tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post7273584073866412993..comments2024-03-28T05:59:52.454-07:00Comments on TalkToYoUniverse: Conflict: it doesn't only mean fighting, so why are we so stuck on war?Juliette Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-6070736463680250462013-04-15T23:20:28.005-07:002013-04-15T23:20:28.005-07:00Well, there's Diane Duane - in just about all ...Well, there's Diane Duane - in just about all of her books, her characters save the universe. For different sizes of universe (from a family, to a planet, to a universe, to a multiverse), but...<br /><br />I can't say it gets dull, but - yeah, I agree. I'd rather see conflict at the personal level (which Duane definitely includes) and leave out the grand sweep - it's too big to see, and certainly too big to feel. And then there's the question of what do you do in the next book!jjmcgaffeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01546108186137014999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-23294436093002957192013-04-15T12:53:49.172-07:002013-04-15T12:53:49.172-07:00Sam, thanks for the comment! I'd love to hear ...Sam, thanks for the comment! I'd love to hear more about what you've learned, if you'd like to share.Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-24012811150474835922013-04-15T12:32:31.338-07:002013-04-15T12:32:31.338-07:00"But I also know there must be other "ul..."But I also know there must be other "ultimate stakes" out there that we haven't seen much of yet."<br /><br />I've be thinking exactly the same thing!<br /><br />So, I've been on the hunt. <br /><br />I've created a document where I place all the different types of stakes I come across into certain categories. The insights gleaned from doing this have been revelatory. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-71488112195430663822013-04-15T10:45:33.667-07:002013-04-15T10:45:33.667-07:00And usually it's most effective if both kinds ...And usually it's most effective if both kinds of conflict - internal and external - are going on at once. Thanks for the comment, Jai.Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-81205107330137097442013-04-15T09:38:04.592-07:002013-04-15T09:38:04.592-07:00I agree. Writers tend to get so into the idea of a...I agree. Writers tend to get so into the idea of a massive conflict that they ignore the true conflict - that which is going on inside the characters.<br /><br />JaiJai Joshihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04858987106548357551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-53801297782309260772013-04-15T08:40:16.518-07:002013-04-15T08:40:16.518-07:00Heartily agreed, OFloinn. I think my post can defi...Heartily agreed, OFloinn. I think my post can definitely be chalked up under "arguments against taking the obvious route." Thanks for your comment!Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-70960946233289442422013-04-15T08:32:56.805-07:002013-04-15T08:32:56.805-07:00Conflict needn't mean armed conflict. It only...Conflict needn't mean armed conflict. It only needs two characters with radically and contradictory goals in mind. Or even one character with two contradictory motives. Say two brothers engaged in sports: one wants to compete fairly, the other wants to win at any cost, including cheating. Do I turn my brother in to the committee or remain loyal to family? More subtly, one person is torn between cheating in the big race (the money is desperately needed for her mother's medical bills) and playing fair (so mother will be justifiably proud of her). <br /><br />War may be popular because the conflict is immediate, sensory, and obvious to the reader, whereas other sorts of conflict are often more muted, internal, and subtle. (I am including in "war" all kinds of deadly physical combat. Most mysteries are murder mysteries, not burglary mysteries.) TheOFloinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14756711106266484327noreply@blogger.com