Come together, right now! How social mingling aids plot

To achieve satisfying character plots, our characters must grow (or devolve, depending on the genre) over the course of the novel. Good plotting challenges the author to show that change in a believable and compelling way.

There’s a good reason for the long-standing advice to authors to avoid “Single Character On Stage” (SCOS). Without social interaction, change is highly unlikely.

Why? No man is an island. When faced with difficult decisions, anxiety and/or ambivalence, our characters often turn to family, buddies, counselors, or even total strangers. If their quandary is embarrassing, they can smoke-screen the details, changing location, genders—perhaps just a casual detour such as, “I have a friend who has this problem…”

As authors, we love conflict because conflict shakes things up. If strong enough, it causes the character to question long-standing beliefs and open his or her mind to new possibilities.

You can take full advantage of social mingling to strengthen the plot, maintain tension, create conflict, and help your characters change.

But how do you force your introverted, hostile or socially awkward character to mingle? And what of the character who is wanted by the law in six states? Or the character who suffers for his or her sanity? These characters need extraordinary motivation.

We all have to hunt for or purchase food, provide our shelter, take care of our health, teeth, hearing, vision and ingrown toenails. Beyond those usual daily events, here are some ways you can force your characters into social events (and conflict) against their will.

Funerals. Used frequently for a good reason. The somber environment can remind our suffering character of his or her ghastly past, and old, simmering rivalries and hatreds can resurface.

Weddings. Also used frequently. The joyous atmosphere can cause an unhappy or conflicted character to feel especially vulnerable. The bridal couple can remind a stalwart bachelor that life is not all that great without love.

Illnesses. Hospitals, emergency rooms, urgent care offices are good settings. When we’re sick, we feel helpless and needy—or angry and frustrated, emotions known to trigger conflict.

Accidents. Automobile, plane, light rail, rollerblading, skiing, hiking, spelunking. Near-death experiences bring high drama and, frequently, change.

Graduations. She can’t not attend her favorite niece’s college graduation, especially after funding her education. All the dreaded relatives will be there, along with her hostile ex-husband.

A beloved pet. Fido can become ill, get hit by a car, run away, get his bitch neighbor with pups, or require boarding while our hapless hermit is forced for some reason to travel.

Legal issues. Witness to a crime or accident. Police procedurals.

Helping a relative. Moving his elderly aunt from her house. Or a reading of the wills.

Home repair services. Even a hermit has to have a functioning toilet and reliable heating. Pity he who must endure a talkative, helper-type plumber.

Laundromat. That place every established homeowner eschews. Think of the poor woman who has to air her dirty laundry in public as she hurriedly tosses her basket into the industrial washing machine. To make matters worse, she’s approached by an overly helpful attendant who dishes advice about how to load and use the machine—and why does she look so sad?

These instances provide opportunities for the character to find a new or long-forgotten ally, provide expertise related to his short- or long-term goal, further frustrate him, or remind him of someone or something he has worked very hard to bury over the years. They can provide a wealth of new conflict for a saggy middle, provide clues that solve the mystery, or infuse new hope for the character as he strives to reach his goals.

I hope this list gets your creative juices flowing so you can force your character into anxiety, conflict, and ultimately a totally unplanned turning point in his or her growth. Meanwhile, if you have more situations to add to the list, please share!