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Betrayal—the Ultimate Conflict

June 15, 2015 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Conflict moves a story forward, keeping both characters and readers involved. Consider the ultimate conflict—betrayal by a friend—as a way to amp up the conflict in your fiction.

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Get Pushy—Push Character Conflict and Reader Emotion

February 7, 2015 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Lack of conflict between characters and lack of emotion-inducing scenes for readers will make stories flat, boring, and tedious. Discover why conflict and emotion are so important to fiction.

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Get to Know Your Characters

March 22, 2013 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

A whopping big list of questions to ask so you can get to know your characters and then manipulate them so you can create compelling fiction.

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Deny, Deny, Deny

December 26, 2011 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Ramp up story conflict by repeatedly denying characters what they want or need.

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Character Rants and Breakdowns—Let ’em Rip

December 21, 2011 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Give your main character a tour de force moment where he reveals his true personality and all the needs and fears he’s been repressing and stuffing deep for a lifetime.

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Conflict—Beyond Arguments and Fist Fights

June 15, 2011 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Conflict, one of the major elements of fiction, is story’s driver. It’s what propels story forward and from event to event. Read more about conflict and learn some tips for creating variety in story conflict.

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Subtext—Revelation of the Hidden

May 17, 2011 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

The use of subtext can add depth to and increase conflict in your fiction. Check out the uses of subtext, the hidden element of fiction.

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Don’t Write the Bland and the Boring

May 2, 2011 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Fiction characters both on screen and on the page require lives of volatility and change and conflict. They need anything but peace. They need events intruding and messing up their plans. They need other characters to challenge them, to put obstacles in their paths. They need confrontation and trials. And they need to take risks.

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Take Off the Brakes—Write Boldly

March 13, 2011 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Compelling fiction means stories that engage the reader. And readers are engaged by conflict and tension, by friction between characters and between one character and himself or his surroundings. Explore ways to write boldly and without restraint to create conflict and tension.

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