Thursday, July 26, 2012
Tilly's Trials
I really like to try to ring the changes with romantic novels. However, it is difficult. After all A loves B - eventually - how do you make that different? Conflict.It's a conflict that has to be resolved and you can delve into your mind and come up with different kinds of conflict. It can be a struggle sometimes, however sometimes it just comes to you.
Coming up with an idea of conflict for Tilly's Trials was very easy. Marsh and Tilly had been in love previously, they had even married but the marriage failed. Tilly puts down the failure to Marsh's alleged misbehavior with the hot and sexy Mariel Hopkins but wasn't Tilly to blame too? Oh yes, and until Tilly realizes that, the two are never going to get together.
Lots of my readers have said how much they like Marsh. Good. That's what we aim to do, I could not have my main man disliked by the readers, and if I am not in love with him too, how can I expect any reader to fall for him as well.
Falling out all the time can get a tad tedious, don't you think? So you can't be too heavy handed with the conflict, if a couple are squabbling throughout the book I would think it would be very boring. But sometimes it is like walking a tightrope. Sure they must have disagreements but agreements too.
It helped me that Marsh and Tilly had had a past. Tilly had a huge crush on Marsh when they were at school. He was only two years ahead of her but he was known as the coolest kid in the school. But Tilly had a past too and a not very pleasant one, she has to find her way through that before
ever finding lasting happiness with Marsh.
Put that into the pot, as well as running a business and I think you have a good brew. Why not sit down, put up your feet, pour that cup of tea and just...well you know what you have to do.
Tilly's Trials
available from www.amazon.com
www.whiskeycreekpress.com
Details on my website - www.margaretblake.co.uk
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10 comments:
You've nailed the key to any good story, Margaret. Good summary.
Thank you, John.
I'm one of those readers who loved Marsh! The conflict was fresh in this book too -- I loved that Tilly's growth depended on her facing her flaws!
-Jen
Thanks, Jen. I am so happy that you appreciated that.
You're absolutely right about conflict Margaret. Real life conflict in marriage is very much like a rollercoaster. One minute you know exactly why you married that man, the next you could happily walk out! There has to be the good stuff for you to have gone there in the first place. As a writer, the skill is in showing why they are together, and meant to be as well as why their differences are threatening to tear them apart.
Great post, Margaret. Conflict is essential but, as you say, not constant squabbling. The characters both have to work hard to overcome their differences so that the reader is rooting for them both and is glad when they finally get the 'happy endng' they deserve.
You are correct with your summary, Margaret!
A little bit of everything and leave the reader wanting more!
Great to meet up with the same characters as they grow up and handle the trials that life deals them.
Thank you Paula and Cara - hi Margaret, lovely to see you here and thank you for your comment.
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