Omar Bennett
Conflict is essential to writing a good story. It is what keeps readers engaged and provides tension in a scene. Without it, characters would have no obstacles to overcome, and the story would quickly become boring. Conflict can take many forms, including direct opposition from another character or an external factor, inner opposition, or circumstantial difficulties. It can be subtle or epic, external or internal, but it should always be relevant to the character's goal and connected to the overall plot. Even scenes in movies with a big conflict can have moments without conflict to give the audience time to breathe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Conflict type | Direct opposition, inner opposition, circumstantial difficulties, internal conflict, external conflict |
| Conflict presentation | Conflict doesn't have to be life-or-death, world-ending, or even "bad". It just has to be an obstruction to the character's goal or desire. |
| Conflict purpose | Conflict is what moves the story forward. It provides tension, makes a scene memorable, and gives the character a reason to exist. |
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What You'll Learn
Conflict is essential to a scene
Conflict can take many forms, and it need not be a life-or-death situation or a grand, external event. It can be subtle, such as an internal struggle within a character or a tense conversation between two people. It can also be circumstantial, such as a character lacking the necessary ingredients to bake a cake. The key is that it must be relevant to the character's goal, creating an obstruction that prevents them from achieving their objective.
For example, consider a character with a goal of contributing to a children's charity. A direct opposition conflict could be bandits blocking their path and demanding their money. Alternatively, an inner opposition conflict could be the character learning something that changes their mind about their goal, such as discovering the charity is a scam.
Conflict is the engine that drives the plot forward, presenting obstacles for characters to overcome, leading to their growth and change. It is what makes a scene interesting, creating tension that keeps readers eager to discover how the character will navigate the challenges presented.
However, conflict should not be included for its own sake. It should be integral to the story, connected to the character's goal and the overall plot. It should also be organic, arising from the character's personality, struggles, situation, or relationships, creating a cohesive narrative that feels natural and compelling.
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Conflict doesn't have to be life-or-death
Conflict is an essential component of a well-written scene. It is the engine that drives the plot forward, presenting obstacles for characters to overcome and allowing them to grow and change. While conflict is crucial, it need not be a matter of life and death. In fact, smaller, more subtle conflicts can often be more relatable and engaging for readers.
A character's conflict with themselves, or inner opposition, can be a powerful way to create tension and move the story forward. This could be in the form of a character learning something that changes their mind about their goals or struggling with their own personality flaws or insecurities. For example, a character may be faced with a moral dilemma, torn between their personal beliefs and the expectations of society. This type of internal conflict can be just as compelling as external, life-or-death situations.
Circumstantial difficulties, such as a character lacking a particular skill or resource, can also create interesting conflicts. These obstacles can be seemingly minor but have significant implications for the character's goals. For instance, a character may need to bake a cake for a competition but realise they lack the necessary ingredients. While this may seem trivial, it can create tension and provide an opportunity for the character to display their resourcefulness or creativity in overcoming the obstacle.
Conflict can also arise from a character's relationships and interactions with others. Direct opposition from another character can take many forms, from a simple disagreement to a more complex power struggle. This type of conflict need not be violent or physically dangerous to be engaging. For example, a character may be in a position of authority but face resistance or insubordination from their subordinates, creating tension and requiring them to navigate a resolution.
In addition to the type of conflict, the way it is presented is crucial. The conflict should be relevant to the character's goal and connected to the overall story arc. It should also be organic, arising from the character's personality, struggles, or situation. By creating sympathy for the character and establishing clear goals, writers can ensure that even minor conflicts resonate with readers and keep them invested in the story.
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Conflict can be internal or external
Conflict is essential to writing a good story. It is the engine that propels the plot forward and presents obstacles for characters to overcome, leading to their growth and change. Without conflict, characters have no reason to exist.
Internal conflict, on the other hand, occurs when a character struggles with their own thoughts, emotions, or beliefs, which can change their mind about their goals. For instance, a character might be torn between their desire for financial stability and their dream of pursuing a creative career. This inner turmoil creates conflict and adds depth to the character.
Organic conflict arises from the character's personality, struggles, situation, relationships, or inner and outer goals in the story. It is important to weave high-level inner and outer conflict into each scene to create a cohesive story. For example, if a character's growth arc revolves around trust issues, scenes should be crafted to challenge the character regarding this theme.
Conflict doesn't always have to be extreme or life-or-death; it can be a subtle, tense conversation or an internal struggle. However, it should be relevant to the character's goal and connected to the overall story or plot. A weak conflict would be one that doesn't impact the character's goal or the story's progression.
Creating sympathy for your character can also enhance the impact of conflict. A flawed but likable character, such as a habitual liar with a biting wit, can gain the reader's sympathy as they face multiple conflicts.
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Conflict can be direct or circumstantial
Conflict is an essential component of a compelling story. It is the engine that drives the plot forward, presenting obstacles for characters to overcome and creating opportunities for their growth and transformation. Without conflict, a story falls flat—the characters achieve their goals without hindrance, and the narrative quickly becomes predictable and uninteresting.
Conflict can take many forms, but it can be broadly categorized into direct and circumstantial conflict. Direct conflict involves an external force or another character that stands in opposition to the protagonist's goals. This could be another character, weather, or any other element that interferes with the protagonist's objective. For example, in a scene where a character is rushing to deliver a charity donation to orphans, bandits blocking their path and demanding money creates a direct conflict.
Circumstantial conflict, on the other hand, involves obstacles that are not directly opposing the character but rather are circumstances that hinder their progress. This could include situations like not having the necessary ingredients to bake a cake or lacking dance partners for a dance scene. Circumstantial conflicts create tension and challenge the character's resourcefulness and ability to adapt.
Both types of conflict are essential tools for writers to create engaging narratives. Direct conflict introduces an opposing force that the protagonist must confront, often leading to a more action-packed and confrontational scene. Circumstantial conflict, while less overt, can be equally powerful in creating tension and emotion in a story. It allows the writer to explore the character's inner struggles, their relationships, and their ability to navigate challenging situations.
Additionally, conflict need not always be external or life-threatening. Internal conflict, where the struggle occurs within the character's mind and emotions, is equally valid and crucial. This could involve a character grappling with their beliefs, desires, or moral dilemmas. By incorporating both direct and circumstantial conflicts, writers can create dynamic and multifaceted scenes that captivate readers and drive the story forward.
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Conflict should be relevant to the character's goal
Conflict is essential to writing a good story. It is what keeps readers engaged and makes them care about the characters. Without conflict, a story is boring and lacks tension.
When creating conflict in a scene, it is important to ensure that it is relevant to the character's goal. This means that the conflict should act as an obstacle to the character's goal or desire. For example, if a character's goal is to distance herself from everyone, an unexpected display of care and concern from others could be considered a conflict. The conflict doesn't have to be "bad" or negative; it just needs to obstruct what the character wants to happen.
To create a strong and organic conflict, it should arise from the character's personality, struggles, situation, relationships, or inner and outer goals in the story. For instance, if a character's growth arc revolves around trust, create scenes that challenge the character in regard to that specific theme. This will make the story feel more cohesive.
When crafting conflict, it's crucial to consider the following:
- The character's goal or desire in the scene
- How the conflict connects to what has come before or will come after in the story
- Why the conflict matters to the character and, by extension, the reader
By ensuring that the conflict is relevant to the character's goal and considering the above points, writers can create compelling scenes that pull readers into the psychological drama and keep them invested in the story.
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Frequently asked questions
Conflict is an obstacle to a character's goal or desire. It is what provides tension in a scene and keeps the story moving forward.
Conflict is what makes a scene interesting and memorable. It can energise a scene, make characters more relatable, and pull readers into the story. Without conflict, characters would have no challenges to overcome and no reason to exist.
Conflict can take many forms, including direct opposition (e.g. another character or a force of nature), inner opposition (e.g. a character's internal struggle), or circumstantial difficulties (e.g. a lack of resources or opportunities).
Start by establishing your character's goal or desire for the scene. Then, introduce an obstacle that prevents them from achieving that goal. This can be an external obstacle, such as another character or a physical challenge, or an internal obstacle, such as a character's fear or self-doubt.
Organic conflict arises naturally from the character's personality, struggles, situation, relationships, or inner and outer goals in the story. It is often set up earlier in the story or impacts what comes next, creating a cohesive narrative.
