by Heidi McCahan, @HeidiMcCahan
Recently a group of writer pals I chat with online lamented that their rough drafts lacked enough conflict to make their stories interesting. I can relate. A lack of conflict and clearly defined goals are two of the main reasons my manuscripts have been rejected. Often my fictional heroes and heroines didn’t have a concrete reason for their actions. Worse, the stakes needed to be higher or else my reader would be the opposite of captivated. It’s taken me a long time to learn how to create dynamic characters who move through their story worlds with plausible motivation and goals that are worthy of a loveable protagonist. Sometimes I still miss the mark and endure rejection, or I’m asked to make substantial revisions and resubmit. Both scenarios are probably more common in the writing community than we think, so if this is where you are now, take heart.
You’re not alone.
Stories that lack conflict and present murky goals with insignificant stakes are common plot problems. Even multi-published authors wrestle with defining a protagonist’s goal and creating stakes that are high enough to sustain an entire novel. Remember, we want our readers to find our characters likable. Notice I didn’t say perfect. A flawed, relatable protagonist facing insurmountable odds yet determined to succeed will almost always hold a reader’s attention.
Since most of us don’t enjoy rejection or significant revision requests, here are two important lessons that I keep coming back to when I know I need to solve these pesky plot problems. Both concepts I learned as a Novel Academy student and/or from attending conferences where Rachel Hauck and Susan May Warren emphasized these teaching points.
If you’re stuck and can’t come up with conflict that drives your story forward, or your story stakes aren’t high enough, consider putting a bear in your novel. If every character in a story needs to have a problem and every character in a scene needs to have a concrete reason to be on the page, then introducing an animal into the plot potentially resolves pacing and plot structure issues.
Okay, so that’s maybe not exactly how Rachel and Susie taught us but stay with me here. Books that feature animals appeal to readers. Service animals are fantastic editions for stories set in certain genres. Giving a protagonist a pet as a companion is also a fantastic plot device. For example, likeability skyrockets when we observe that single dad bringing home a puppy home for his daughter. Often, introducing an animal into a storyline gives the characters someone to talk to even though the creature can’t communicate verbally. If the animal is in distress, we can use that scenario to show that our characters are compassionate humans as they rally to assist the wounded animal.
Now I know what you’re thinking. There’s no way you can put a bear in your novel. Perhaps your story is set in a story world where a bear is not plausible. It doesn’t have to be a bear, but what if you used an animal as an antagonistic force? What if this animal threatened your protagonist’s well-being or the wellbeing of a character your protagonist cares about? Talk about raising the stakes! There are countless ways and a variety of animals you can add to your story. I’m confident they will make your story more interesting, provoke your characters to act, and provide an obstacle to overcome. So if you need to breathe life into a withering plot, try adding a bear.
Coming home as a single dad…with a seven-year secret
Back home in Hearts Bay, Alaska, Asher Hale’s past has caught up with him. His son Cameron’s new reading tutor, Tess Madden, is actually Cameron’s mother—but she doesn’t know it. Their teenage romance is one neither has forgotten, but Asher’s secret lies between them. Now he will have to risk it all. Because telling the truth is the only path to a family reunion.
Heidi McCahan writes uplifting inspirational romance novels set in small towns. Readers fall in love with her flawed characters who desperately need second chances. A perfect day for Heidi includes a huge cup of strong coffee, dark chocolate, and reading books with happy endings. She makes her home in North Carolina with her handsome husband, three amazing boys, and the world’s greatest goldendoodle. An Alaskan Secret, Heidi’s next novel with Harlequin Love Inspired, releases March 29, 2022.