Conflict, Sword Fights, and Monocles?

 I'm going to mix things up and start with...

Our awesome co-hosts this month are Kalpana, Kim Lajevardi, Rebecca Douglass, Jennifer Lane, and Cathrina Constantine!

Today's question: As a writer, do you have favorite themes that you like to explore in your stories? If so, what are they?

REDEMPTION! I especially love this with a villain. But with any character, really. Secondarily, I love the "don't judge a book by it's cover", or things are not what they seem. Isn't it the best when you think you've got the whole plot or a character figured out, but you're wrong? 

This leads me to life. So often, we assume we know what people are thinking.

We don't.

I recently had an interpersonal conflict where my intentions were assumed by the other party, and were completely off base. In turn, I looked at their reactions and tried to understand the why. Still puzzling through it.

Tone of voice? Eye contact? Confidence vs insecurity?

It is imposible to avoid conflict. We can only see through our eyes, the lens that life has shaped for us. It's unique. Without effort, it's impossible to understand another person's perspective.

Thus the need to TALK.

Communication is the #1 problem in 90% of our literary conflicts. Should we be surprised that it's the same thing in every day life?

Because fiction comes from reality.

Along those lines (and carrying on the same theme), we recently release the ULTIMATE conflict song on Spotify. (And all other streaming realms.) 

Please check it out. Share. Enjoy.

How do you deal with conflict? What are your favorite story themes?