How much internal conflict for characters in my conspiracy fiction novel?

[Verbena17]

Hi
So I’m feeling a bit stuck. I’ve been watching some author YouTube videos about characters’ internal conflicts but they’ve mostly been from people writing romance and fantasy.

How much character internal conflict would I be needing for my novel which is much more plot -focussed than character-focussed (think Dan Brown) and is it going to naturally be a lot less in a book of this genre would you say?

If you think of Professor Robert Langdon in Dan’s books, I know a few basic facts about him but I can’t say that he was much of anything other than the person solving the massive storylines. His character just didn’t seem to me to have much depth. Was that maybe just because as a reader, I tend to focus more on the plot content than characters and their flaws?

It's been decades since I've read Dan Brown. Do you like the lack of depth in characters?

Think of your plot and what the characters need. Does the plot or character action propel your story forwards? Can you add in agency to give some dimension to the characters ?

I won't be much help - I'm concerned I'm too character focused at the expense of plot.

Hi and thank you @LuciferRising

The more I think about it, my novel won’t be much like Dan Brown in style at all. I’ve spent today thinking a lot about agency and plot v character and although I was doubting myself, my protagonist actually has a lot going on - and has no option but to drive the story forwards in order to get what she wants/needs. She does have a pretty equal role in the plot - it focuses on her, not something random she happens to fall into.

I think I had convinced myself that my novel will be similar to a DB novel when in fact, it’s just a similar conspiracy genre. Phew!

How will you develop your plot so it’s not as character-heavy do you think?

Well, I had a plot. It occurs about 150 years after an apocalyptic event and is set between two realms. One with everything, one with very little. But, all of that seems to have blurred into the background and it is heavily focused on the two MC from each realm and their dynamics. Rather than the focus on the greater events it's focused on what they need and how they will get it. So, it feels very small.

I am editing it - 142k words - and whereas I need to get down to 120k it keeps growing. Especially if I need to weave more of the actual plot in there.

I think that’s a great sounding plot 😊
You’ve written 142k words more than I have so you’re doing well!
Im still plotting and planning 😩

I'm over two years in!

It's exciting starting a piece of writing! I hope you get to writing soon.

Thanks. I began the thought process journey in 2019 and then ‘covid’ happened and it was like some parts of my book were merging into real life 😂, so I had to wait and see how things played out before I got back to it.

I’ve written a synopsis to help myself know where I’m at least heading but yesterday, I explained the main plot twist to my DH and he was like ‘well that’s weird’ so that annoyed me for the whole of today! He basically doesn’t get any fiction that’s not 100% real life. If a book contains anything off-world or a bit light fantasy/sci-if, he’s like ‘woah no way!’

Im finding Abbie Emmons YouTube videos really helpful to keep me heading onwards. I’ve also just bought the Ken Follett BBC Maestro course as it’s on Black Friday sale for only £47. Can’t wait to get watching it. His books aren’t the same genre as I’m writing but I love his writing and Pillars of the Earth is probs my favourite book.

Do you feel that 2 years is a long time or not really?

I hate explaining to others as a 40-something professional that I am writing a fantasy novel, especially if I then have to explain what it is about. I see them glaze over if it is not the genre they read in.

Well, my writing has improved significantly. I have read many books and watched many videos on how to write and it is sinking in. Even now I will edit a scene, and go back several weeks later and can see where I can improve.

I'm now at the point where I am looking at sentence structure and variety, how I start paragraphs, pace etc. I also feel confident in doing things against the rules because I can explain why I have chosen to do so.

My work is still littered with boring phrases that I keep editing out such as "She stared," or "he sighed." And I have scenes where I think I have done well and others I just cannot bring up to the same standard.

Yes I know what you mean! Luckily, the only few close friends and relatives I’ve shown my synopsis to, have all liked that kind of genre so thankfully they loved it.

It looks like you’re doing all the right things then! I think having a method and processes to go through makes everything much more succinct.
I also found Jerry Jenkins YouTube videos super helpful - for me, his no-nonsense writing style resonates a lot with how I write. And he’s super calm and simple at explaining everything.
Above all, whether or not I get published or even finish the book, I’m loving the journey.