Best Books for Writers: Part 2 of a Weekly Series

To continue our series:

From Beginnings, Middles & Ends, by Nancy Kress, I'm sharing the "four elements that make a first scene compelling," along with hw my novel stacks up. The four elements are: CHARACTER, CONFLICT, SPECIFICITY and CREDIBILITY.

This week: CONFLICT (Click .)

CONFLICT doesn't necessarily mean an arguement or a fight scene. In Beginnings, Middles & Ends, author Nancy Kress, uses Raymond Carver's short story "Fat" as an example of CONFLICT.  The overall theme of Carver's story is based on a touchy subject.  The writer and reader both know that in our society, weight is an emotional issue.

In my novel, Half Moon Bay Resort (working title), I show CONFLICT in the following ways:

1. ABANDONMENT:  Humans thrive on the need to be needed, loved and connected to one another. In my novel, we learn early on, page one to be exact, that 16-year-old Lily had been abandoned by her mother years ago.
2. ALCOHOLISM:  This disease has far-reaching affects, not only on the abuser, but also on their circle of family and friends. Lily's mother's disease effects Lily's entire outlook on life: past, present and future. It is what drives her need to flee, yet grounds her at home, where she hopes her mom will return for her.
3. GRANDPARENT RAISING GRANDCHILD:  As common as this situation is these days, it comes with its own set of problems: the age gap, the resentment on both the grandparent's end and the child's end, anger at the absent parent, yet a need to protect and defend them. Lily struggles with her Nonna's prudish ways and strict work ethic on their lake resort. She depends on Nonna for being the only stable thing in her life. yet resents when Nonna badmouths her mother.
4. FAMILY SECRETS:  Anytime secrets are kept within a family, tension is on the horizon. Truth revealed and the reaction to that truth can cause a riptide in the gene pool. As the young guest, Frank, confides in Lily about the horrific secret his family is keeping, Lily discovers a buried box, filled with secrets that her own family has been keeping from her.

Your turn:

Ask the question: What is the CONFLICT and how early is it introduced?

Kress says the first line, or at least the first page, should promise CONFLICT and raise questions for the reader.

So, take the first page of your draft and see if your CONFLICT makes its grand entrance. Share your findings with us!

Next week we’ll discuss SPECIFICITY.

Want to learn more about writing exercises and workshops taught by 

Mary Jo Campbell? Visit her EVENTS page here:  http://writerinspired.wordpress.com/writers-q-a/events-for-young-writers/