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Q&A How can I dig conflict out of an optimistic SF-nal premise?

Conflict is fairly simple: Someone wants something. S/He/They cannot get it. What does s/he/they do about it? So your optimistic TECH can be the solution to the problem, rather than the proble...

posted 11y ago by Lauren Ipsum‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Answer
#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-13T12:00:17Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/8463
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T02:59:53Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/8463
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T02:59:53Z (almost 5 years ago)
Conflict is fairly simple:

1. Someone wants something.
2. S/He/They cannot get it.
3. What does s/he/they do about it?

So your optimistic TECH can be the solution to the problem, rather than the problem itself.

Basic ideas which could be solved with Happy TECH:

- **Fish out of water:** an alien from some much less optimistic society arrives and flails about trying to accomplish some task (deliver a package, meet someone, make repairs, purchase something).
- **Fish out of water, domestic variant:** country bumpkin comes to big city, marvels at bright lights and big buildings. Decides to stay in Gay Paree rather than go back to the farm.
- **Pick a fairytale, any fairytale:** Puss in Boots. The Frog Prince. The Princess and the Pea. Cinderella. Any of these could be solved faster (or at least made more interesting) with the application of TECH.
- **Missed connection:** I saw you on the train as we passed, I fell in love, now I have to find out your name.
- **Plan Mom's surprise birthday party.** Mom could be 150, if you like.

Watch any sitcom, boil the plot down to an elevator pitch, and rebuild it in your universe.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2013-07-22T19:19:49Z (over 11 years ago)
Original score: 2