Learn How to Write a Novel by Reading Harry Potter by Scott King & Clark Chamberlain

Author:Scott King & Clark Chamberlain [King, Scott & Chamberlain, Clark]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 42364780
Publisher: Majestic Arts
Published: 2018-10-30T00:00:00+00:00

Conflict:

We have brought up the term “conflict” a few times, but now let’s really dive into what it is, why it is important, and look at how Rowling has planted conflict all throughout Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

No matter the genre you are writing your novel in, your characters will want things. In Star Wars: A New Hope, Luke wanted to save Princess Leia and when he found out about the Death Star he wanted to destroy it. In Moana, Moana wanted to find Maui and get him to return the heart of Te Fiti. In Groundhog Day, Phil Connors wanted to escape a time loop. In Titanic, Rose wanted to not be in an arranged marriage and wanted to marry for love.

Over the course of the whole Harry Potter series, Harry wants to be a part of a loving family. However in each individual book, at different moments he has varying wants and needs. When Dudley was going to the zoo for his birthday, Harry wanted to go. When the letters from no one started arriving, Harry wanted to read them to find out what they said. Now that he is at Hogwarts he wants multiple things. He wants to learn magic. He wants Gryffindor to win the House Cup. He wants to unravel the mystery of what was stolen from vault 713. Later on, he will want to win his Quidditch matches, pass his exams, and to protect the Sorcerer’s Stone.

It’s very normal for a character to have multiple wants and for those wants to shift or change. Conflict occurs when something gets in the way of that character achieving one of their wants. In “The Midnight Duel,” after Neville ends up hurt, Harry wants to retrieve Neville’s Remembrall. Instead of handing it over, Draco jumps onto a broom and flies away. This creates conflict. Harry wants the Remembrall and Draco prevents that from happening.

When faced with the conflict, instead of backing down, Harry decides his want is big enough that further action is needed and he hops onto a broom to chase Draco. They flitter about on their brooms until finally Draco purposely drops the Remembrall while flying high above the ground. The conflict shifts; now the thing preventing Harry from getting the Remembrall is gravity. Breaking into a dive, Harry goes after the Remembrall. He discovers his natural talent for flying and is able to catch it. The day seems won. Harry has achieved what he wanted, but then McGonagall arrives and yells at him. In that moment Harry develops a new want. He wants to not be in trouble.

Without conflict, there is no story. There is only characters existing. Reimagine the opening of the novel. Instead of the Dursleys being all-Dursley-ish they are loving and caring. Harry is treated with respect, all his wants are met, and he is perfectly happy. An opening like that would be utterly boring. That’s the first thing that conflict does and why you want it in your novel. Conflict drives story.

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