Here's a thought. We all know that conflict is what hooks readers, don't we? But can this be the conflict in one character? I'm thinking, the character wants/needs to do something bad but his conscience argues with him throughout the plot.
What do you think?
Hi David
'127 Hours' was intense wasn't it!
My overriding thought after reading your latest comment is this: go with your gut. If you get the feeling that it can work then you'll make it work. I haven't read 'This Son of York', but I will certainly try to get my hands on a copy.
I feel that I may have interpreted 'internal conflict' as a lack of interaction with other characters or the world around him, but that clearly isn't the case. I'll be hoping to see your book in print. All the very best of luck with the planning and writing.
Thanks Isabella,
These answers, and mature reflection, verify that a story can't be *only* about the internal conflict of one character. I too thought of Tom Hanks in 'Cast Away', and about '127 Hours', the film in which Aaron Ralston cut off his own arm to escape being trapped. Snag is, it's hard to emulate the kind of video flashbacks than can go into a film.
The 'bad' thing my character wants to do is also desperately illegal; he can't therefore discuss it with anyone. Equally, he can't leave a trail in undertaking the research on his planned act.
I still get the feeling that, even with the character's internal monologue being a major element, the story would work. As I said, I'd used this device to a fair degree in 'This Son of York', and that first novel has earned four, 5-star reviews so far. So, the planning progresses!
Hi David. I agree with Jonathan Hopkins' comments about there having to be other characters. No man is an island unto himself after all. Unless he is, of course, on an island all by himself! I feel that it would be your character's conflict with other characters that will make for interesting reading. If your character's conflict was simply that - an internal conflict and nothing else - I feel that I'd want to smack him for being so egocentric! But perhaps that's a bit harsh! Can you think of a single book that involves one character sharing his internal conflict? I can't. I apologise if I misunderstood you and I don't want to be discouraging. You might find an amazing idea that is better served by this one character's internal conflict. I may not be creative enough to understand or see how it would work, so please don't let me put you off. I'm remember Tom Hanks shipwrecked on the island with the basketball for company and having just read Songbirds (so amazing) even Stephen had conflicts with characters when he was trapped in the tunnel. He was in conflict with the tunnel itself, the walls, the lack of air, the lack of water, his fear, his dying friend, his beloved Isabel. They were there with him as real and tangible characters.