Thursday Thirteen: Conflict Building

ByKristen Koster

 

13 Possible Short-Term Problems

 

I brainstormed a bit today on putting together short-term problems that would pull the hero and heroine together yes provide some conflict on why they might not be the best match at first glance. I’ll readily admit that many of these were heavily influenced by romance novels I’ve read in the past. It’s all in the details and the execution, right?

Unfortunately, none of these solves the issues I’m having with my problem stories.

  1. He won her family home in a wager and she’s been abandoned by her parent/guardian.

     

  2. He investigates her family in a matter for the Home Office while she leads a secret life to earn money for her family.

     

  3. He needs a wife/fiancee to keep the matchmakers at bay and she needs a betrothal to keep the fortune hunters at bay.

     

  4. In a case of mistaken identity, she cares for the injured lord who has a hold over her family and ends up liking him instead.

     

  5. In a case of mistaken identity, he infiltrates her gang of smugglers that she’s using for purposes of good, unlike the spies and wreckers he’s been sent to find.

     

  6. He needs a wife to care for his daughter and would like an heir but the widow believes she can’t have children of her own.

     

  7. She needs to redeem her father’s scholarly reputation and he needs her evidence to take down the evil relative who is using her father’s work for evil purposes.

     

  8. She needs to redeem her brother’s good name and he’s investigating her brother’s treasonous behavior.

     

  9. She makes up a betrothed and he appears to fill the role so he can conveniently spy on her family.

     

  10. He suffers a terrible battle wound and only she can stand up to him and bring him out of his depression. She’s available to do so, because her strength and shrewish ways have driven away all suitors.

     

  11. Their families have fought for generations, they’re set up to mend the fences and merge the family lines.

     

  12. Her father is killed in battle and the hero comes back to serve as her guardian.

     

  13. The bad boy stands between her and the noble goal of helping some orphans. He’s bored to tears and sets himself the challenge of seducing the proper miss.
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1 Debbie Mumford 2 damozel 3 Darla
4 Jennifer McKenzie 5 Debora 6 Tempest Knight
7 On a Limb with Claudia 8 Paige Tyler 9 Alice Audrey
10 R.G. Alexander 11 Christina 12 pussreboots
13 Tawny Taylor 14 Kat’s Krackerbox 15 Danica/Dream
16 Susan Helene Gottfried 17 Di 18 Gwen Mitchell
19 Maribeth 20 Unhinged 21

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31 Comments

  2. those all sound great to me!! you have the potential for 13 very interesting romance novels!
    good luck solving your problem!!!

  10. I think these are great, but not very realistic. I don’t know romance writing at all but I like to see people get together in real ways – meeting through other people, at work or whatever. I think you can still have people not seem like good matches and have it work. I think our lives create collision courses – we just don’t know what they are…. But again, this is just my uneducated take.

    I love that you are brainstorming. 🙂

  15. Like Darla, I think I’ve read all these conflicts at one time or another. It’s what the author does with them that make them work. Good luck on working out your plot!

  19. Hey, I think I’ve read at least half of those and some of them, ummm…sound like my life.

    Thanks for stopping by.

  21. They all sound like intriguing possibilities… I’d dive into the characters and see where they lead you. If that doesn’t work out, just blow something up. Won’t solve the problem, but it sure is fun.

  22. There are only so many plot devices in romance. That’s a good collection of them there. Hey, if you’re interested in doing some brainstorming re your miller’s son story, shoot me an email. I actually think I might have an idea or two for you. Happy TT!

  23. Why don’t they run into each other in less-than-wonderful circumstances when neither’s at their best, so sparks can’t fly?

    I’m thinking the marketplace or a dance that’s new to the society and they step on each other’s feet, or he catches her doing something not ladylike, but he wants a lady…

    The possibilities are endless. Good luck picking!

  24. I would be hopeless trying to write fiction. I have so many conflicts in my own life (I have teenagers!) that I don’t think I could create conflicts for fictional characters.

  28. As a romance writer, I have to believe that there are infinite fulfilling variations on the theme ‘boy meets girl’! I’m sorry that none of them solve your immediate problem, but they all sound like future titles! Lol.

  29. You definitely are on to something. Hopefully you will find the solution to your problem”)
    Maribeth

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