I believe this is the point where you’re all looking at me blankly and need some terms defined:

Premise: The “truth” for the story or character. What you are trying to “prove” by writing it/about them. Note, this is not a “universal truth”, just a “truth” for these characters in this situation.

Conflict: Tension, struggle… the things that make a story interesting. Or at least not deathly dull. Here’s hoping anyway.

Crucible: The thing which keeps those characters in that conflict. The thing that stops them walking out into a less stressful situation.

I’ve actually found doing this intensely difficult and pretty much loathe what I’ve come up with, but I’m hoping it might help keep me on the straight and narrow later on in the month!

Main Narrative

Premise: women are emotionally strong.

Peter Marks

Premise: try to have too much and you lose everything.

Conflict: torn between keeping the family status quo but wanting the new family.

Crucible: a psychological need to do what is expected of him.

Sue Beresford

Premise: you can choose to be a better parent than your own.

Conflict: should she abort the baby and stay focussed on her career or bring it up alone and with no support?

Crucible: catholic upbringing on the sanctity of life and her early experiences of family.

Shirley Marks

Premise: focussing on your own needs is not selfish.

Conflict: does she follow her heart or stay invisible?

Crucible: family expectations of her role within it.

Philip Marks

Premise: even the “perfect life” can be lonely.

Conflict: despite having got everything he’s ever wanted, he feels something is missing.

Crucible: fear of commitment and responsibility.

Sarah Lewis

Premise: love means compromise.

Conflict: lonely but doesn’t want to be hurt again.

Crucible: unwillingness to change.

Diane Sanders

Premise: the past cannot be shut away.

Conflict: should she open her heart to Sue again?

Crucible: fear of rejection by Sue for a second time.