The Past is Now, and Using Conflict in Fiction

WEBB

I must admit, I have history on the brain these days. It should come as no surprise that as a historical fiction writer, I subscribe to the idea that history is always relevant. Understanding what has passed is the answer to our whys and hows, and becomes the building blocks of the future. While reading (and writing) historical fiction, I’m searching for aspects not always present in other genres of fiction, that are, in fact, the hisfic genre’s strengths. Things like: 

  • Escapism: living in a different world for a while 
  • Nostalgia: wasn’t everything better and easier before XYZ happened or XYZ was invented? 
  • Voyeurism: watching and experiencing the nature of a life different from our own from a safe distance 
  • Honoring genius or bravery of real people who haven’t been honored before 
  • Knowledge: learning about how and why social mores, political movements, art movements, technology, and a million other aspects of daily life evolved, as well as how they have paved the way for today 
  • Comfort:  True stories of fortitude and survival are oddly comforting. They convey a message of hope and endurance. In those stories, we see the strength of the human spirit and understand that we will get through this, come what may, and there is not only an end to everything, but the other side. 
  • Today, history is being made around us, for better or worse, and as writers, it’s nearly impossible not to consider how that affects our ways of life as well as our thinking. To many of us, we’re watching in horror as history’s dark past becomes the present once again. It seems we are doomed to repeat history as is so often said, because the human memory is short, and frankly, I don’t know many teenagers—or many adults—who have learned from someone else’s mistakes. Mostly we learn from our own. So here we are, in the midst of a great conflict. 

     Lately, common words in our everyday vocabulary are: 

    protest, resist, contradict, agitate, depose – all examples of CONFLICT 

    Another way to view conflict J. Turnbull of Oregon State University shares with eloquence: conflict really means “thwarted, endangered, or opposing desire.” These are fundamental words to those who wish to protect democracy, protect rights, protect others, but they’re also fundamental words in our writing lives. Conflict in all its forms are essential to a character’s journey and development, and ultimately, to the outcome of their fate.  

    There are many ways to sew conflict into a story, both externally and internally. A combination of both makes for a stronger narrative in general, though some character-driven stories are quite successful with the majority of the conflict being internal as well. We probably know a lot about conflict already, but I find after years and years of writing, it’s still easy […]

    Keep Reading

    / /

    Inspiring characters into being

    Kath and I just returned from our annual writing retreat, so you may not see us back to full power until next week. We had a great time with our writer buds, as usual--lots of...
    Read More about Inspiring characters into being

    Plot, Mood and Character

    Kath here.  We kick off Character Month with a guest post by the superlative women's suspense author Emily Listfield. Emily is a writer, editor, and single mom living in New York City. A former magazine editor...
    Read More about Plot, Mood and Character

    A conversation with Brunonia Barry, part 1

    Brunonia Barry is the author of The Lace Reader, a book that several friends recommended to me. When I read it, a few months ago, I fell headlong into the story--about a woman who can...
    Read More about A conversation with Brunonia Barry, part 1

    Unveiling a new craft month

    Sorry for the short post today, but I'm still working feverishly to polish up part one of a Q&A for you tomorrow--my loooooong phone conversation with the author of The Lace Reader, Brunonia Barry. My...
    Read More about Unveiling a new craft month

    WuHoo!

    Valued WU contributor Sophie Masson just sent us this update: The Madman of Venice has just sold to Germany (making it its fourth territory)!  And an anthology of stories I compiled and edited, called The...
    Read More about WuHoo!

    Help for a query hater

    This note arrived in my personal inbox this week, from a writerly acquaintance. "I hate queries," she said. "They frustrate the hell out of me. Would you be willing to share your query and explain...
    Read More about Help for a query hater

    Power Writing

    My deadline to deliver the next draft in the misadventures of the President of the United State's daughter looms in about four weeks, and truthfully, I'm freaking out a little bit. This is the point...
    Read More about Power Writing

    Interview with Lynne Griffin, part 2

    I finished reading Lynne Griffin's debut, Life Without Summer weeks ago, and I'm still thinking about it. Here's what Publisher's Weekly had to say about the novel, in their starred review. Griffin’s fiction debut is...
    Read More about Interview with Lynne Griffin, part 2

    Googalicious

    When I started writing historical fiction seriously (approximately 1995) I was still on the faculty at the University of Michigan. This meant that I had a fantastic library at my disposal. Faculty could (and probably...
    Read More about Googalicious

    The Last Month of the Book

    I am enormously, painfully pregnant with my current book. It’s the eighth month, and wherever I go, it comes with me. It’s due in less than a month, and this is the stage when I’m...
    Read More about The Last Month of the Book

    How a book is made

    Some awesome guest bloggers have filled in for me the last two weeks--thank you, Kay and Ann--so today I'm going to catch you up on what's been happening with my book. About two weeks ago,...
    Read More about How a book is made

    From the Mailbox

    Award-winning YA author and WU friend K.L. Going dropped us a line about a contest she is holding for her latest release: I'm thrilled to announce that I have a new book out this month! It's a...
    Read More about From the Mailbox

    Vote for Juliet and a woohoo for WU

    Just a quick weekend note to let you know that you can now cast a vote for the David Gemmell Legend Award, for which WU's own Juliet Marillier--and the only woman on the list--has been...
    Read More about Vote for Juliet and a woohoo for WU

    Interview with Lynne Griffin, part 1

    Lynne Griffin is the author of Life Without Summer--a novel about the hit-and-run death of a child and how her mother copes with the aftermath, juxtaposed with the story of the mother's therapist and her...
    Read More about Interview with Lynne Griffin, part 1

    Is writing novels a public service?

    As I watched President Obama talk to a French town hall about public service, it hit me once again (as it does every time I hear him talk about it) that I should be doing...
    Read More about Is writing novels a public service?