Seeing characters at their truest

[John Dean]

I am working on the latest DCI John Blizzard crime novel for those excellent people at The Book Folks at the moment and the story is full of people falling out, each fighting their corner, defending what is important to them.

That is how it should be but why is conflict important in writing? Because stories need things to happen and that usually comes out of conflict - characters argue, fight, feud etc. It is through seeing characters in conflict that we see them at their truest.

Conflict also takes the story on: a school is to be closed, two friends fall out, a community is torn apart by an event. All these types of conflict are a rich hunting ground for the crime writer - and the reader, in whom conflict can evoke a strong reaction.

In addition, conflict makes for good drama - and if that is happening then writing is easier. In my view, a story cannot come to life without it.