Willow's conflict(s)

[OldSwede]

Hi, I would like to pick your brains a little, should you decide to accept this mission.
Thing is, I'm planning a major epic Buffyverse novel, slash unusually pretentious piece of fanfiction, and since it's set between seasons five and six, Willow is the main character.
So, I would like to get inside her head a bit deeper than what is obvious from the show.

Standard advice in character development is to summarize your main characters in terms of their conflicting desires/traits (cowardice versus greed, for the hesitant bankrobber etc), so I'm curious what any or all of you would say is THE conflict for Willow, that would affect her choices? I'm talking about deep character traits that may be from birth or shaped by upbringing or later experience, but not changing from day to day. Thanks for any input!

This message will self-destruct in, I don't know, never?

[Atren]

If it is between season 5 and 6 then number 1 conflict for her would be dealing with Buffy's death. If you want inner conflict, or between alive characters, you could have her ponder about what if Dawn had died instead Buffy i suppose. On one hand she might be defensive about Dawn, but on other hand she would think that a ball of energy caused her best friend death.

Also given S6 theme, especially concerning her, you could show how she goes too dependant on magic. OR well, first signs of things to come. If you want to keep S6 unchanged, then cant make it too obvious.

I hope i understood ya right :)

[OldSwede]

If it is between season 5 and 6 then number 1 conflict for her would be dealing with Buffy's death. If you want inner conflict, or between alive characters, you could have her ponder about what if Dawn had died instead Buffy i suppose. On one hand she might be defensive about Dawn, but on other hand she would think that a ball of energy caused her best friend death.

Also given S6 theme, especially concerning her, you could show how she goes too dependant on magic. OR well, first signs of things to come. If you want to keep S6 unchanged, then cant make it too obvious.

I hope i understood ya right :)


Well, all of these could (and will) be important themes for the story, but right now I'm thinking of deeper traits that have influenced her actions throughout life, not conflict in the present situation. And you are right about the magic, I will just give indications that fit pre-season 6. I don't want to clash with anything canon or even with what most fans perceive as the "truth".

[Atren]

What i was thinking was she could have love/hate relation with Dawn over Buffy death. And to tie with her magic dependance both lines could culminate into her decision to resurrect Buffy.

[OldSwede]

What i was thinking was she could have love/hate relation with Dawn over Buffy death. And to tie with her magic dependance both lines could culminate into her decision to resurrect Buffy.

I'm going to stay off the main storyline with the resurrection, though, to diminish the risk of clashing with what other fans see as what happened during this time. I will keep the story closer in time to Buffy's death. Thanks for the suggestions, they all go into the pot!

But I still want ideas about how you all view Willow as a person. For example, her "problem" with magic is just a consequence of a deeper character trait, which could be her need for control/safety/power, which in turn is probably a consequence of feeling like an outsider in school (something I can relate to...).