Comments on: The Nature of Conflict

By: Keith

Keith — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:45:41 +0000

Just getting started! I’m a former US Submariner and later an Air Force Special Operations Intelligence Analyst. I want to start writing action/thrillers similar to Clancy or Flynn. I have tons of personal experience as a “spook in the shadows,” but not sure how to “weave” the story. Any suggestions?

By: Syd

Syd — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 18:25:37 +0000

Hi Will:
Conflict is conflict – we can learn from the old as much as from the new. Just make the distinctions of whether it’s an internal conflict or an external conflict!

Syd

By: Will

Will — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 13:01:12 +0000

I guess that I should broaden my taste in movies. Most of the films I prefer to watch are the old black & white movies such as ‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane Hudson?’, ‘All About Eve’, the ‘Battle of Britain’, etc., etc. (It’s my mother’s fault.) But I suppose a would-be screenwriter could learn just as much about conflict, internal or external, from the “oldies” as he or she would learn from contemporary cinema. Or am I on the wrong track altogether?
These podcasts, your books and video tutorials are excellent. Thank you very, very much.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:37:55 +0000

Thanks Syd!

By: Syd

Syd — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:17:42 +0000

Hi Anthony:

I think the only one you’re missing in external conflicts is: “the ability to survive.” Take a look at Cold Mountain for a good illustration of that along with many of the other conflicts. The film is a real lesson in studying the conflict in a script.

Good writing,

Syd

By: Anthony

Anthony — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 04:08:23 +0000

Syd,
I have two of your books and I agree with your observations about the shift in both screenplays AND novels due to technology. That is why I am using your structure and guidelines to help me write my (first) novel.I think I am missing one of the 10 types of external conflict. I listened to this a few times but I am only getting nine. Would you be kind enough to tell me which one I missed. I have:

*weather
*natural disaster
*machine (breakdown)
*physical impairment/illness
*war
*economic misfortune
*imprisonment
*the ability to adapt to current times
*the law/breaking the law

Thanks for helping those of us who may not be “naturally gifted” to understand the craft and giving us a framework to improve!

By: Jackie Wolf-Enrione

Jackie Wolf-Enrione — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:45:24 +0000

Conflict is the motivating force behind a good screenplay. Conflict drives this writer to continue telling her story. One cold day in January , 2010 in the Tarrytown Post Office, a chance meeting inspired me to take an obscure character in my story, and make him my lead. And in six short months, a story I had been struggling with since 2000, literally and remarkably wrote itself in six short months.
A recent interview sent me back to include a vital aspect of the tangled web. Threading the story line throughout while maintaining conflict to its logical conclusion or resolution is a challenge. Well. This has been a an incredible journey. I’ve grown fond of my main characters. Next week for beTter or for worse, . Sending this out to the person who was the catalyst, making my screenplay come to life. No guts no glory!