Suffering is Storytelling.

[JayDirex]

Which is pretty close to what I eventually concluded with... I guess I used to be a "conflict focused" kinda guy, Now I am a changed man.

Ba dum Tsss!

My two cents, but even the word "conflict" comes with baggage. at first I was like yes I'm conflict kind of guy but then again no. my writing teachings imply that storytelling is about a situation that goes from normal to abnormal, to normal again.

conflict could be a part of that abnormality, but not necessary. abnormal could just be that a new person moved into the neighborhood. slice of life story right there.

:)

 

[Generic.Archdemon]

but even the word "conflict" comes with baggage.

Yes, totally agree. So far in this thread, I am partial to @flucket use of "obstacle" the most. But ultimately, I am more ready to embrace and use the more neutral term "change" in my foundational storytelling philosophy.

At least for now.


Oh wait, what am I talking about I don't write novels

 

[Deleted member 29081]

I never heard of the "Flat Arc" before, interesting to consider the implication.

I gave up on finding that Ursula K. Le Guin article.... Tho I found a quote by her on Goodreads...



Which is pretty close to what I eventually concluded with... I guess I used to be a "conflict focused" kinda guy, Now I am a changed man.

Ba dum Tsss!

A flat arc is just a slice of life. Nothing really world-ending happening. Just hilarious misunderstandings that get resolved only for the next set of hilarious misunderstandings to ensue.

 

[Deleted member 29081]

Society is the antagonist in my story, and it's also the antagonist in my actual life. Many people have trouble believing my story because they haven't personally experienced a multi-person relationship, but I have, and that's where my inspiration comes from. I'm polyamorous with a husband, two lovers, and a dead boyfriend. However, I'm not seeing my lovers in person right now due to the pandemic.

I rolled my eyes at the polyamory but widened them at the necrophilia.

 

[K5Rakitan]

I rolled my eyes at the polyamory but widened them at the necrophilia.

You and I are clearly incompatible. I didn't choose for my boyfriend to die in 2015.

 

[Deleted member 29081]

You and I are clearly incompatible. I didn't choose for my boyfriend to die in 2015.

Okay. Maybe it's just a miswording, but I have to ask. You don't consider yourself to still be in a relationship with him, right?

 

[GDLiZy]

The essence of storytelling is "change", with or without the desires to do so. Suffering is just the need to get somewhere one could have been.

 

[K5Rakitan]

Okay. Maybe it's just a miswording, but I have to ask. You don't consider yourself to still be in a relationship with him, right?

We had a date scheduled for the day after he died, so that relationship never ended as far as I'm concerned. His widow calls him her dead husband. I call him my dead boyfriend. He'll never be an ex to either of us.