Conflict is Key

When I started writing my first book – sort of my pre-draft – I was sure I didn’t need conflict. I would have a nice, lovely story without all the angst – characters happily would go about their business. Thankfully I wised up to the importance of conflict and wrote a story rife with it – fires, attempted kidnapping, illness, death, loss of home and wealth, unrequited love.

Because a story without conflict is boring, meaningless, with little power to draw us in.

I once attended a writers class where the instructor talked about what made successful books and movies. He believed the key was the way these books and movies upped the stress levels in readers and viewers, taking their stress above their current level, then resolving that stress at the end. Good conflict creates that vicarious stress and resolution, sucking us into the story and keeping us caring about these fictional characters.

One of my favorite tv shows that does a fantastic job with conflict (especially interpersonal/relationships) and upping those stress levels is Masterpiece Theater’s Downton Abbey. It’s about the lives of a wealthy, titled family in England during WWI and the lives of their servants. After this last episode – full of relationship strife, war, death, impediments to love and dreams – I told my husband what a big mess things had become for the characters.

And we love it. We have to keep watching until that stress is resolved. We’re drawn in. We care about these people.

Have you watched Downton Abbey? What are your favorite types of conflict in books or movies (physical, internal, familial)? What other movies/tv shows or books are examples of good conflict?

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19 thoughts on “Conflict is Key”

  1. I'm going to have to get on the Downtown Abbey train. I'm hearing it's all the rage at the moment.

    That's why I love Vampire Diaries. The conflict grows with every scene, cutting exactly in the right places to make me want more. The twists are unforeseen. It's so well written. I need to hang out with those writers. 🙂

  2. My husband and I have heard so many great things about the show that he rushed out and bought the DVD for season one. We haven't watched it yet.

    I love Criminal Minds (I'm still watching the three seasons on DVD my hubby got me for Christmas). The writers know how to make the most of conflict.

  5. I've seen a few episodes of it and loved it. But I've kind of jumped in the middle. I want to go back and watch it from the beginning.

    I like the thought of the stress level…

  6. Jessica – I love unforeseen twists and brillant screen writers!

    Stina – I liked the first season of Downton Abbey, enough to want to watch the second. But I think Season 2 has done even better with the conflict. Hope you like it!

    Wendy – We don't watch a lot of tv either, especially since the only way we get it is Netflix or online. 🙂

    Jessica – Definitely great research! I absolutely love the costumes – they've given me some ideas for one of my WWI books.

    Loree – Yes, definitly go back to the beginning, since each episode sort of builds on itself and you get to know the characters and their challenges.

  7. Dan and I love Downton Abbey too and I thought of you several times when I watched it thinking you would love it. Glad you found it too!

  9. Ha, I had that same "I can write a beautiful story with no conflict" experience early on. Luckily, we get past that. 🙂

    I've heard a lot about Downton Abbey, and one of these days I'm determined to watch it!

  11. I've been hearing so much about this show lately that I'm going to have to start watching it!

    I laugh when people say that inspirational romance novels are bad because they give people unrealistic expectations of love and commitment. Any good romance novel is full of a lot more conflict and problems than most people's real life love stories.

  12. I haven't watched Downtown Abbey, but I've heard great things about it. And funny about your first novel. I think we all did that and then wised up to the need for conflict. 🙂

  13. Ooh, I love, love, love Downton Abbey! I think conflict is simply a must-have in any story – I love the stress or tension between a hero and heroine in a good romance. I love physical conflict in suspense. I love that Downton Abbey has all types of conflict – more of it is inter(intra?)personal, but it's got physical conflict too.

    24 had pretty amazing conflict. 🙂 I also love the relational conflict in Parenthood.

  14. Meghan – That's awesome that you and Dan watch it too! I was so excited to learn they were going to take the second season through WWI. There just aren't a lot of movies/shows set in that time period.

    Jessie – We watch it online through PBS Masterpiece Theater's site. They put up the new episodes the day after they air.

    Shallee – Good to know I'm not the only one who started out wanting to write a happy, no conflict story. 🙂

    Melissa – I'm with you – I like good inward conflict and physical conflict.

    Julie – I love this thought! The more I write romance, the more I realize how hard it is to write. 🙂 We have to have lots of conflict to those two from getting together until the end.

    Sarah – Isn't that funny? Thank goodness for the learning curve that was my first book.

    Melissa – Yay! Another Downton Abbey fan. I'm also a big fan of the tension between the hero and heroine in a romance. My favorite is when they can't really stand each other in the beginning. 🙂

  16. I haven't seen that show, but I love conflict. Internal conflict is one of my favorites, but I think you need a variety to make everything really exciting! Awesome post!

  17. Sandra – LOL! Yes, we do need more conflict than explosions or arguments. 🙂

    Leigh – I like really good internal conflict too. This last episode of Downton Abbey had some of that, and it made me really feel for the servant girl in a tough spot and what she'd choose to do.

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