writeing

 
Plot & Conflict

Write a two to three paragraph scene where you explore one or more of the following:

ACTION & REACTION – It’s easy to see how action develops the plot, but writers often miss the importance of reaction. Characters reflecting on events that have taken place can have an important effect on the plot.

DECISIONS – The decisions made by characters can change the direction of the plot, as well as develop character.

SUCCESSES & FAILURES – Part of the action/reaction dialectic is the tension created by the success or failure of an action or series of actions. This determines the course the plot takes, and the course it avoids.

CONFLICT – Conflict (whether internal or external) provides the interface between character, plot, and the world. Both the creation of conflict and its resolution can move the plot forward.

MOVEMENT (INWARD OR OUTWARD) – The character leaves on a journey, or a character comes to town. Movement sparks off more movement.

CHANGES IN PERSPECTIVE – The narrator can switch the perspective to refocus the story, but the character’s internal shift in perspective is also often a vital source for revelations that deepen the plot. **Shift in perspective does not mean a shift in POV, but more a shift in the character’s perspective about events, people, or their surroundings.

TIME – This is obvious when you think about it, but in practice sometimes you need to remind yourself that you may not have given your plot enough story or time to develop. Things take time.

Length: Two to three paragraphs