#22: How to Evaluate the Conflict in Your Draft

In today’s episode, I’m going to walk you through my five-step process for evaluating the conflict in your novel. Here's a preview of what's included:

[01:20] Progressive complications are moments of conflict that gets harder and harder to deal with overtime. To learn more about writing good conflict, check out last week's episode (episode #21).
[02:30] Step 1: Identify what your POV character wants and how they plan to get it. You’ll also want to have a good understanding of what your character expects to happen. So, do they expect to succeed? Do they expect things to be difficult?
[03:30] Step 2: List everything that gets in your character’s way as they pursue their goal. And remember, these complications can be positive or negative. It’s just whatever gets in your character’s way as they go after their goal.
[04:45] Step 3: Rank your list of complications to see if they escalate properly or not.
[06:10] Step 4: Identify the turning point -- or the moment things change. Ask yourself how you feel about the change that occurs and determine whether it’s impactful or not.
[07:50] Step 5: Consider how the scene (or whatever you’re analyzing) affects the global story. So, if you’re analyzing a scene, how does this scene contribute to the global story? How does it move the story forward?
[08:45] An example of this type of analysis using a scene from the movie Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Plus, how this seemingly insignificant scene is a set up for a lot of important stuff that happens later in the story.
[14:15] Key points and episode recap.

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Links mentioned in this episode:

• Need some help with your story? Click here to learn more about Savannah's developmental editing and book coaching services.
• Recommended Reading: STORY by Robert McKee
• Recommended Reading: The Story Grid by Shawn Coyne
• Progressive Complications: How to Write Better Conflict in Your Story (article)

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