Imagine the worst

In some writing book I read, I don’t remember which one, it advised to think of the worst possible thing to do to a character, and then do it.  I have realized that this advice is not working for me.  What’s the worse thing that could happen to my characters who are solving a murder?  They never solve it.  They give up.  They all die horribly.  I don’t think that’s what the writing advisor meant.  He (or she) meant that I should add conflict.  Stories with minimal conflict are lifeless, dull things.  I find I need to do that.  I just formed a team of very different characters in what could be a lively buddy cop type of situation, and they are all getting along and agreeing with all the decisions of their leader.  Blah.  That’s a fantasy of a different kind.  People are irritating, and people seldom agree with each other about everything.  I should get inspiration from trying to clean the house with my family.  We love each other dearly, but our arguments are ludicrous.

Just a few minutes ago, I ended a disagreement with my daughter (about the fact that a box of something does not equal a serving) by yelling “I didn’t pay for an argument!”  Then I sat down and wrote a scene where all the leader’s team told her how wonderful she was and that they would do what she said.  Hmmm.