Join other authors working on Nanowrimo this month.  Register at Sun Prairie Public Library link to meet authors and share experiences:   https://sunprairie.librarymarket.com/events/nanowrimo-writing-break-1.​

I know writing fiction requires conflict.  Conflict moves the story along and helps define characters and plot.  I know these things.
 
And yet.  During Covid 19 I have struggled to write conflict into the draft of my fourth novel manuscript.  I had the help of three beta readers and they concurred the initial draft was “vanilla”.  I read the manuscript front to back after receiving this consensus feedback.  The beta readers were right.  It was a nice story but what my protagonist, Rowan Daly, desperately wanted was a mystery.

I was lucky that two of the beta readers suggested the opportunity for conflict in the relationship between Rowan and Lucas.  I accepted the challenge and spiced up their relationship and added two opposite views of what each character wanted in the relationship.

Nothing special about a boy/girl conflict.  It happens.  Where else could I add conflict?  I was stymied.

Covid 19 has brought about such drastic changes in everyday life and the relentless cultural and political conflict in our country made me want to play ostrich – not write more conflict.  I did find a workaround.  I used historical events to create conflict.  For example, how instituting the draft in World War II changed life for young adults.
I’m waiting for feedback from my publisher.  I sense I may have a lot of work to do in the next few months.
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How are you handling conflict – in fiction or in life?