Episode 102
Character vs Self
Today we are talking about the literary conflict known as character versus self.
Music licensed from Storyblocks
Transcript
If you have plot bunnies coming out of your plot holes, it’s time for a writing break.
Over on Threads this week I saw several authors seeking to build a community with other authors. I think they are going about it all wrong. They should be seeking to build a community with editors. We are just as eager to connect, we spend our days encouraging authors, and we have the best snacks. Speaking of which, the Writing Break cafe is open, so let’s head over to the Overthinking Couch for today’s writing tip.
Today we are talking about the literary conflict known as character versus self. For all of the literary conflicts I’ll be talking about in the next several episodes, the word character is sometimes supplanted by man, human, or protagonist. For example, character versus self might be referred to as man versus himself, human versus self, or protagonist versus self. However, I’ll refer to it as character versus self, since your protagonist might not be male or even human, and often characters who are not protagonists can have an inner conflict with themselves.
Character versus self is when a character battles with themselves. That is, they have an internal struggle. This can be about any conflict happening within the character, including contending with personal flaws, opposing desires, or moral dilemmas. While there might be external conflicts and other opponents within the story, when there is a character versus self conflict, the character is adding to their own struggle.
I love character versus self conflicts because we all have internal struggles with ourselves, so readers can easily relate with your character. In order to write a character versus self conflict that is interesting, you have to write a flawed character, which is something authors might be reluctant to do. But the complexity of character versus self pushes you to write a well-rounded character that actually has some depth and dimension.
Your character might have a strong desire for something, but are they willing to fulfill this desire no matter the cost? Will they succumb to temptation when they know they shouldn’t? Does their pursuit of power end up corrupting their morals or force them to question their goals?
Does your character have fear or past trauma that they need to overcome, or are they struggling with guilt about their past actions? Perhaps your character is unsure of the right thing to do or of their ability to succeed in doing the thing that must be done. They might possess good intentions but struggle with the methods used to achieve them. Does your character fail to align with their cultural identity or familial expectations? Do their actions or desired actions contradict their cultural background or racial identity?
These are all internal struggles, character versus self, and the question of whether or not your character will overcome their inner struggles creates tension and keeps readers engaged.
Character versus self conflicts can occur in the protagonist, the antagonist, and other characters. They’re common in books and in movies. A character versus self conflict can also be worked into biographies and memoirs. If you’re writing about a real-life person, what were their internal struggles? Sharing this answer with your readers will make the subject of your nonfiction feel even more real, even more tangible.
My character versus self conflict this week is thinking I have nothing interesting to post on Threads. What about you? Next week we’re discussing publishing news and character versus character. Until then, thank you so much for listening, and remember, you deserved this break.
If you would like us to visit your favorite independent bookstore, feature your favorite independent author (even if it’s you), or discuss something you’re overthinking about, please email me at podcast@writingbreak.com.
Thank you for making space in your mind for The Muse today.
Writing Break is hosted by America’s Editor and produced by Allon Media with technical direction by Gus Aviles. Visit us at writingbreak.com or contact us at podcast@writingbreak.com.
