Monday 8 February 2010

Internal v External

Yes, once again we return to the age-old question of internal v external – conflict, that is. Going over my current ms for HP, I realised something. My internal conflict is very much present, but my external is, well, not so much!

This got me thinking (and re-reading said ms furiously), is it possible for the internal conflict to also be the external, or am I just deluding myself completely? See, my hero has made certain decisions which he's doing his utmost to stand by. And of course these beliefs are keeping him and the heroine apart, ergo, internal conflict.

But by failing to adhere to his beliefs in the past, he has created a situation where he has to confront his conflict.

All well and good so far, but can the result of this failure be an external conflict? I sincerely want to believe so, because if I'm wrong, then I'm totally screwed (to put it mildly).

So, any thoughts? Internal and external conflict should work off each other, but can they be one and the same?

Am I making any sense at all?

Should I start panicking?

11 comments:

  1. I think they can certainly overlap and/or be the cause of one another! Feelings can cause actions and actions (or lack thereof) can cause feelings.

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  2. Thanks, Piper. I'm not panicking (yet) since I think I'm on the right track, but I hate to progress and then find I've taken the wrong route! Oh well, I guess I'll just soldier on on blind faith and advice from trusted CPs! :)

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  3. They can certainly overlap. One of my CPs said that external conflict forces the h and H together, while internal conflict tears them apart.

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  4. I think the great thing about Modern is the external is a really small part of the whole plot and can definitely be intrinsic to the internal. Hmm, wonder if that actually makes any sense. I should've just said 'I agree with Maisey' :-)

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  5. Maisey, mayhap I'm on the right track. They're certainly being forced together and yes, the internal is going to tear them apart. Simply put, he won't fess up and she wants to know why he left her. I see tears and tantrums in their future!

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  6. Yep, Jo, that's the Modern way. I was worried though that the external has shrunk to microscopic proportons, that's all, LOL! But I've had a long think about it today and I guess external is easier to work in than internal, so I'm going to carry on regardless. Thanks, chica.

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  7. I'm still trying to get the hang of internal conflict - so am afraid have no words of wisdom.

    Sorry.

    XX

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  8. No worries, Suzanne. It took me a long time to work out the internal stuff, and even now I have to scratch my head for a long time before I work it out! *Sigh*

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  9. Weirdly, Maya. I have these two great characters and their internal conflict all sorted but I an NOT figure out what the external is. I have NO idea how I'm going to get these crazy kids together...and my hero is SO sexy it has to happen!

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  10. I have no doubt it'll come to you, Maisey. Mine unravelled eventually, and I was right. The internal connected almost directly with the external. One begat the other, you could almost say, and in my case there was no getting away from it.

    Sexy heroes, oi, they certainly float my boat!

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  11. External conflict is what's going on in the story as a whole; internal conflict is how the characters choose to deal with the situation they are in. So they both are interrelated and overlap, and as this comment is coming a month late, lol, I'm sure you did just fine with figuring it all out for your latest WIP.

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