The Problem

The problem does not have to be world-shattering, but it does have to upset the ordinary flow of the character’s life.   And at the same time it has to engage us, the readers, and make us want to read on to find out how things get sorted out, if they do.

The problem might be physical -   someone breaks down the door and points a knife at the someone else;   or  someone realises that an enemy army is approaching their house.   Or it might be psychological -  someone might fear they are about to be put into a public ‘home’ of some kind,  or may be in despair after failing in some way.

Problem in relation to Love Theme

A  mother has been putting off the chat about the birds and the bees and protection with her daughter, now sixteen.  She is acutely embarrassed about it.   But the daughter has taken up with a man rather too old for her, the mother considers, and  so advice is now, in her mind, ’urgent’, especially as her daughter is not nearly worldly enough, the mother fears.

The problem may, of course, be drawn out.  She may pluck up courage and start the conversation, and then by interrupted or her daughter may herself be over embarrassed and run away – leaving her vulnerable, the mother will realise.

How would you introduce the problem?   Have a ‘resolution’ in mind, an end which is ‘right’ but unexpected.