| A good fiction writer has to produce conflict. The | | | | has to be a fight in order for the hero to become |
| easiest way to get that reader to put your book | | | | the winner. "Gary opened the envelope. The I.R.S. |
| down is to provide zero conflict. If everything is | | | | had finally caught up to him." How's he going to |
| going great for your main character then | | | | make it? Readers ask themselves that question |
| something is wrong. If it's too good to be true | | | | and keep reading to find the answer when you've |
| your reader won't believe it and therefore will | | | | provided the struggle. |
| have no reason to keep reading. The last thing a | | | | 3. No suspense. When the push comes to shove |
| fiction writer can be is a conflict avoider. | | | | and the main character never loses then you'll be |
| Here are the three best ways to avoid conflict | | | | losing your reader. Let your hero lose, get up, lose |
| and consequently, avoid interesting fiction: | | | | again, get back up and fight again. There has to |
| 1. No sense of inevitability. If your reader isn't | | | | be uncertainty. Will the antagonist win in the end |
| thinking, "I know something is about to go wrong," | | | | or is it going to end in tragedy? If your reader |
| then you haven't set them up. "Susie woke up | | | | doesn't know until the end that's how far they will |
| nervous that morning...The sky was darker than | | | | read. "Angela had promised herself she would |
| usual and yet there was no cloud in the sky..." | | | | never drink again but now she was on her third |
| Time and time again, you've got to foreshadow | | | | margarita and the night was young." |
| that impending doom to keep your reader | | | | If you want to tell an interesting story, then give |
| reading, and then deliver. | | | | us a reason to keep reading. But if you're just |
| 2. No struggle. If your main character has nothing | | | | looking to waste hours of your time in front of a |
| to fight against then your reader will have nothing | | | | computer and a few short minutes of an |
| to cheer for. The main character is called a hero | | | | unsatisfied reader then go for it, be a conflict |
| for a reason. There's got to be a struggle. There | | | | avoider. |