How to Create Juicy Conflict in Your Story
The Novelry on Writing
Making Readers Care About Characters
Emylia describes layering character detail so dramatic scenes feel authentic and avoid melodrama.
What is conflict in a story? It’s the challenges your characters face in your book. Conflict is a critical element in any good novel because it drives plot and builds character. In this episode, The Novelry writing coaches and authors Emylia Hall and Urban Waite share five ways to create juicy conflict in your stories.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
01:33 - Tip #1: Conflict is Essential
05:25 - Tip #2: Conflict Builds Character
09:19 - Tip #3: Conflict Should Have Layers
12:52 - Tip #4: Empathetic Characters
18:52 - Tip #5: Micro-Conflict
Guest Bios
The Novelry coach Emylia Hall is the award-winning author of four women’s fiction novels and a cozy crime series. Her debut, The Book of Summers, was one of the bestselling debuts of the year and a Richard and Judy Book Club selection. The Thousand Lights Hotel was selected for Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place Book Club. The Shell House Detectives, the first in Emylia’s cozy crime series set in Cornwall, was a Kindle Top 10 bestseller and has been optioned for television by Playground Entertainment. Emylia’s work has appeared in the Guardian, Country Living, the Observer, Elle, and on BBC Radio 6 Music. Emylia has taught creative writing workshops in Kigali, Zurich, Switzerland, and for Arvon and Mothership Writers.
The Novelry coach Urban Waite’s novels have been published in over 40 countries, translated into 12 languages, and optioned for film. Their accolades include Indie Next Picks, Amazon Editors’ Picks, nominations for the New Mexico/Arizona Book Award, and Kirkus Review Hit List selections. His debut, The Terror of Living, was lauded as a Best Book of the Year by Esquire, the Boston Globe, and Booklist, and catapulted him to international acclaim with praise from Stephen King. Urban has placed in numerous Best Book of the Year lists. He has adapted projects for brands including Disney, Ubisoft, and Fox Entertainment, and is a regular contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Resources
Check out these blog posts for more insight on how to write and publish your story:
Antagonist: An Evil Character or an Opposing Force?
How to Raise the Stakes in Your Story
How to Create a Plot Diagram for a Smooth Writing Journey
Read the full episode transcript here!
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Show description
Learn how novels work from publishing’s top experts at The Novelry, the world’s #1 school for writers. Hosted by our bestselling writing coaches and publishing editors, this podcast is a practical, helpful guide to writing novels for every genre. Enjoy inside tips and tricks to make your writing a joyful experience while building your expertise in writing craft.
With new topics every week, there is always something to learn at The Novelry, the world’s top-rated fiction writing school with more 5* reviews from writers than any other creative writing course.
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