimensional. Every time we see a character make a choice, we learn more about who he is, and conflict forces characters to make choices.
That trade off--making a character really want something and then not only ripping it away from him but making him deliberately give it up to get something he wants or needs even more--that creates the bittersweet ending that feels real and conveys your message about what's really important.
So what stories have you read that use conflicting desires to create tension? Do you think they succeeded?