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A member wrote the Chicago Writers Association asking help on how to bump up the word count of a work in progress. There were abundant replies urging her not to focus on the number of words — I can feel her pain. But in the middle of all the hoohah, came the question, “Can you think of any way to ‘up the ante’ for the characters, make it harder for them to get what they want?”

I have to tell you that I sat up straight when I read that. Back in the good old days (last year) when I working on my master’s degree, the professors hammered a lot (okay, maybe I mean yammered!) about conflict and desire. What does the main character want needs to be coupled with how can I keep him/her from getting it. When you write like that, voila! You have conflict. Which is dramatic. Which drives the story forward.

Hmm. Since then I’ve been rethinking a story that I’m working on. A fairly simple tale which touches on the paranormal, I find the concept intriguing all by itself. Two people that I let in on the secret seemed to think so as well. Then what do I do with that question, “Can you up the ante?”

As I see it my character has no burning desire; the dilemma just crosses her path and she copes as best she can. [Trust me, it has a clever ending] But viewed another way, the story becomes more compelling. If she has a specific desire (other than fulfilling the requirements for her degree) and that desire is thwarted by the introduction of the paranormal, then twin branches open up. One, she has to deal with the intrusion. Two, she still has to accomplish her original goal.

So see, I did learn a thing or two in school and I’m still learning.