 Drama: June 03, 2015 Issue [#7028] |
  Drama
This week: Conflicting Goals Edited by: Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline  
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Every character has at least one goal, one dream, one aim... but what happens when their goals are in conflict?
This week's Drama Newsletter is all about goals and character development.
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Do you have a goal? As I write this newsletter, I am right in the middle of completing my final paper of the study year. Which means that, yes, I should be working on that rather than this newsletter, but you, as my readers, matter, and it is also my goal to provide you with some inspiration for the week ahead. My goal of achieving a good grade, and my goal of writing this newsletter are in conflict. Isn't that often the case?
Every main character needs a goal, a dream, an aim. These goals can be anything – getting a good job, finding a husband or wife, becoming a parent – all the many things that people want in life, and many more if your story or novel are fictional. Not many of us would want to cause chaos and destruction, after all, but some characters do – see the James Bond novels, for example.
As in real life, a character might have conflicting goals. He or she might want to climb the career ladder, yet also want to be a good husband or wife, and it can be difficult to find a balance. Or they might want a child, whilst their partner does not want to, and they also want to maintain their relationship with them.
This tension between goals can add a touch of drama to your story. It will also help your character to develop – sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Either which way, your character won't be bland and that is important if you want to maintain the interest of your readers.
There are many routes you can take to resolve the conflict. For example, in The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella, the main character, Samantha, is a high-powered lawyer about to make partner in the firm. Her personal life, however, is a disaster – she has no time for rest or relaxation, let alone a romantic relationship. Then, something goes wrong at work. Horribly wrong. She has a breakdown, runs away, and ends up at a house in the middle of the countryside to ask for help... only to be mistaken for the expected interviewee for a housekeeper position. She ends up going for it, and her life undergoes some radical changes.
The Undomestic Goddess is a pretty light-hearted novel. However, it does contain some elements of drama, and a good dose of character development, mainly through the gradual priority changes Samantha experiences. This is a strategy authors can employ in more serious novels.
Another strategy that can be used is one where conflicting goals or interests come to a head-on clash. Your character might have to make a decision, there and then – the job or the husband/wife, a baby or the husband/wife, becoming the ruler of the world or ensuring the happiness of one's own people.
These things happen. In Napoleon and Josephine – A Love Story, author Theo Aronson, who has placed a lot of research in his biographies, describes how Napoleon's Empire was affected by his goal to advance his family members' interests – he appointed his brothers and sisters parts of the Empire even though they were wholly unsuited to lead. And, of course, it is well-known that he gave up the love of his life, Josephine, because it was necessary to produce an heir, something which hadn't happened during their marriage.
You can think as small or as big as you like, from a love of crochet to politics, war, religion... the choice is yours. Though you might discover a few conflicting goals of your own along the way. Good luck!
kittiara
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The Drama Newsletter welcomes any and all questions, suggestions, thoughts and feedback, so please don't hesitate to write in! 
Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,
The Drama Newsletter Team |
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