Novel writers hear a lot about “high stakes” and a well-defined goal for their stories. While these items are crucial, the novel may fall short if worthy complications are not also part of the unfolding story.
Writing Tip for Today: How can you figure out which complications should arise in your novel-in-progress?
Swing Dem Bones of Complications
If you think of the “bones” of your story as a human skeleton, complications should arise somewhere in the ribs area of the torso.* These complications should be like your ribs–curved, so that the story complications appear to swing from negative to positive and back again. In “The Wizard of Oz,” for instance, Dorothy encounters her first complication at the Yellow Brick Road. She knows it may have something to do with her getting home, but at first she has no direction. (negative) Then the Scarecrow helps her out. (Positive) which is good–until the trees come to life and start pelting her with apples. (negative) Dorothy see-saws back and forth like this until all three of her companions sing the famous “Yellow Brick Road” song. In your story, complications should also follow this broad pattern–from bad to good and back again. This helps keep tension in the story and keeps readers guessing. These complications are usually found in ACT II (after set-up, introduction of major goal/problem and characters) of your story.
*Thanks to Angie Hunt for this illustration!