Here are my three lessons on crafting internal conflict from Story Genius by Lisa Cron. I just finished reading it and Wow! I highly recommend it.

Three Lessons on Internal Conflict from Story Genius.

• “[T]he protagonist’s internal struggle is the story’s third rail, the live wire that sparks our interest and drives the story forward.” (p. 18)
• Write the “Origin Scene” – the scene in which your protagonist’s misbelief originated– and three Turning Point scenes “where her misbelief was the deciding factor in a decision she made” and which confirms that misbelief as “right.” (p.114)
• In each scene, what connects that scene to that third rail? What is the “story-specific emotional component to give it meaning and drive it forward?” (p. 247) Why does what happens matter to your protagonist? How is it slowly changing the misbelief?

Of course, these three lessons are just the tip of the iceberg. Crafting these four scenes made me really focus on my protagonist’s internal conflict and gave me backstory to insert into the novel. It showed me how what’s happening is making her change her “misbelief” and how to tie my scenes more closely to that third rail.

I started reading Story Genius because I am taking an online class by Linnea Sinclair called “Inside Out: Crafting your Character’s Internal Conflict.” She recommended reading it. This is my second course with Linnea and I highly recommend them: https://www.facebook.com/Linnea-Sinclair-75135631090/. They’re fun and chock full of writing tips for your toolbox. And completely affordable. So much value for your money.

Now I also have to figure where I am going to input the snippets of backstory that I wrote as part of the Story Genius exercises, without it seeming like a backstory information dump.

Book Recommendation: Gabriel’s Ghost (RITA winner)

I also just finished reading Gabriel’s Ghost by Linnea Sinclair (RITA winner, Paranormal Romance) because reading authors is another way to learn the craft. It was my first paranormal romance and it was so good. I highly recommend it, for readers and writers alike. I couldn’t put it down and just bought the next in the series.

Let’s Talk

What do you think is a story’s third rail? Do you think it is inner conflict? Have you read Story Genius? And have you read Gabriel’s Ghost? Are there any books you recommend?