conflict

Avoiding conflict may be a good thing in the real world, but in writing it makes for boring prose indeed. Just read Lili Saintcrow's post about conflict. She's a big believer in the 'send in the man with the gun' writing philosophy.

For me, increasing the conflict in my stories isn't easy. It goes against what I am. I wouldn't say I'm a pleaser, but I am always looking for ways to mediate and negotiate. It takes monumental effort to not write that way.

I need to send in more men with guns. Or in the case of my Lani story, I need to let those arrows fly. Writers need to inflict all sorts of mayhem and mischief upon their characters. Life isn't smooth. It is bumpy, rutted, dirty and nasty. Keeping that in mind when we write will make for a more action packed and conflict filled story.

Although our characters do have internal conflicts, the external ones are the engines that move our plot along. So, invite those gun toting men into your character's lives. They will be better for it, really.