4.2 Internal conflict

Internal conflict drives character development and adds depth to storytelling. It arises from competing desires, moral dilemmas, and psychological issues, creating tension within characters as they grapple with difficult choices and inner turmoil.

Writers reveal internal conflict through dialogue, actions, and nonverbal cues. By exploring characters' backstories, flaws, and growth, internal conflicts can be woven into compelling arcs that resonate with readers and illuminate broader themes.

Sources of internal conflict

Competing desires and goals

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• Arise when a character has multiple wants or needs that are at odds with each other
• Create tension as the character must choose which desire to prioritize or pursue
• Can stem from conflicting roles or responsibilities in the character's life (family vs career, duty vs passion)
• Often tied to the character's values, beliefs, and sense of identity
• Examples:
  • A politician torn between their ambition and their principles
  • A parent struggling to balance work and family commitments

Moral dilemmas and choices

• Occur when a character faces a difficult decision with no clear right answer
• Force the character to weigh competing moral imperatives or ethical considerations
• Can challenge the character's worldview, values, or sense of right and wrong
• Often involve high stakes and potentially far-reaching consequences
• Examples:
  • A doctor deciding whether to assist in a patient's suicide
  • A soldier questioning the morality of their orders in war

Psychological issues and trauma

• Stem from a character's past experiences, mental health, or emotional baggage
• Can manifest as inner demons, self-doubt, anxiety, or other psychological struggles
• May be rooted in childhood events, past relationships, or significant life challenges
• Often shape the character's perceptions, behaviors, and coping mechanisms
• Examples:
  • A survivor of abuse grappling with trust and intimacy issues
  • A character with depression struggling to find meaning and purpose

Techniques for revealing internal conflict

Dialogue and subtext

• Use the character's words and conversations to hint at their inner turmoil
• Employ subtext to convey unspoken thoughts, feelings, or motivations beneath the surface
• Create tension between what the character says and what they truly mean or want
• Use verbal cues, hesitations, or contradictions to suggest internal conflict
• Examples:
  • A character's sarcastic remarks masking deep insecurity
  • A couple's seemingly casual banter revealing unresolved resentments

Actions vs words

• Highlight discrepancies between a character's stated intentions and their actual behavior
• Show the character making choices or taking actions that contradict their professed beliefs or goals
• Use inconsistencies to reveal the character's internal struggles or conflicting impulses
• Demonstrate how the character's actions betray their true feelings or desires
• Examples:
  • A character claiming to be over an ex but obsessively checking their social media
  • A politician preaching integrity while engaging in corrupt practices

Nonverbal cues and behavior

• Employ body language, gestures, and facial expressions to convey internal conflict
• Use physical indicators of stress, discomfort, or emotional turmoil
• Describe the character's involuntary reactions or nervous habits
• Contrast the character's outward composure with their inner agitation or unease
• Examples:
  • A character's fidgeting hands or averted gaze during a difficult conversation
  • A seemingly calm exterior belying the character's racing heartbeat and sweaty palms

Character development through internal conflict

Backstory and motivations

• Explore the character's history and formative experiences to understand their internal conflicts
• Delve into the character's upbringing, relationships, and defining moments
• Examine how past events or traumas shape the character's motivations and desires
• Use the character's backstory to provide context and depth to their internal struggles
• Examples:
  • A character's fear of abandonment stemming from a childhood of neglect
  • A driven entrepreneur's relentless ambition rooted in a desire to prove their worth

Character arcs and growth

• Trace the character's emotional and psychological journey throughout the story
• Show how the character's internal conflicts evolve, intensify, or resolve over time
• Demonstrate the character's growth or transformation as they confront and overcome their inner struggles
• Use the character's arc to illustrate themes of self-discovery, redemption, or personal change
• Examples:
  • A character learning to forgive themselves and let go of guilt
  • A hero's journey from self-doubt to self-acceptance and empowerment

Flaws and weaknesses

• Identify the character's inherent flaws, weaknesses, or blind spots that fuel their internal conflicts
• Explore how these flaws impact the character's decision-making, relationships, and overall arc
• Use the character's weaknesses to create obstacles, setbacks, or moments of vulnerability
• Show how the character's flaws contribute to their internal struggles and complicate their journey
• Examples:
  • A character's pride or stubbornness preventing them from seeking help or admitting mistakes
  • A perfectionist's fear of failure paralyzing them in moments of pressure or uncertainty

Pacing and structure of internal conflict

Gradual buildup and escalation

• Introduce the character's internal conflict subtly and gradually throughout the story
• Use small moments, hints, or foreshadowing to plant the seeds of the character's inner turmoil
• Slowly intensify the character's internal struggle as the story progresses
• Escalate the stakes, consequences, or emotional weight of the character's internal conflict over time
• Examples:
  • A character's growing disillusionment with their chosen career path
  • A mounting sense of guilt or moral compromise as a character makes increasingly questionable choices

Turning points and revelations

• Identify key moments or events that significantly impact or alter the character's internal conflict
• Use turning points to shift the character's perspective, understanding, or emotional state
• Incorporate revelations or epiphanies that deepen or complicate the character's internal struggle
• Employ plot twists, confrontations, or personal crises to catalyze changes in the character's internal landscape
• Examples:
  • A startling secret from the past that reshapes a character's sense of identity
  • A pivotal encounter that challenges a character's long-held beliefs or assumptions

Resolution and consequences

• Determine how the character's internal conflict is ultimately resolved or left unresolved
• Explore the consequences, both positive and negative, of the character's choices and actions
• Show how the resolution of the internal conflict impacts the character's relationships, goals, or future path
• Use the resolution to deliver emotional payoff, character growth, or thematic resonance
• Examples:
  • A character finding peace or acceptance after a long internal struggle
  • A bittersweet ending where a character's internal conflict leads to both loss and gain

Internal vs external conflict

Interplay between inner and outer struggles

• Examine how the character's internal conflict influences or is influenced by external circumstances
• Show how the character's inner turmoil manifests in their interactions with others or their environment
• Explore how external pressures, obstacles, or relationships exacerbate or alleviate the character's internal conflict
• Use the interplay between internal and external conflicts to create a rich, multidimensional narrative
• Examples:
  • A character's fear of failure affecting their performance in a high-stakes competition
  • A strained family dynamic intensifying a character's internal struggle with identity or belonging

Balancing character-driven and plot-driven conflict

• Ensure that the character's internal conflict is integral to and propels the overall plot
• Use external events and challenges to force the character to confront or grapple with their internal issues
• Balance moments of introspection and self-reflection with active scenes of conflict and decision-making
• Interweave the character's internal journey with the larger narrative arc and themes
• Examples:
  • A murder mystery where the detective's personal demons shape their investigation and conclusions
  • A coming-of-age story where the protagonist's internal growth mirrors the external challenges they face

Thematic connections and parallels

• Use the character's internal conflict to explore and illuminate the story's central themes or ideas
• Draw parallels between the character's inner struggles and the larger human experiences or social issues
• Employ symbolism, motifs, or recurring imagery to underscore the thematic significance of the internal conflict
• Allow the character's internal journey to serve as a microcosm or metaphor for broader truths or insights
• Examples:
  • A character's battle with addiction reflecting themes of control, temptation, and redemption
  • A story's exploration of love and loss through a character's grief and emotional healing

Crafting compelling internal conflict

Authenticity and relatability

• Ground the character's internal conflict in genuine human emotions, desires, and experiences
• Create a sense of empathy or understanding by tapping into universal struggles or dilemmas
• Avoid clichés or stereotypes in favor of nuanced, specific, and authentic portrayals
• Allow the character's internal conflict to resonate with readers on a deep, personal level
• Examples:
  • A character's struggle with self-acceptance and body image in a appearance-obsessed society
  • A story that captures the complex mix of love, resentment, and obligation in family relationships

Stakes and consequences

• Ensure that the character's internal conflict carries significant stakes and consequences
• Raise the emotional or psychological risks associated with the character's choices and actions
• Show how the character's internal struggle impacts not only themselves but also those around them
• Use the stakes to heighten tension, suspense, and reader investment in the character's journey
• Examples:
  • A character's decision to speak truth to power at the risk of their reputation or livelihood
  • A parent's internal conflict between protecting their child and allowing them to face challenges and grow

Emotional resonance and impact

• Craft scenes and moments that powerfully convey the depth and intensity of the character's internal conflict
• Use vivid sensory details, evocative language, and poignant imagery to immerse readers in the character's emotional landscape
• Employ pacing, rhythm, and narrative structure to build towards emotionally climactic or cathartic moments
• Aim to leave a lasting impact on readers by exploring the profound, transformative power of internal conflict
• Examples:
  • A raw, visceral portrayal of a character's descent into madness or despair
  • A quietly devastating scene where a character finally confronts and makes peace with a long-held trauma or regret