Writing Conflict

Conflict is essential to story - regardless of genre. The friction between what a character wants and the lengths they will go to reach that goal is what pulls readers through your book. Great conflict is what leaves readers cheering (or crying) at the end of a story. Using humour and her deep knowledge of human behaviour, counsellor and award-winning author Eileen Cook will guide you through the causes of conflict, the differences between internal and external conflict, and show you how conflict resolution techniques can be turned upside down to ramp up the tension in your book.

Whether you're an aspiring or experienced romance author, The Romance Writer's Playbook is an indispensable guide to crafting compelling romantic fiction. From brainstorming ideas to mapping out intricate plots all the way through to publishing, this book leads you step-by-step through the entire creative process. Learn how to build dynamic characters and intriguing conflicts that will capture readers' imaginations. Discover the narrative elements that lend emotional depth and keep the pages turning. Study genre conventions and incorporate popular tropes and steamy scenes. The Playbook ...

There is an ancient Chinese proverb that states, "Two tigers cannot share the same mountain." However, in East Asia, there are three tigers on that mountain: China, Japan, and Korea, and they have a long history of turmoil and tension with each other. In his latest entertaining and thought-provoking narrative travelogue, Michael Booth sets out to discover how deep, really, the enmity is between these three "tiger" nations and what prevents them from making peace.

Crafting Immersive Fiction: A Comprehensive Guide is the ultimate resource for writers eager to create stories that captivate from start to finish. Whether you're a new writer or a seasoned author, this guide offers the tools you need to craft unforgettable fiction. What’s Inside: Core Elements of Storytelling: Develop complex characters, authentic voices, and engaging arcs. Understand plot structure, from exposition to resolution, and how to balance themes and subtext to deepen your narrative. Building Conflict and Stakes: Master the art of tension, conflict, and pacing to keep readers ...

"Sumptuous prose and a mind-blowing twist will make sure that readers don't forget The Professor's Wife, an unsettling psychological thriller wrapped in a provocative dark romance." -IndieReader Carl Bingham is a lonely British Literature Professor who has sworn off love and sex since an affair with a student at Skidmore College almost lost him his tenure and reputation. Camilla is a young artist who sits in his classroom, mesmerized by his voice and appearance. Despite their age difference, they fall in love, marry, and feed each other's physical and emotional needs. But when secrets and ...

There are several aspects to writing fiction. Rendering what John Gardner in The Art of Fiction describes as a 'vivid and continuous dream' is a complicated affair. Story is created from the imagination of a writer, who in turn must translate it onto a page of symbols so that another person can read, absorb, and experience the story in a similar fashion. It's a remarkable process when you think about it. In On Creative Writing the process of writing fiction is demystified and cut in palatable bites to help any writer who has the passion and mad desire to tell a story. Reviews: Bitten by ...

As a college and university instructor and the author of flash fiction, novellas, and the five-book series of novels comprising An Adventure of the Old West, the three-book series A Charlotte Hastings Paranormal Exposé, and the two-book series Vikings: An Epic Adventure, I share a lifetime of learning about writing satisfying, entertaining, fast-paced fiction. Learn to transform an idea for a story into a full-fledged story. Learn forty-two types of characters and how to make them come alive on the page. Learn the one-act, two-act, three-act, four-act, and five-act, character functions, ...

This is a practical book. By the time you finish reading it, you will have all the tools you need to write a convincing, compelling, and publishable novel. “How to Write a Novel: A Beginner’s Guide" provides all the necessary techniques to enable your novel to be a success. Packed with insights and tips, it gives you everything you need to start the novel you've always wanted to write and see it through to the end.

A book that examines war fiction as told in books and films. My own works are mentioned as well as powerful writers working within that field and a look at the history of such writing.

Being human sounds like an obvious pursuit, but when change is constant and uncertainty is the norm, we all need some encouragement to lean into who we have the full potential to be. The task of preparing ourselves for and becoming comfortable with the unknown has shifted the way people live and work. Pivoting whilst staying true to oneself seems not only necessary to survive, but to grow and thrive. The personal and shared success can be multi-directional. Generally, it starts with pursuing self-awareness, the magic ingredient needed to authentically navigate personal challenges, ...

“Heartwarming, poignant… a joy to read.” –Writer’s Digest Claire Chastain reflects on her journey of childhood innocence and discovery in small-town Texas in the 1950s. She and best friend Libby share a lifetime of challenges and friendship although Claire is pampered and sheltered in contrast to street-savvy Libby. Claire is blindsided by her mother's devastating illness and ensuing conflicts with her beloved father. Her world of family traditional values crumbles and her lifelong dreams shatter. For the first time, she must make her own way and her own forever decisions. Libby ...

"Cultural anecdotes, along with a cast of well-developed characters, create a memorable tale examining our differences and the commonalities that unite us all. 5 Stars!" -Gail Ward Olmsted, author of Landscape of a Marriage Set in the steamy equatorial rain forest of Nicaragua, Tropical Depression tells a poignant, touchingly funny tale of a young couple, Lupe and Ascensión Guzman, who, after being deported from the United States, have returned to their jungle village of Krukrulitos at the foot of the percolating volcano Momotombo. Here they struggle to readjust to life under one roof with...

Whether you email just a little or never stop, here, at last, is an authoritative and delightful audiobook that will tell you how to write the perfect email anywhere. Send also points out the numerous (but not always obvious) times when email can be the worst option and might land you in hot water (or even jail!). In short: absolutely e-ssential.

The Conflict over the Conflict chronicles one of the most divisive and toxic issues on today’s college and university campuses: Israel/Palestine.

Whether your story is plot-driven or character-driven, characterization is important. Your readers identify and/or empathize with your characters, and that’s what keeps them on the edge of their seats, wanting to know what happens next to your characters. When your reader is apathetic about your character, they are more likely to put your book down. They simply aren’t as invested in the character and are not as interested in the conflict surrounding them. A three-dimensional character with flaws and strengths usually doesn’t just jump out of a writer’s head. Typically, writers spend...

Make your character’s story arc resonate more emotionally with readers. What is the Heroine’s Journey? Joseph Campbell originally wrote about the Hero’s Journey in his book, The Hero With a Thousand Faces, as a psychological analysis of the classical myth formula. Maureen Murdock took Campbell’s work, her own psychology experience, and other psychoanalytical writings and world myths to develop The Heroine’s Journey for women. Often, a male and female character will respond differently to conflict in a story because culture and time period will affect a character differently due to...

Experience an enchanting reunion and a life-altering journey in Zanzibar City and then on to Rome with Vanmeter, Dr. Frieda, and 'Birdy' Wire in this offbeat and fast paced tale. Life as they know it will forever change in unimaginable ways when Vanmeter's charisma and ludicrous scheme draw them in. With exotic backdrops, this novel take you on an incredible journey of friendship, love, and renewal. If you enjoyed The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, you'll love this captivating story.

Handyman Saunders makes beautiful furniture, sells the pieces, and now is stealing them back. Roscoe, who lives life solely for his own amusement, befriends and confronts Saunders about his larceny. Thus begins an accidental sojourn which turns into an engrossing journey--a peculiar road trip of American eccentrics attracted to the unpredictable flame of lost love. A captivating tale of love, friendship, and adventure.

Best-selling author David Shields analyzed over a decade’s worth of front-page war photographs from The New York Times and came to a shocking conclusion: The photo-editing process of the “paper of record”, by way of pretty, heroic, and lavishly aesthetic image selection, pulls the wool over the eyes of its readers; Shields forces us to face not only the the media's complicity in dubious and catastrophic military campaigns but our own as well.

Conflict in your writing draws listeners who want to listen to your work. Conflict keeps them listening. With conflict in every paragraph and sentence, you’ll create writing that sells.