Prewriting: Depth in Conflict
A tale centered around a group of heroes aiming to defeat the Big Bad is never sufficient; you need more. That alone is shallow, uninspired, and brittle. Shallow because even a casual reader can effortlessly navigate through it, and if it doesn’t challenge them, it won’t linger in their memories. Uninspired because it suggests you have nothing more to unveil—no twists, turns, or flashes of creativity. Brittle because it stands on just one leg; a narrative with only one element lacks the sturdiness needed to endure.
Hello Neophyte, today we are delving into infusing depth into your conflict during the prewriting phase. No, merely having a quest against the Big Bad is functional, but you should aspire to achieve more than mere functionality, right? Let’s begin.
Many complain that something—be it a book, movie, series, or anything else—lacks depth, but they seldom explain what they mean. It’s particularly infuriating when certain art enthusiasts throw around this phrase in a vain attempt to feel superior. Remember, Neophyte, a scornful put-down without an accompanying explanation indicates that the person doing it is likely a twat with a massive inferiority complex. While scorn and put-downs are unpleasant, if followed by an explanation, it at least becomes constructive and demonstrates a genuine passion for the craft over mere politeness. But I digress.
What do I mean by Depth?
Depth in a story goes beyond its premise; it involves weaving elements together to support and enhance each other. You can have the most imaginative settings and creative characters, but without conflicts to unite them, your story remains a collection of disjointed pieces lacking meaning. In the prewriting phase, the key is to establish more than one conflict, not to overshadow the main one but to provide essential support.
Take a simple example: a platoon holding their position against an incoming enemy. The external conflict is clear—orders to hold their ground. You could stop there and narrate the struggle, dedication, and sacrifice, but why not go beyond? Explore the dynamics within the platoon—who is in charge and why do others respect them? Does the officer with the badge truly hold power? What about the individual members of the platoon—do they all follow the rules, or are there secrets lurking beneath the surface? Depth emerges from the richness of the dynamics between characters and the conflict. There’s a world beyond their collection of foxholes, with hopes, dreams, threats, and consequences that extend far beyond the immediate struggle. To give your story the depth it deserves, consider these implications during the prewriting phase.
Building something great requires interconnected parts. Things shouldn’t happen just because “the plot demanded it.” Using “Pillars of the Earth” as an example (with major spoilers avoided), the story comes full circle by the end, where every change, triumph, sorrow, and love ties back to the beginning. This signifies a tale crafted with care and thought, where nothing feels out of place, and the reader remains fully immersed.
As you plan your story, keep this interconnectedness in mind. Everything should feel connected through the thread of action. Plan this in advance, and your work will feel more alive and organic. Remember, you’ll revisit the planning several times as the story evolves, as we’ve discussed before.
Until next time.
