September 2026 …
I recently attended a Writers Victoria workshop about creating tension and suspense in stories. A common source of tension arises when characters have differing desires or ambitions.
A particular source of conflict I have noticed results from misunderstandings; that is, when people hear or see things they weren’t expecting. It is interesting to consider the reaction of the one hearing or seeing the action. Since the incident was unexpected, a chain of assumptions and logic is set in motion to lead that person to a particular conclusion or meaning. However, flawed assumptions can lead to weakened logic and interpretation, causing the conclusions to drift further from the truth.
A flawed conclusion can have many consequences. The person mishearing or misunderstanding might react in extreme ways, from being highly offended and angry, to experiencing anxiety and torment. This reaction can create confusion in the originator, leading them to react to the unexpected response – in turn, escalating the conflict with their own flawed assumptions and weak chains of logic.
The initial misunderstanding can arise from the listener expecting a particular behaviour. That person may be tired, stressed, or simply acting out of character. The listener may not be aware of these stresses and may assume that what they heard or saw was perfectly rational and intentional. The listener may also be fatigued, inattentive or stressed, and unable to detect the nuances of what was said, or how it was said. The misunderstanding originates from flawed assumptions, especially the belief that everyone has the same desires and is behaving with clear intent.
When assumptions are not reviewed or tested, flawed conclusions becomes embedded and the characteristic can be taken for granted. The possibility of a flawed assumption or conclusion creates another set of complications. Pride can prevent someone from asking questions of clarification or seeking independent advice. Alternative perspectives may remain unconsidered, further perpetuating the conflict or tension.
This provides great fodder for writers. A simple misunderstanding at the start of a story can escalate as characters react to the unexpected information or actions. Their assumptions hint at their backstory and reveal their goals – spoken and unspoken. These goals are the desires held by each character; the act of striving for those goals creates compelling characters and storylines.
The art of creative writing encourages writers to define the backstories of their major characters so that their responses to dialogue and actions are consistent. The reader doesn’t need to be explicitly told the backstory but will deduce it from their reading of the whole work. Seemingly odd behaviours by characters in early sections are eventually explained, not by the narrator detailing the backstory, but by the character hinting at their desires, hindered by their backstory, and revealing their motivations through their dialogue and actions.
One benefit of creative writing is that it encourages both the author and reader to reflect deeply on their own desires and the desires of those around them, allowing a chance to avoid misunderstandings in ‘real life’.