everything you wanted to know about writing

but were afraid to ask. a friend recommended to me a book about writing:

The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing
by Meg Leder, Jack Heffron and the editors of Writer's Digest
ISBN#1582971595

i've started it, and lo, in the first chapter have discovered a plotting concept new to me: situation vs complication (pp. 14-16.)

we've all read that conflict is essential to good storytelling. we need something to get wrapped up in, something to keep the tension going. what's interesting about this 'situation vs complication' bit is that, while some writers take for granted what creates momentum in their story, figuring a character's divorce/alien abduction/demonic possession/etc. automatically does the trick, it's actually a bit more involved than that.

we need a situation with potential for this magical conflict, and we also need for our character(s) to be personally invested in the outcome--and we need to build and support that connection.

situation: josie finds herself instantaneously transported onto the bridge of the SS Flargleblastroid spacecruiser.

complication: while we might assume josie would be disturbed by this development, we can't be sure unless josie has a vested interest in not being there, or wants to be there but disagrees with the space captain's mission to vaporize all of Earth's puppies, or thinks the captain's tentacles are very sexy, and he's just not that into her. all of these wrinkles create conflict, but it doesn't become a bona-fide complication until josie is compelled to stay and resolve the situation. if she can walk away without sacrificing something meaningful, the tension isn't there--an easy answer stares us in the face while josie thrashes about. plot credibility is ruined.

seems obvious, i know. but how many books have you read that didn't create this developed a level of commitment in its characters to their situation? sadly, i've read a few that i found on the bookstore shelves. each new tidbit i pick up helps me not to make mistakes like this, and encourages me to keep working away. excellent! i only wish those writers whose books i read had learned about this stuff, too.