A Plot Without Conflict?
Does there have to be conflict in a story for the tale to hold the reader?
The common wisdom seems to be that there does.
This caused me to not only look at the use of conflict in my own writing (some revelations to be had), it also sent me searching for stories where there is no conflict as the basis within the story. Given that most of my reading is ‘western’ writing I struggled.
The struggle was worthwhile though because I discovered Kishotenketsu.
Chinese and Japanese writers have used this plot structure for centuries. It is plot structure that relies on exposition and contrast rather than major conflict. This structure contains no violence, the events need not harm one another as they can stand separately.
I am off to apply this new learning - wonder if you can find it in a short word story of mine sometime soon?
Here is some further reading for you if you are intrigued about the two different approaches to story telling.