How to write believable "Man vs self" plots
Context introduction
In my story the protagonist is both curious and fearful. He wants to know what is in a forest but is too afraid to go inside. He is also distracted by his basic needs for food and water.
This is a subplot of a greater plot where the character first overcomes his fear and his biological desires that are holding him back before confronting some supernatural power.
Question
How can I write this subplot where the protagonist overcomes his internal flaws while achieving the following:
- Make the process believable and non-contrived
- Create some character development and make the readers sympathize the character
Attempts at solution
Maybe Make the character fail a few times and show that the character recognizes and accepts the responsibility of failure (instead of blaming). This may make the character likable for the readers.
Make the things that is holding the character back things that are reminiscent of things that holds some of the readers back in real life, so it is believable and the readers will want to know how they are overcome. (I don't have any specific ideas in mind though)
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1 answer
The trick is to link his internal flaws and deliberations to clear, concrete details. That gives him something to do, something to engage with. It gives him a way to express his character.
In this case, he's conflicted about entering the forest. That means you want one or two very specific things that he wants to find in the forest, and also one or two very specific things that he is afraid of finding in the forest.
- If he's hoping to find a unicorn, but is afraid of bandits, maybe he'll try to hide in a bush and listen to the forest, to help him decide what to choose.
- If he's looking for a safe place to hide from somebody but he's afraid of getting lost, maybe he'll start by edging along the forest, constantly considering hiding places and rejecting them, steeling himself (or faltering) to step inside.
- If he's hoping to find buried treasure but is afraid of deadly forest-ghosts, then maybe he'll buy a bunch of charms and protection spells -- on credit, and then feel miserable if he's still afraid to go in.
--and so on.
"Wants to know what's inside" is a somewhat weak motivation on its own - unless you additionally provide some enticing rumors or suggestions, specifics that give your protagonist specific goals and threats to deal with. Or, maybe the specifics are in your character's personality - maybe he's superstitious, and trying to prove his own bravery. Maybe he's in love, and thinks the seldom-visited forest will undoubtedly have something strange and wonderful that would make a special present.
Any of these gives you concrete details - which gives you some immediate, concrete problems and balances for your character to deal with. Showing how your character deals with a concrete problem relating to his central tension is much more effective than simply having him waffle between to extremes which remain abstract.
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