I try to give writers simple advice without jargon. There’s too many people who’ve invented their own terms for common devices, such as someone who referred to major plots as “Sparks”. Or the Dramatica theory of signposts and journeys. There’s established names already for these concepts.
Let’s use standard terms, without inventing our own. You don’t need to invent a name for plot points. There’s already a name. Plot points.
The same goes for tension and conflict. The best definitions I’ve heard are these:
Tension is the feeling within the space of time between wanting an apple and reaching out to take it.
Nicholas Reicher
Conflict is the placing of a barrier between the protagonist and his needed or perceived goal.
Nicholas Reicher
Driving across the country is not a story. Unless the car breaks down and…
See that?
AND.
Now something happens to put a barrier between the goal (driving from Newark to California).
This is a conflict.
Dracula finds you and obsesses about stealing our luggage.
The Wolfman has stolen your wallet, which you need to buy a plane ticket.
You need to hurry before Dracula takes off with your samsonite luggage.
Frankenstein wants to come with you, but you don’t have enough money – even if you can get your wallet back from wolfman.
And Dracula has found your luggage.This is rising conflict. More and more obstacles are being placed between you and your goal.
Tension – your only child is getting married tomorrow afternoon at 4 pm. You don’t want to miss it.
Rising tension – Dracula finds your only child and holds her hostage… for your luggage.
Frankenstein is on a rampage now, because he wants to go to the wedding too, and the delays caused by Wolfman stealing your wallet, he’s trashing everything in sight.
Now you’re arrested and in jail. Frankenstein in the next cell is playing with a flower, and it’s only a matter of time before it runs out of petals.
Wolfman drives by in your recently repaired car. From the looks of his Hawaiian shirt, he’s shopping. With your money.
And you don’t know where your luggage is.The two go hand in hand. If you increase conflict without a consequence, there’s no rising tension.rising tension without conflict is merely paranoia.
(for people who want to duplicate Hitchcock, add twice as much tension as conflict, then reverse yourself in Act II, then increase EVERYTHING in act III).
This isn’t a good explanation by any means. I think its terrible. Don’t rely on the explanation – just follow the exercise.”So and so needs to…”Or what?
How do you interrupt that?
What are the stakes? How do you raise them?
How do you continually raise them without making it unbelievable?
Remember tension is the interval between wanting the apple and taking it. Conflict is a barrier between you and the protagonist.Tension is found within a scene, and arcing across scenes. If you need to, at first ask:1. What need am I denying the protagonist in this scene?2. What barrier have I placed between the protagonist and the need?
