Conflict intensifies in the Middle of a story. Having left the relative safety of the shallow world of the Beginning the protagonist finds the old rules and help and guidance and belief systems of the past no longer protect her from harm — physical and/or emotional.
The Middle strips her of all that is familiar and gives her the space in which to discover who she was born to be / truly is and let go of who she was raised and molded into being. Every mistake she makes in the middle and every conflict she is exposed to will cause the protagonist suffer.
Conflict for conflict’s sake alone is not enough.
The conflict she faces must both be thematically true to her transformation at the end and provide her the knowledge and skills needed to prevail at the Climax.
She may resist having to suffer until she slowly comes to understand that suffering brings about change and transmutation.
For an in-depth resource to all the questions to ask about conflict when writing a novel, memoir, screeplay, refer to The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories.
1) PW BOOK AND WORKBOOK GIVEAWAY!
Sue Bradford Edwards of WOW! Women on Writing Blog has written a wonderful review of the PW book and workbook by showing how she used the resources with her own story. We are giving away 3 The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master and 3 The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing
2) Track Your Plot at the Scene Level Webinar
Learn to Maximize the 7 essential plot elements in every scene (one of 7 essential plot elements in every scene is CONFLICT) from the comfort of your own home.
Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts inThe Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing
Today, I write.
To familiarize yourself with the basic plot terms used here and in the PW Book of Prompts:
1) Watch the plot playlists on the Plot Whisperer Youtube channel.
2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
3) Fill out the exercises in The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories
4) Visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
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