Developing Conflict - Senior English - Short Story

A presentation to explain how a writer can develop conflict in a short story. Continues from the previous lesson about the types of conflict. A lesson targeted at a senior English classroom, making use of humorous examples to demonstrate points.

1. DEVELOPING narrative conflict With some examples

2. Story Structure Your short story will follow a structure like this You can consider these elements as a series of three pairs If you want your story to feel logical , satisfying , and complete , you need to balance these pairs

3. LOGICAL

4. Let’s start with LOGICAL His older brother Kyle is moving out of home and said he’ll leave his TV behind. But only if Jimmy beats him in a fight. (Kyle is kind of a jerk) This is Jimmy COMPLICATION ORIENTATION CLIMAX RISING TENSION ORIENTATION COMPLICATION

5. Let’s start with LOGICAL Jimmy starts working out. He watches a bunch of Kung Fu movies. He hires a trainer. COMPLICATION ORIENTATION CLIMAX RISING TENSION RISING TENSION

6. Let’s start with LOGICAL Jimmy’s friend Sue yells at Kyle. Kyle changes his mind and leaves the TV. COMPLICATION ORIENTATION CLIMAX RISING TENSION CLIMAX THE END

7. Let’s start with LOGICAL To solve a problem in a way that isn’t logically connected to the orientation or complication is a disappointing and confusing way to end a story. It feels cheesy, and too easy.

8. Let’s start with LOGICAL The main action of the climax should follow logically from the nature of the complication.

9. SATISFYING

10. Next, MAKE IT SATISFYING This is Beth Beth is a casting agent and needs a new lead actor for her Medieval Drama. She also has an internal struggle with a fear of abandonment. To help with this, she recently adopted a child who ran away.

11. Next, MAKE IT SATISFYING She finds an actor for the lead role

12. Next, MAKE IT SATISFYING And a therapist to help her deal with her insecurities She finds an actor for the lead role

13. Next, MAKE IT SATISFYING THE END Wait, what about the kid? Much like how your climax shouldn’t be independent of your complication, your resolution and orientation are like bookends.

14. Next, MAKE IT SATISFYING A story will usually have one or two major conflicts which drive the plot. These must be clearly resolved. Introducing one problem and solving a different one makes for an unsatisfying story.

15. COMPLETE

16. Year 12 Formal This is Lisa Lisa wants to go to the formal. But, there are many obstacles in her path. A GOOD STORY FEELS COMPLETE

17. Year 12 Formal MATH HOMEWORK SOCIAL ANXIETY THE DESIRE TO GO WITH A DATE A GOOD STORY FEELS COMPLETE

18. Year 12 Formal MATH HOMEWORK SOCIAL ANXIETY THE DESIRE TO GO WITH A DATE A GOOD STORY FEELS COMPLETE Every obstacle we add to a story serves to heighten the tension. So, any rise in tension must be met with a fitting resolution to reduce the tension.

19. Year 12 Formal SOCIAL ANXIETY THE DESIRE TO GO WITH A DATE A GOOD STORY FEELS COMPLETE A NEW DRESS! MATH HOMEWORK

20. Year 12 Formal SOCIAL ANXIETY THE DESIRE TO GO WITH A DATE A GOOD STORY FEELS COMPLETE MATH HOMEWORK To complete the story, all the sources of tension must be dealt with in some way. DENIAL Leaving tension unresolved makes the story feel unfinished – like something is missing.

21. A GOOD STORY FEELS COMPLETE Any conflict that raises the tension should also have a corresponding resolution which lowers it.

22. SUMMARY

23. SUMMARY Any conflict that raises the tension should also have a corresponding resolution which lowers it. Introducing one problem and solving a different one makes for an unsatisfying story. The main action of the climax should follow logically from the nature of the complication. LOGICAL SATISFYING COMPLETE