My husband and I just read The Pursuit of Christian Maturity: Flourishing in the Grace and Knowledge of Christ by A. W. Tozer, compiled and edited by James L. Snyder. Steve Laube represents a portion of Tozer’s literary estate.
The book offers many excellent points and is worth reading. An overarching lesson on obstacles to a fulfilling relationship with God made me think of writing about the inner conflict of characters. Everyone has inner conflict, so reading about it in fiction helps readers, especially if the character learns and grows. The ideas below won’t make for a likeable character so be sure when you draw your character for your reader that you balance these faults with worthy attributes.
What idols stand in your character’s way?
- Does your character strive to be the smartest person in the room? When challenged, is he ready with a comeback designed to make the inquisitor look small? If so, how much time does the character spend thinking about others’ responses to controversial theories he puts forth, often simply to elicit shock? Which of his relationships does this affect, and how? What consequences does the character suffer? Does the character care, or does he clutch the idol of intellect?
- Is money a driving force for your character? Does a lack of money make the character feel helpless and hopeless, perhaps willing to take advantage of others to gain enough to survive? How do people she tries to use respond to her? Or is the character so wealthy she doesn’t feel she needs God or anyone else, since prosperity seems to offer a cloak of security? How does this attitude affect her purchases? Does she buy to impress? How do other characters respond to her?
- Does your character spend excess time putting on a show with his family? Yes, he loves them, but are they also props to demonstrate his success? How has this affected his spouse and children? What will he do when someone in the family inevitably disappoints him?
- Does your character either consciously or unconsciously look down upon others? If so, why is your character so insecure that she downgrades others to remain in her position? How will she grow?
- Does your character think everyone owes him favors? What type of favors does he seek? How do people respond? Is he powerful enough that people are afraid to decline? Or is he just a low-level nuisance people tolerate? Why does he have this sense of entitlement, and will he overcome it? How?
I know I’ve missed many aspects of inner conflict. What other conflicts stand in the way of your character’s relationships?
Barb doesn’t know what makes me tick
when she hears just how I talks;
I’ve got no darkling inner conflict,
and I’m dumber than a box of rocks,
a modern Joe Neanderthal
lost in a highspeed modern age.
See me once, you’ve seen it all
and then go on and turn the page
while I wander through the world
in cheery bewilderment,
pondering the…”Hey, look, SQUIRREL!
Let’s us follow where it went!’
and galloping across the field
with a joy that I won’t yield.
Your poetry brings us joy, Andrew!
Thanks so much, Tamela!
This was an eye-opener, not only for my characters, but also for me as well.
To God be the glory!
Great tips on inner conflict. Another one may be the inability to forgive yourself which could cause the character to doubt God and her own self-worth. The struggle could cause her to falter in a given situation or could open her eyes to repentance and bring her out of the slump to freedom in Christ.
That is an excellent observation, Loretta. You are spot on! Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
Thank you for the thoughtful questions to stir our creative juices. I’m working on a Middle Grade right now where the main character is constantly comparing himself to a fellow student that he thinks is superior to everyone else and, thus, trying to be more like him. To the point that he has pushed God away and his friends.
That was incredible and so helpful!! I think #3 would fit my MC’s dad pretty well (:
In great need of family help I ran into massive selfishness ingrained deep by this world.
GREAT–since I seek to develop characters that speak to the hearts and psyches of the readers with the hope of helping them get through their own trials.
Mucho thanks!!! 🙂 🙂
First: I think reading such books and growing in faith with your spouse is very romantic.
Second, I love this. Great points and it definitely gives depth to characters. I love how you pulled these points from a nonfiction book and applied it to fictional characters.
Here’s another one to add to Loretta’s, a character hates that she’s vulnerable (weak, needs help) and tries to mask it as much as possible, especially in front of her family. She’s always been the strong one and always had to take care of her sister. God kind of forces her to rely on others and she knows it and fights it even though deep down she kind of wants it.
This is a great discussion.
Ah yes, inner conflict *chuckles* the deep things that make me laugh in evil writerish while brainstorming.
My character with my most favorite inner conflict is Claire, the protagonist of my coming-of-age novella. She’s genuinely a nice, Pollyanna-type of person who trusts deeply, wears her heart on her sleeve, and prefers to think the best of people. She’s also usually the optimist of the group.
Her main struggle in the story is the conflict over her best friend choosing to move away from her (e.g. to go live with his dad instead of the foster family he’s been with). I really loved writing her struggle over accepting the “and”. She can be happy he’s getting his family back AND sad that he’s leaving. She can like his dad AND be a little angry that he’s taking him away.
As someone who used to struggle with accepting “and”, it was interesting to write her conflicts and watch how trying to stay in the black and white was tearing her apart.
My second favorite inner conflict is a little more fuzzy (because I am still developing him) but Morrie would take the cake for second favorite. He’s a Christian in a world seeking enlightenment through science, and while part of him desperately wants to be accepted by society, the other part knows that can never be so. He also struggles a lot with what he feels called to do (be a pastor) vs the lot he has been given (inherit his father’s very prosperous business), especially since he knows he can do so much good with the business. He’s still early in development as far as my characters go, but I’ve grown quite attached.
This is great! I just had a new teenage character gallop into my novel on his perfect Andalusian stallion. He has my lead character pretty anxious on account of her smitten daughter. But she needn’t worry – he’s going to be awesome. I think I will give him a dose of obnoxious over-confidence. 😀
Thanks for the timely advice!
(1949) Helen lost her beloved husband in an accident, leaving her to raise their three teenagers alone, and to finish building the ranch house he started in Wyoming. A supportive rancher cares about her. Should she allow herself to fall in love? He must prove himself not only to her, but also to her children.
I love all this brainstorming! Thanks for sharing, everyone!!!
Excellent examples. The one I’m offering is the belief many people, thus characters face “I’m not good enough.” This issue continues to plague my hero as he strives to help others overcome their issues.
Thanks for your comments and insight.