Got Enough Drama?

Let's add some!

Hi my writing friend,

Kelly Eden here. I’m all recovered now from Covid, except for an annoying cough, and I’ve been loving diving into the first entries for the personal essay challenge!

Have you entered yet? I hope you do.

I know it can be intimidating entering a contest. Don’t overthink it.

Some of the best entries are often the novice ones!

I was thinking today about personal essays (like I often am because I’m kind of obsessed!) and I was reminded of a writing group meeting I attended a couple of months ago.

Awkward Feedback

It was the first time I’d been to a local writer’s group.

I live in a very small town, so the group consisted of 4 of us around a table.

One of the ladies read the start of her new short story. When she was done she screwed up her nose and said, “Is it worth continuing?”

I just sat there.

I know with you I’m the one doing all the talking! As a rule though, I don’t speak up until I know the culture of the group. I wasn’t sure what kind of feedback they gave each other.

But no-one else said anything either.

Awkward!

I felt bad for the woman who’d read her piece, so I broke my rule.

“I really liked it,” I started as gently as I could. “The characters were so clear and likeable. I really loved the way you described the wife.”

Um, but… You know there’s a but coming, right? You can feel it.

“Is there going to be some conflict soon? What happens next?”

She looked at me like I’d just murdered her dog.

“No. No conflict. She’s not like that. She’s a really positive person.”

Hmm….I paused. Do I back out and let it go?

You know me. I hate to let a story with potential die a boring death.

“Well, I mean, she’s lovely, but every story needs conflict of some kind, otherwise there isn’t really a story.”

I looked around the group hoping they would pitch in.

Nope.

“It wouldn’t have to be a big conflict,” I offered feeling like I should shut up (except I couldn’t seem to!)

“You know how her brother is a drug addict, that’s a great point of conflict right there. Maybe she’s really worried about him and tries to help, but he doesn’t want her to?”

She argued why that wouldn’t work and then there was silence again.

“It’s a really nice start,” I said into the silence. “I think you should keep writing it.”

No Conflict. No Story

She wasn’t ready to move to the next stage in her writing, and that’s totally okay. I spent years writing stories that lacked enough conflict. It’s been one of my biggest challenges as a writer.

I hate conflict in real life, but it’s a crucial step to learn in writing.

It doesn’t have to be big, but it has to be a struggle that brings some kind of inner change for the main character (you obviously in a personal essay).

Without an inner struggle, there is no story.

Have you started writing an entry for the contest?

Anyone need peer feedback?