Mastering Conflict in Your Story: Tips and Techniques

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 20 June 2023 8 min read

Mastering conflict in a story is a vital skill for any writer. A well-crafted conflict can captivate readers, drive the narrative forward, and provide depth to the characters. In this blog, we'll explore various aspects of conflict in a story, from understanding its types and their relationship with genre, to creating compelling conflict and resolving it effectively. Let's dive in and enhance your storytelling abilities!

Understanding Conflict

Before we can create and resolve conflict in a story, it's essential to understand its nature and the different types of conflict at our disposal. In this section, we'll discuss internal vs. external conflict, explore various types of conflict, and examine the role of conflict in different genres.

Internal vs. External Conflict

Internal conflict occurs within a character's mind or emotions. It involves their personal struggles, such as grappling with guilt, fear, or self-doubt. Some examples include:

A character struggling to overcome a fear of heights to save someone in danger.
A protagonist torn between loyalty to family and their own moral compass.

On the other hand, external conflict originates outside the character and involves physical or situational obstacles. Examples include:

A hero battling a villain to save their city.
A couple fighting to keep their relationship alive despite mounting pressures.

Effective stories often weave together both internal and external conflicts, adding layers of complexity and depth to the narrative.

Types of Conflict

There are several types of conflict in a story that you can utilize to create engaging narratives. Some common ones include:

Character vs. Character: Two or more characters in opposition, such as a protagonist and antagonist.
Character vs. Society: A character faces challenges imposed by societal norms or institutions.
Character vs. Nature: A character must overcome natural forces, such as a storm, earthquake, or wild animals.
Character vs. Self: A character faces their own inner struggles, such as fear, addiction, or self-doubt.

By understanding and creatively employing these types of conflicts, you can craft a rich and engaging story.

Conflict and Genre

Different genres often emphasize specific types of conflict. For example, a mystery novel may focus on character vs. society, as a detective unravels a conspiracy. Meanwhile, a romance novel might center on character vs. self, as the protagonist navigates their feelings and insecurities. Recognizing the common conflicts in your chosen genre can help you create a story that resonates with readers and meets their expectations.

Creating Compelling Conflict

To make your story truly engaging, it's crucial to create conflicts that resonate with readers and leave a lasting impact. In this section, we'll explore techniques for developing relatable characters, establishing clear stakes, and balancing conflict to craft compelling narratives.

Developing Relatable Characters

For conflict in a story to be truly compelling, your characters need to feel real and relatable. To achieve this, consider the following:

Backstory: Develop a character's history, including their family, upbringing, and past experiences, to provide context for their actions and motivations.
Flaws: Give your characters imperfections and vulnerabilities, making them more human and relatable to readers.
Goals: Clearly define your character's objectives and desires, as these can serve as powerful driving forces behind the conflict.

By creating well-rounded, relatable characters, readers become more invested in their struggles and the conflicts they face.

Establishing Clear Stakes

Conflict in a story needs to have clear stakes for it to be engaging. Stakes are the consequences or rewards tied to the outcome of a conflict. To create clear stakes, consider the following:

Personal stakes: Ensure that the stakes are meaningful to the characters involved, deepening the reader's emotional investment in the story.
High stakes: Raise the stakes by putting a lot on the line—whether it's a character's life, love, or future happiness.
Believable stakes: Keep the stakes realistic within the context of your story, so readers can easily suspend disbelief and engage with the narrative.

Well-defined stakes add tension and urgency to the conflict, making the story more gripping and satisfying.

Balancing Conflict

Striking a balance between too much and too little conflict in a story is key to maintaining reader interest. To achieve this balance, consider the following tips:

Vary the intensity: Alternate between high-stakes conflicts and smaller, more personal conflicts to keep the story fresh and engaging.
Subplots: Introduce subplots with their own conflicts, which can add depth and complexity to the main story while providing relief from the primary conflict.
Resolution: Give characters moments of resolution or growth, allowing readers to savor their triumphs before introducing new conflicts.

A well-balanced story offers a mix of conflict, resolution, and character development, keeping readers engaged and invested in the narrative.

Resolving Conflict

Conflict resolution is a crucial aspect of storytelling, as it brings closure and satisfaction to both the characters and the readers. In this section, we'll discuss planning resolutions, crafting satisfying conclusions, and the lessons learned through conflict in a story.

Planning Resolution

Effective conflict resolution begins with planning. To create a satisfying resolution, consider the following:

Character growth: Show how characters have evolved or learned through the conflict, demonstrating their growth and development.
Consequences: Address the consequences of the conflict, whether they're positive or negative, to create a sense of closure.
Consistency: Ensure resolutions align with the established rules and logic of your story's world, maintaining believability and continuity.

By planning your story's resolution, you can create a satisfying and cohesive conclusion that ties up loose ends and leaves readers fulfilled.

Satisfying Conclusions

To craft a satisfying conclusion to the conflict in your story, consider these tips:

Surprises: Include unexpected twists or turns that still make sense within the context of the story, providing readers with a memorable and satisfying conclusion.
Emotional payoff: Deliver emotional satisfaction by resolving character relationships, achieving personal goals, or overcoming challenges.
Thematic resonance: Reinforce the story's themes or messages through the resolution, creating a sense of cohesion and meaning.

A well-crafted, satisfying conclusion brings closure to the conflict, leaving readers with a lasting impression and a sense of accomplishment.

Lessons Learned

One of the most rewarding aspects of conflict in a story is the lessons characters—and readers—can learn from it. To emphasize these lessons, consider the following:

Character reflection: Have characters reflect on their experiences, acknowledging their growth and the insights gained through conflict.
Universal themes: Draw on themes that resonate with readers, such as love, loss, or personal growth, to create a deeper connection between the story and the reader.
Show, don't tell: Demonstrate lessons learned through a character's actions and choices, rather than explicitly stating them, for a more engaging and immersive experience.

By incorporating lessons learned from conflict, you add depth and meaning to your story, creating a richer and more satisfying narrative experience for your readers.

Tools and Resources

Developing and resolving conflict in a story can be challenging, but there are numerous resources available to help you master this essential storytelling skill. In this section, we'll explore books on conflict, writing workshops, and online resources that can assist you in crafting engaging and compelling conflict in your stories.

Books on Conflict

Books on conflict can provide invaluable insights and techniques for developing conflict in your story. Here are a few recommendations:

Conflict and Suspense by James Scott Bell: This book offers practical advice on creating tension and conflict to keep readers engaged and invested in your story.
The Anatomy of Story by John Truby: A comprehensive guide to crafting compelling stories, with a focus on developing strong conflicts and character arcs.
Creating Character Arcs by K.M. Weiland: This book explores how to create dynamic, compelling character arcs that drive conflict and keep readers hooked.

These books can offer valuable guidance and inspiration for developing and resolving conflict in your story, helping you create an engaging and satisfying narrative.

Writing Workshops

Attending writing workshops can be an excellent way to learn new techniques, receive feedback, and connect with other writers. Consider looking for workshops in your local area or online that focus on conflict development and resolution. Some popular options include:

Writer's Digest workshops: Offering a range of workshops on various aspects of writing, including conflict development and resolution.
GrubStreet workshops: This writing center provides classes and workshops on various topics, including character development and conflict resolution.
MasterClass: Online courses taught by acclaimed authors, with courses focusing on storytelling and crafting compelling conflicts.

By participating in writing workshops, you can gain new perspectives and insights on crafting conflict in your stories, improving your writing skills and confidence.

Online Resources

There are numerous online resources available to help you master conflict in a story, including blogs, forums, and writing communities. Some popular options include:

Helping Writers Become Authors: A blog by K.M. Weiland with articles on various aspects of writing, including conflict development and resolution.
Writer's Digest: An online magazine with articles, tips, and resources on storytelling, character development, and conflict.
Absolute Write Water Cooler: A forum where writers can discuss various writing topics, including conflict development and resolution, and receive feedback from fellow writers.

By utilizing these tools and resources, you can enhance your understanding of conflict in a story and improve your skills in developing and resolving conflicts in your own writing.

Real-Life Examples

Examining real-life examples of conflict in a story can provide valuable insights into how to develop and resolve conflicts in your own writing. Let's take a look at three examples from popular literature and explore how each effectively uses conflict to drive the narrative and engage readers.

Example One: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

In J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the main conflict is Harry's struggle against the dark wizard Voldemort. This external conflict drives the plot and keeps readers engaged as Harry faces various challenges, such as encounters with magical creatures and navigating the wizarding world. The story also includes internal conflicts, such as Harry's search for his identity and his struggle to fit in at Hogwarts. By balancing internal and external conflicts, Rowling creates a rich and compelling narrative that captivates readers.

Example Two: To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird features both social and personal conflicts. The primary conflict revolves around the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of assaulting a white woman. This conflict highlights the theme of racial injustice and drives the story's plot. In addition, the protagonist, Scout, faces internal conflicts as she navigates her coming of age and grapples with her understanding of right and wrong. Through these intertwined conflicts, Lee creates a powerful and thought-provoking story that resonates with readers.

Example Three: The Hunger Games

In Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games, protagonist Katniss Everdeen faces a life-or-death external conflict as she participates in a brutal, televised competition where only one survivor is allowed. This high-stakes conflict drives the action and keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Additionally, Katniss experiences internal conflict as she struggles with her feelings for fellow competitor Peeta and her desire to protect her family. By skillfully weaving together internal and external conflicts, Collins crafts a gripping and emotionally resonant story.

These real-life examples demonstrate how effectively using conflict in a story can create engaging and memorable narratives. By studying these examples and incorporating the techniques discussed in this blog, you can master the art of crafting compelling conflicts in your own writing.

If you're passionate about documentary filmmaking and want to improve your storytelling skills, we highly recommend checking out the workshop 'Documentary Treatment: Act Two' by Reshelshah. This workshop will help you dive deeper into the art of crafting compelling narratives for your documentaries, ensuring your stories captivate your audience and make a lasting impact.