Defining Conflict

Conflict. Conflict. Conflict. It's one of the first terms you learn in a creative writing class.

They teach you it's the only way to propel a story. To create tension, if you will.

But what exactly does conflict mean?

My dictionary defines it as: "to come into collision or disagreement; to clash". But does this mean that your entire novel should be made of action scene after action scene? No.

If you need to be convinced, watch a Bond movie. Yes, there's a lot of conflict between Bond and the bad guy, but we would stop watching out of sheer fatigue (or, dare I say, boredom?) if there were no bar scenes - shaken not stirred - and no time for Bond to pick up the hot Bond girl.

Why is this, you wonder? Because if there was nothing but conflict, everything would have the same value. The car chase would be equal to the shoot out, which would be equal to the poisoning of the henchmen... and so on. In short, if everything's in conflict, nothing is new and exciting. Nothing keeps your attention.

Now, when we add in the bar scenes and Bond's infatuation with the new Bond girl, there's a break. Do you ever lose interest? No. Because there's still tension.

So, here's what you need to know: conflict (though it can be great) is only applicable when there's a balance with humorous, romantic, or "resting" scenes. It gives variety and keeps readers reading. The bottom line in your scenes should not be conflict, but tension. Whether macro or micro, tension needs to be everywhere throughout your novel.

Will Bond beat the bad guy?
Will Bond get the girl?
Will Bond be able to move with six gunshot wounds in his chest?

The thrill of the question is what truly matters.