As in life, obstacles
can add tension in fiction or memoir stories. When I say this, I mean literally
whatever keeps your protagonist from reaching her story goal is an obstacle.
Obstacles can be physical things like:
Wild animals
blocking the path back home
An evil villain
forcing your protagonist to retreat or hide [antagonist]
Any treacherous
trail to negotiate in order to find freedom [landscape]
An ice storm
or bitter cold or icy waters to traverse [weather]
Government or
societal corruption
But obstacles can also be internal things like:
Lacking physical ability
to do something
Lacking in knowledge
Mental or
physical illness
Regret
Mental or
physical abuse
A bad
relationship your protagonist can’t break free of
Inferiority
Any belief contrary
to a logical standpoint [if someone’s being nice to you, that means they want
something]
Writers should
include both internal and external obstacles for their protagonists—in varying
degrees of intensity. They can’t all be life-threatening in a story or the
writer will run the risk of exhausting his reader. The writer needs to choose obstacles
that mean something important to his protagonist. How the protagonist interprets
these obstacles is the reason why writers include them in their stories.
If we turn to
my college memoir, Victoria’s main obstacle in keeping her from obtaining her college
degree is internal. It’s her belief that she can actually do it. It’s her
feeling of inadequacy when compared to other college students.
A few external obstacles in this college journey are:
Her children – Although
they are the impetus for Victoria to begin college, the time they require in
their growing up years collides with Vic’s ability to focus on college.
Failing the math portion
of the entrance exam.
Professors – their teaching
style and Vic’s ability to learn collide.
Dropping a course in
order to save sanity
Vic’s always fighting
the clock, trying to find time to complete assignments
Vic struggles with learning
subject material
Feel free to offer any insight regarding my obstacles in this college
journey. It would be truly appreciated.
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