on Fiction University:

Don’t take the easy way out when developing your plot.

I love conflict in stories, but not all conflict is created equal. There’s one type that really annoys me as a reader or a viewer.

Infighting.

Maybe I’m just a team player at heart, but I prefer a group of characters who work together to overcome problems. That “us against the world” attitude makes me cheer for them and I can’t wait to see how they deal with the next obstacle thrown their way.

But if they turn on each other and start bickering, or stabbing each other in the back, then I want to kick the whole lot to the curb. It’s hard to root for people who are being mean, petty, and selfish. Watching people fight is not my idea of enjoyment (though countless daytime talk shows says I might be in the minority here).