You are here : Conflict Questions For Presents Editors???

Conflict Questions For Presents Editors???

by Dee-eHarlequin on May 27th, 2009, 4:54pm Login or Register to post comments

We're doing something special this July--Interviewing Presents editors on one topic and it's the one that eats most of us writers alive: CONFLICT!

If you have questions, confusions or just sore spots on internal/external percentages, what they're looking for, what doesn't work for them or what they define as conflict, now's the time to ask! I'm collecting questions for the interview until Monday, June 2nd. Post them HERE or email me at laideebug @ gmail.com (no spaces) to get your conflict issues addressed!

 

Dee Tenorio
"The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."

Tags

Harlequin Presentsconflict, Editorial Notes

What sorts of internal

Posted on May 27th, 2009, 7:49pm by michellewillingham

What sorts of internal conflicts do you think you've seen enough of with the Presents line? (e.g. secret love children, revenge plots, etc.?)  Are there conflicts where you think, oh, no, not THAT again?  Wink 

When you've edited manuscripts with your published authors, what are some revision "hot spots"?  In other words, are there elements of conflict that keep cropping up again (maybe lack of tension, a need to go deeper into point of view, etc.)?

-Michelle Willingham
http://www.michellewillingham.com
VOYAGE OF AN IRISH WARRIOR (Free Daily Online Read!)
TAMING HER IRISH WARRIOR (on sale now!)

I'd definitely like to know

Posted on May 27th, 2009, 8:16pm by Jax500

I'd definitely like to know what sort of internal conflicts do NOT work for you. Are there any big no-nos? Or is it all in how the author presents it?

http://jackieashenden.blogspot.com/

Are there

Posted on June 3rd, 2009, 6:58am by NicoleR

Are there really any big no-no's for conflicts? For example, I've heard we should not have a character's issues stem out of problems based on their relationship with their parents. Is this something we should stay away from?

Thanks,

Cole

Edited later - This question is with regard to the Presents line. :-) 

Nicole Reising
www.nicolereising.com

Imagination... the magical whispers from within.

Hey, Jax!

Posted on May 27th, 2009, 8:23pm by NicoleR

Too funny, I got over here and started writing and then helped my youngest get set up for painting, finished writing my question and whala...you'd written basically the same question I did! :-) too funny.

Cole

Nicole Reising
www.nicolereising.com

Imagination... the magical whispers from within.

Spooky

Posted on May 28th, 2009, 4:07am by Lorraine P

I've got the same question too! Are there areas we should be steering well clear of? Or any types of conflict you particularly like to see?

Thanks 

 

Lorraine

Internal Conflict vs External Conflicts

Posted on May 28th, 2009, 5:00am by Florie

I just want to make sure I understand these very vital elements.

If a story is character-driven, then the conflicts that the character experiences are what move the plot along, right?  The internal conflict is what the heroine needs to resolve in the story, while the external conflicts challenge her to resolve it.  Is that fair?  So for example, Scarlett O'Hara's internal conflicts have to do with love (her misplaced love for Ashley and her unacknowledged love for Rhett) and her external conflicts have all to do with Civil War and Reconstruction.  By living through all of the external conflicts she eventually resolves her internal conflict when she recognises that her true love is Rhett Butler.  Have I got that right?

favorite ways to relate internal conflict

Posted on May 28th, 2009, 9:37am by JenSatt

In so many instances internal conflict is related to something that happened in a character's past (a dysfunctional family, a disadvantaged upbringing, betrayed trust, etc.) but we know extensive backstory and info-dumping isn't the best way to relate what makes a character "tick".

I think prologues and flashbacks, if done right, can be very effective. I also like deep pov (with lots of internalizations). Any advice on these methods in relation to Presents? And what, in your opinion, is the best way to give the reader clues about inner conflict?

Thanks so much!

Conflict

Posted on May 28th, 2009, 1:50pm by JewelTones

What are the three most common errors writers make when developing internal and external conflict?

If you could devise a simple "test" for a writer to take to help them determine if they have enough internal and external conflict in their story... what questions would you have the writer ask themselves?

thanks!

JT 

I'd just like...

Posted on May 28th, 2009, 4:48pm by M

I'd just like a short, concise description of what they define conflict to be within the Presents line and how intense it needs to be......where do we draw the line?

Oh, and if there's anything 'new' they'd like to see on paper.......suggestions please.!

Mavis

Participant in Date with Destiny 2009
Participant in Writers' Challenge 2009

"Nunc scio quit sit amor." Lat., -Virgil

Conflict Questions

Posted on May 30th, 2009, 7:06am by RomyS

JT - that was a great question!

I have two more:

1. Can the editors suggest ways to ratchet up the tension as the novel progresses, or how to deepen the conflict. (The only thing that springs to mind as I write is having the hero unconsciously doing something that really hurts the heroine because it touches on her past issues etc).

2. I am targeting Romance, rather than Presents, and though I know this is a  Presents discussion, I'd love to know how the conflicts differ between the lines.

 

http://romysommer.blogspot.com/
http://saromancewriters.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much everyone!

Posted on June 2nd, 2009, 10:25am by Dee-eHarlequin

This is going to help the editors know exactly where our big trouble spots are. :)

Hugs,
Dee

Dee Tenorio
"The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."

Editorial Question

Posted on June 2nd, 2009, 4:03pm by CarolC

Thanks for co-ordinating this Dee. Can't wait to read the answers.

 

My question:

If the conflict in a story has stalled do you have any suggestions for kickstarting it again?

Dee - My question would be

Posted on June 3rd, 2009, 7:58am by BettyNeelswantabe

Dee - My question would be the number of conflicts...

For example, and small external conflict can bring/introduce them, and then their own internal conflicts can keep them apart? 

I read an editors blog once about no accidental meetings, etc., everything must be a conscious decision so how DO we get them together with the conflicts right for the flavor of the line?

Dee, about the darn

Posted on June 10th, 2009, 3:18am by Nancy Sicily

Dee, about the darn conflicts:

Does the resolution of the internal (or external) conflict automatically lead to a happy ending? Or do our heroes have to sweat their shirts off to win the gal only at the very end? I realize that once they find love the story's over. So how exactly does that work?

Thanks!

Hi, Dee, when are we

Posted on June 10th, 2009, 3:20am by Nancy Sicily

Hi, Dee,

when are we getting the wonderful and much appreciated feedback from the editiors? Is the conflict all that different from other lines?

Thanks!

Looking forward to the editor interview

Posted on June 15th, 2009, 10:17am by Gail from Canada

Wonderful! I look forward to the editor interview. Thanks for letting us know.

 Gail Fuller Smile

http://www.nobodywritesitbetter.com/

As a Presents author, I'm

Posted on July 3rd, 2009, 8:22pm by KateHewitt

As a Presents author, I'm looking forward to hearing about this too! Especially as I contemplate my next book...

 

The Sheikh's Love-Child, July 2009, US & UK
The Sheikh's Forbidden Virgin, July UK, Oct US
Royal Love-Child, Forbidden Marriage, November US & UK
Count Toussaint's Pregnant Mistress, Jan 2010 UK
www.kate-hewitt.com

Syndicate content
Add new comment