Why Your Conflicts Feel Too Easy: How Pro Editors Make Heroes Earn Each Victory

One of the more common problems that crops up in new authors’ manuscripts also sounds like it should be among the simplest to fix.

The protagonist has a clear goal, and his motive for pursuing it make sense. With each scene, he moves closer to what he wants.

Perhaps a little too close. Because beta readers complain the hero waltzes from victory to victory.

So the author does what comes naturally: He raises the stakes.

The villain gets a power boost. Then he moves on from attacking the the hero’s hometown to threatening the whole kingdom.

Surely, the author assumes, readers will find the story gripping. But for some reason they can’t articulate, they still say the protagonist is coasting.

The real reason is a common yet subtle difference pro editors have learned to spot right away: Higher stakes do not automatically mean higher difficulty.

Think about it. A character can face down catastrophic consequences without ever having to make a hard choice. Sure, readers may grasp the severity of the situation on an intellectual level. But tension is emotional, and they know when they’re not feeling it.

Read the full post on Substack.

SOULDANCER RETURNS, THE CYCLE CONTINUES

Ten years after winning the first-ever Dragon Award for Best Horror Novel, Souldancer returns with the definitive anniversary edition and an all-new companion novella, The Other Side of Fear.

The Kickstarter launches September 1, featuring early bird rewards and a crowdfunder-exclusive hardcover of the new novella.

Follow the Kickstarter now to be notified the moment limited rewards go live!