3.1 The Importance of Conflict

Conflict is the heart of any good story. It's what keeps readers turning pages, eager to see how characters will overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. Without it, narratives fall flat.

In short stories, conflict drives the plot forward and reveals character. Whether internal struggles or external battles, conflicts create tension, suspense, and emotional investment. They're essential for crafting compelling, memorable tales that resonate with readers.

Conflict in Narrative Momentum

The Driving Force of Conflict

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• Conflict propels a story forward, creating a sense of progression and development
• Without conflict, a narrative can feel stagnant and unengaging (a story about a character going about their daily routine without any challenges)
• Conflicts arise when characters face obstacles, challenges, or opposing forces that prevent them from achieving their goals or desires
  • These obstacles can be external (a physical barrier, an antagonist) or internal (self-doubt, moral dilemma)
• The nature and intensity of conflicts can vary throughout a story, with smaller conflicts building toward larger, more significant ones that ultimately shape the story's trajectory (minor disagreements leading to a major confrontation)

Conflict as a Plot Driver

• As characters struggle to overcome conflicts, their actions and decisions drive the plot forward, creating a sense of momentum
  • Each attempt to resolve a conflict leads to new developments, complications, or revelations in the story
• The resolution of conflicts, whether successful or not, often signifies key turning points or climaxes in the narrative structure
  • The climax of a story often involves the resolution of the primary conflict (the protagonist finally confronts and defeats the antagonist)
• Conflicts keep readers invested in the story's outcome, as they eagerly anticipate how the characters will navigate and overcome the challenges they face

Types of Conflict in Short Stories

Character-Centric Conflicts

• Character vs. Self: Internal conflicts where a character struggles with their own thoughts, emotions, morals, or psychological issues
  • Explores a character's inner turmoil, doubts, or personal dilemmas (a character grappling with guilt over a past mistake)
  • Internal conflicts often involve difficult decisions, self-reflection, or personal growth
• Character vs. Character: Interpersonal conflicts between two or more characters with opposing goals, beliefs, or personalities
  • Manifests as rivalry, disagreements, power struggles, or emotional clashes (two siblings fighting over an inheritance)
  • Character vs. Character conflicts can involve protagonists and antagonists, or conflicts between allies with differing perspectives

Societal and External Conflicts

• Character vs. Society: Conflicts that arise when a character's actions, beliefs, or identity clash with the norms, expectations, or values of their society or community
  • Explores themes of conformity, rebellion, or social justice (a character fighting against racial discrimination)
  • Society can be represented by specific groups, institutions, or general societal expectations
• Character vs. Nature: Conflicts where characters face challenges posed by natural forces
  • Involves survival in harsh environments, natural disasters, or physical limitations imposed by the natural world (a character stranded on a deserted island)
  • Nature can be a literal force or a metaphorical representation of characters' internal struggles
• Character vs. Technology/Supernatural: Conflicts involving characters struggling against advanced technology, artificial intelligence, or supernatural elements
  • Threatens characters' lives, humanity, or understanding of reality (a character battling an evil sorcerer)
  • Explores the consequences and ethical implications of technological advancements or supernatural phenomena

Conflict and Reader Engagement

Creating Tension and Suspense

• Conflict introduces a sense of uncertainty or unpredictability, keeping readers engaged as they anticipate how the characters will navigate and resolve the challenges they face
• As conflicts escalate, the rising stakes and increasing pressure on characters create a sense of tension that intensifies reader investment in the story's outcome (a ticking clock scenario where characters must resolve a conflict before time runs out)
• Well-crafted conflicts can evoke strong reader emotions, such as suspense, anticipation, fear, or empathy, heightening the overall impact and memorability of the narrative

Character Development and Reader Connection

• Conflicts often reveal characters' true nature, testing their strengths, weaknesses, and values
  • This character development deepens reader connection and emotional resonance (a character's bravery emerges when faced with a life-threatening situation)
• Conflicts that tap into universal human experiences, fears, or desires create a sense of relatability, allowing readers to see themselves in the characters' struggles
  • Readers can empathize with characters facing conflicts such as loss, betrayal, or the pursuit of love and acceptance

Crafting Compelling Conflict

Identifying Sources of Conflict

• Identify your characters' goals, motivations, and desires, as these will often be the source of potential conflicts in your story
• Consider how your characters' goals and desires might clash with internal or external obstacles, creating a sense of opposition or tension (a character's desire for freedom conflicting with their family obligations)
• Develop conflicts that are relevant to your story's themes, genre, and intended emotional impact on readers

Balancing Conflict and Character

• Ensure that the conflicts you introduce are proportionate to your characters' abilities and the story's stakes, creating a sense of believability and authenticity
  • A conflict that is too easily resolved or too overwhelming can undermine the story's credibility
• Use conflicts to reveal and develop your characters' personalities, backstories, and arcs, allowing readers to invest in their journeys
  • Conflicts can serve as catalysts for character growth, self-discovery, or transformation
• Craft conflicts with clear, identifiable stakes that matter to your characters and readers alike (the potential loss of a cherished relationship, the threat of personal ruin)

Structuring Conflict in Plot

• Vary the types and scales of conflicts throughout your narrative to create a dynamic and engaging plot structure
  • Combine internal and external conflicts, as well as conflicts of different magnitudes, to keep readers engaged
• Establish conflicts early in the story to set the narrative in motion and create a sense of direction
  • The inciting incident often introduces the primary conflict that will drive the plot forward
• Escalate conflicts as the story progresses, raising the stakes and increasing the pressure on characters to confront and resolve the challenges they face
  • This escalation builds toward the story's climax, where the conflicts reach their peak and resolution becomes imperative