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120 Story Conflict Ideas and Examples

Creating conflict in your story is essential for capturing your readers' interest and driving your narrative forward. In order to reveal character motivations and examine deeper meanings within your story, the protagonist must be presented with a challenge derived from conflict. Here are 120 story conflict ideas and examples based on the most common types of conflicts in fiction . From character versus the self to character versus the supernatural, we cover all the major literature conflicts and offer ideas that can get you writing right away.

Need more help? Try out HubSpot's AI Content Writer , the AI Story Generator , or our own Writing Prompt Generator for additional conflict ideas and examples.

Character vs. self

• A soldier copes with post-traumatic stress.
• A surgeon's hands fail him, becoming unsteady and threatening his career and his patients' lives.
• A young man, determined to become a musketeer, is consistently pulled into duels due to his pride.
• A criminal seeks to make amends for his past crimes as his life draws to a close.
• A person is overwhelmed by grief when his lover dies.
• A parent finds herself repeating a cycle of abuse and strives to break the cycle.
• A conqueror realizes that he has become a tyrant but struggles to change course.
• A serial killer struggles to justify his crimes.
• A rapper stutters each time he gets up in front of a crowd.
• An evil wizard finds it difficult to make friends.
• A drug dealer becomes a drug user.
• A devout Catholic doesn't want to admit to herself that she is gay.
• A student who is an exceptional singer wants to try out for the school musical but has stage fright.
• A man's girlfriend gets pregnant, but he isn't ready to be a father.
• A child blames himself for his parents' divorce.
• An old woman wishes to reconnect with her family but is slowly losing her memory.
• A woman wishes to travel the world but is too scared to leave her home.
• A man is rich beyond his wildest dreams but has become increasing lonely in the process.
• A man wishes to reconnect with his high school sweetheart but is ashamed to talk about what he has done with his life after graduation.
• A woman is about to walk down the aisle at her wedding when she realizes that she isn't ready to be married.

Character vs. character

• An arsonist evades a detective determined to capture him.
• A wedding planner is at odds with a bridezilla.
• Road rage pits two drivers against each other.
• An author is kept from publishing his book by a publisher who wants to ruin his career.
• An unhappy customer demands to speak to the manager.
• An android confronts its creator, demanding to be freed from indentured service.
• A bully steals a kid's lunch money every day.
• A referee at a football game wants a quarterback to get hurt during the game.
• A knight swears to seek vengeance against his tyrannical king.
• A sailor organizes a mutiny against his captain.
• A marriage ends in a bitter divorce.
• Two political candidates campaign against each other.
• Two college students have a crush on the same person.
• An entrepreneur discovers that her most trusted employee is building a competing business.
• A new mother and her mother-in-law battle over the "right way" to care for a new baby.
• A man confronts the person who assaulted him.
• A man seeks to find the murderer who killed his father.
• A mother is unable to connect with her rebellious daughter.
• A teacher is being harassed by a particularly unruly student.
• Representatives from two warring nations meet to start peace talks.

Character vs. society

• A Marxist revolutionary attempts to take down a mega-corporation.
• A real estate developer faces town opposition to his proposed subdivision.
• A person with evidence that ghosts exist must convince the world of his findings.
• A person attempts to stop a fledgling fascist political party from taking over the country.
• A Franciscan missionary attempts to Christianize the indigenous peoples of the New World.
• A teacher struggles to convince a town to provide more school funding.
• A man chains himself to a tree in order to prevent it from being cut down by a new building development.
• A doomsday prophet attempts to convince others that the end is near.
• A private investigator must convince the media that a popular elected official is corrupt.
• A Mormon woman decides she wants to become part of the priesthood.
• A town shuts down your restaurant due to a health code violation.
• A woman in 1918 fights for her right to vote.
• A regime declares that a kindergarten teacher is an enemy of the people.
• A man is ridiculed online after a video of him is turned into an embarrassing meme.
• A painter creates controversial art that galleries refuse to show.
• A grocery store owner fights gentrification in his neighborhood.
• A famous actress is harassed by the paparazzi.
• A man faces discrimination.
• A person is permanently banned from playing a MMORPG.
• An undercover spy is exposed and hunted down by several governments.

Character vs. nature

• After a plane crash, a person must survive on a desert island.
• An orphan must scrounge and survive in a far-future urban wasteland.
• A man tries to escape a cattle stampede.
• A hiker is bitten by a poisonous snake.
• A man wakes up to find himself buried to his neck in sand.
• A kayaker becomes lost at sea.
• An android struggles to find sources of power during a nuclear winter.
• A camper becomes lost in the woods.
• A dream-walker finds himself trapped inside his nightmare.
• A hiker encounters a grizzly bear protecting her two young cubs.
• A vampire seeks shelter as dawn breaks.
• A school crossing guard works during a monsoon.
• A person flees his town during a forest fire.
• A person is buried alive inside a coffin.
• A man accidentally turns down a flooded road during a rainstorm, and his car starts filling with water.
• A person races to escape an erupting volcano.
• A person slips through ice while crossing a frozen pond.
• A person seeks shelter during a hurricane.
• A farmer's land is plagued by locusts.
• A person climbs Mount Everest.

Character vs. technology

• A skydiver jumps out of a plane, but his parachute does not open.
• A person is stuck inside a virtual reality game.
• A man is unknowingly brainwashed by his cell phone.
• An interpreter is replaced by translation technology.
• A lifeguard at a wave pool finds that the equipment is malfunctioning.
• A criminal is being hunted down by a police drone.
• A space pirate finds himself marooned on a derelict craft and must repair the ship.
• A person must disarm a bomb before it explodes.
• A person must fight robots in gladiator combat.
• A person is chased by an artificially intelligent car.
• A man must initiate an EMP surge before toasters take over the world.
• A video rental store owner competes with the rise of streaming services.
• A computer programmer has to destroy the AI she created because it is too powerful.
• A man is stuck on a broken roller-coaster.
• A person must stop a worldwide computer virus.
• A woman travels across the country with a faulty GPS.
• A woman discovers that her boyfriend is an evil cyborg.
• An old man must figure out how to use his newly gifted cellphone to call his grandson.
• A repairman is unable to fix a refrigerator.
• A broken time machine sends a person to the wrong time period.

Character vs. supernatural

• A person is possessed by a demon.
• A clown finds that children are being turned into circus attractions.
• A person is being hunted by a werewolf during a camping trip.
• A knight must slay a dragon.
• A photographer captures monsters by trapping them in photographs.
• A person is haunted by a ghost.
• A man gives his girlfriend a vintage engagement ring, but she soon discovers that it carries a terrible curse.
• A sailor discovers that his wife is a siren.
• A person is tricked into swapping places with their reflection.
• A vampire seduces a woman.
• A mom must find her child, who has been kidnapped by goblins.
• A man flees a group of zombies.
• A warrior must fight a dark wizard.
• A woman must trap the fairies that infest her home.
• A witch turns a person into a goat.
• An archeologist awakens a mummy.
• A boy confronts the monster under his bed.
• A farmer must deal with cursed vegetables the size of his tractor.
• A man is lost in an ever-changing maze.
• An old man must evade the grim reaper for as long as he can.
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7 Types of Conflict in Literature: How to Use Them (with Examples)

Gina Edwards

“Nothing moves forward in a story except through conflict.”

This is what Robert McKee, the author of Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting , calls the Law of Conflict, and storytelling is governed by it.

The finer details like story setting, character, and plot events all give the reader context and understanding, but conflict , according to McKee, is the “soul” of story. Every kind of story, every genre – novel, short story, science fiction , romance, mystery, historical , young adult , etc. – requires it.

In her book Writing Fiction , Janet Burroway says that, in literature, “only trouble is interesting.” It’s a bit ironic that in real life, we resist trouble; we shy away from conflict. Yet readers crave it in fiction.

First-time authors often find the idea of putting their characters into conflict an upsetting one. Just as they want to avoid conflict in their own lives, they don’t want to place their characters into uncomfortable, confrontational situations. They’ll focus on eloquent setting description or complex character development but then give the main character no conflict to resolve. Don’t make that mistake.

Why Conflict Is Key

7 types of conflict in fiction, how to create conflict in your novel, layered conflict makes compelling fiction.

Quite simply, conflict keeps your story interesting. Conflict is opposition – either internal or external (more on that below). Conflict is what comes from the challenges your protagonist must solve or resolve on the way to achieving his/her/their goal. It offers a teasing carrot of uncertainty about whether your protagonist will achieve that goal, keeping your readers engaged and turning pages to discover whether (or not) the conflict is resolved.

And that’s what every author wants, right? To carry the reader all the way to THE END?

Without conflict, your main character is simply experiencing a series of largely uninteresting slice-of-life moments. Without conflict, there is no story.

There are two basic kinds of conflict: external and internal, which have been further categorized and codified in many different ways over time. Here are seven different types to consider.

External Conflicts

External conflict pits the character against some exterior force or world-view and happens outside the character’s body. Five of the seven types of conflicts are of the external kind.

1. Person vs. Person

Also called man vs. man and protagonist vs. antagonist , this is the most common type of external conflict. It is clear and universally understood as a good vs. evil story in which an unambiguous challenger opposes the main character.

The heart of this type of story involves two characters with opposing outlooks, opinions, or goals. The story will become richer when both characters believe themselves to be right or when there is no clear right or wrong between their differences.

• In The Hunger Games , Katniss Everdeen must go up against other contestants in order to survive – her vs. them
• In The Wizard of Oz , Dorothy faces off against the Wicked Witch
• Murder mysteries with the investigator vs. murderer also are person vs. person stories

2. Person vs. Nature

This type of conflict counters a character against some force of nature, such as an animal or the weather.

• A classic example is Ernest Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea
• In Life of Pi , the protagonist must face a tiger trapped in the boat with him
• The drought is a formidable opposition in John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath , as is the setting in Cormac McCarthy’s The Road (read more about the use of setting here )

3. Person vs. Society

When a novel sets a character against a tradition, an institution, a law, or some other societal construct, it is a Person vs. Society story.

• Atticus Finch opposed his racist community in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird
• Wilbur fights for his survival against a society that eats pigs in Charlotte’s Web
• In Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale , the society treats women as property of the state; Atwood makes the story even more interesting by layering in environmental disasters (Person vs. Nature) to intensify the conflict

4. Person vs. Technology

When science moves beyond human control, conflicts of Person vs. Technology develop. Stories in this conflict type include:

• 2001: A Space Odyssey
• Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

5. Person vs. Supernatural

Vampires, werewolves, aliens, and ghosts – any typically unbelievable, supernatural, or inexplicable phenomena – provide Person vs. Supernatural conflicts. Examples of such stories include:

• The Shining , by Stephen King
• The Haunting of Hill House , by Shirley Jackson
• The War of the Worlds , by H.G. Wells
• The Exorcist
• Jeff Vandermeer’s Southern Reach series
• Almost anything by Edgar Allan Poe

Internal Conflicts

The two remaining types of conflicts are internal – ones that happen inside the character’s mind or heart. When your main character has an inner turmoil that’s causing some emotional pain, it increases the tension of the story.

6. Person vs. Self

A character battling inner demons, one who has an inner moral conflict (think Hamlet ), or is simply striving to become a better person is in a Person vs. Self conflict.

• Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games (again!) must reconcile her need to survive in the battle arena with her desire not to kill another human being
• Daniel Scott Keyes's short story Flowers for Algernon has a main character struggling with losing his intelligence to a congenital mental disability, with the focus on the character’s feelings about his circumstances: the conflict between his intellect and emotion are central

7. Person vs. Destiny (Fate/Luck/God)

This is an ambiguous conflict type. Sometimes aspects of it get split up and parsed out among the other categories. For example, since accepting fate can be seen as an inner personal struggle, some define it as Person vs. Self instead. Or some might reframe Person vs. God as being person against religion and, therefore, would put it in the external conflict type of Person vs. Society. The categories don’t really matter as long as you understand the concept.

Examples of this conflict type include Star Wars , The Odyssey , and Lord of the Rings .

• Although Star Wars contains plenty of external conflicts, a major part of the storyline is Luke’s destiny to become a Jedi Master
• In The Odyssey , Odysseus encounters all sorts of mystical creatures
• Fate has made Frodo the ring-bearer in Lord of the Rings

When a character has a want or a goal and encounters some obstacle, the result is a conflict. The obstacle must be faced by a character readers care about. Additionally, the obstacle must oppose a want or a goal that’s meaningful to that character. The result? Conflict.

Conflict can vary in degree or intensity, but every conflict must have several key characteristics.

• The conflict must be clear, specific, and relevant to the character; it should not be an abstract or trivial problem – either to the character or to the reader
• It must exist within the character’s realm, not separate or remote from their world
• The conflict must not be overcome too easily
• Finally, the conflict must happen to a character(s) the reader cares about (not necessarily “likes,” but has some compassion for)

In summary, conflict results when a compassion-worthy character who wants something intensely encounters a significant obstacle. Add in relevant action and you’ll have a story.

Every novel needs a major conflict. More complex stories have multiple conflicts, as noted above for Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale , which has both Person vs. Society and Person vs. Nature conflicts. Furthermore, a story that contains external conflict can be made more complex, layered, and interesting by including characters who also have inner conflict (see The Hunger Games in the examples above).

James Scott Bell, in The Art of War for Writers , makes this distinction between inner conflict and inner struggle:

An inner conflict is plot-centric; it is an internal obstacle either triggered by or somehow directly connected to the story – the plot. Whereas inner struggle is something that plays against the character’s strengths; it’s something the character brings to the plot, usually from her past, either long ago or recent past (but before the first page). The plot will put the protagonist in situations where she has to deal with this inner struggle, and she’ll carry that struggle with her throughout the story. If the character is in a series, it will run throughout the book series.

To illustrate, let’s say you want your female main character to be assertive . Two qualities that might battle against assertiveness are shyness and indecision . Then consider what in the protagonist’s background could be a reason for her struggle between assertiveness and yet being shy or indecisive . Maybe someone important in her life told her she’d never amount to anything. Maybe she had a hard-scrabble, poor childhood she desperately wanted to get out of, but as a child she saw too many adults around her fail in every attempt to do so themselves. You get the idea?

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert Olen Butler says inner conflict is a defining mark of a literary work. A book might also possess characteristics of a particular genre, but inner conflict can give a novel a sense of being the literary kind.

Whether or not you’re striving for a literary work, if you use two or more of the seven types of conflict identified above, making sure at least one is internal, your writing will be compelling.

How do you feel about using conflict in your writing? Let us know in the comments!

Do you know how to craft memorable, compelling characters? Download this free book now:

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Gina Edwards is a writer, retreat leader, certified creativity coach, and editor. Through retreats, group coaching, and the community Women Writing for CHANGE, she provides safe spaces for women writers—aspiring and published—to claim their voices, write their stories, and leave their legacies. Gina, her clients, and her writer-friends are on a collective mission to positively impact the world through their written words.

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Last updated on Jul 24, 2023

7 Types of Conflict in Literature: A Writer's Guide

In literature, conflict is any struggle that characters must overcome to achieve their goal. It can be a ‘real world’ obstacle or antagonist (external conflict) or some inner turmoil that our heroes must confront before getting what they want or need (internal conflict). 

As we mentioned in the previous section, all good stories are driven by conflict. By understanding what stands between characters and their goals, we can begin to grasp what their stories are about. The seven most common types of conflict in literature are:

1. Character vs. Character(s)

2. character vs. society, 3. character vs. nature, 4. character vs. technology, 5. character vs. supernatural, 6. character vs. fate, 7. character vs. self.

In this post, we will analyze these types of conflict and provide examples from the world of popular fiction.

Before we get into some of the more abstract types, let’s first look at what most readers think about when they imagine ‘conflict’.

Pesky people: they cause trouble wherever they go! That’s the crux of this type of external conflict, which you’ll find in many, if not most, stories. "Character versus character" can mean both black-and-white struggles (cops vs. robber, hero vs. villain, etc.), but it can also cover subtler kinds of personal confrontations: romantic entanglements and familial disputes, for example. 

Character vs. character conflict is commonly rendered as the traditional “protagonist vs. antagonist” setup, where these two central characters will usually have diametrically opposing goals . For example, the protagonist might be a cat burglar looking to steal a priceless painting, while the antagonist – a corrupt gallery owner — wants nothing more than to stop them.

Examples of character vs. character conflict

Les Misérables: Former convict Jean Valjean restarts his life with a new identity, seeking to create a more just society for the underclasses. He is discovered and pursued by Inspector Javert, whose fanatical devotion to the law has blinded him to the actual injustices being perpetrated by the system.

The Great Gatsby: Self-made millionaire Jay Gatsby wants nothing more than to win over his childhood crush, Daisy Buchanan. Standing in the way of Gatsby’s goal is Daisy’s husband, Tom Buchanan, an old-money cad with a mile-wide mean streak. 

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Particularly prevalent in fiction these days, this type of external struggle pits the individual against the collective. In this case, “the collective” might take the form of something like: 

• an oppressive government, 
• adults (as seen from a teenager’s perspective), or
• systemic corruption.

In this type of conflict, society will put pressure on our character to change and fall neatly into order. On the other hand, our protagonist will resist this change and, in extreme cases, will try to bend society to fit their vision. Like the story of David and Goliath, our hero faces an uphill battle, but the reader holds out hope that ‘the little guy’ can overcome a seemingly impossible challenge.

Examples of character vs. society conflict

The Hate U Give: When her friend is shot dead by a cop, African American teenager Starr seeks justice, but finds herself up against a system of structural racism that stretches from the police and media, all the way to her private school and internalized racism.

The Devil Wears Prada : Idealistic university graduate Andrea “Andy” Sachs moves to New York and soon lands a highly coveted position as the junior assistant to Miranda Priestly, the tyrannical editor of a fashion magazine. A fish out of water, Andy enters into a world that directly conflicts with her principles but finds herself compelled to conform to the cut-throat world of fashion journalism in order to fast-track her career.

How do you fancy your chances in a fight against Mother Earth? In this type of conflict, that is exactly what our protagonists are facing. Whether it’s wildlife ( Jaws ), natural disasters ( The Day After Tomorrow ), the weather ( The Perfect Storm ), or a post-apocalyptic landscape ( The Road ), the antagonists in this type of conflict cannot be reasoned with. 

Stories that feature a “character vs. nature” conflict will usually center on a character’s survival . In the absence of a human antagonist, our heroes will often discover that “character vs. self” conflict (something we will touch on later) is at the heart of their narrative arc.

Examples of character vs. nature conflict

The Martian: Stranded on the Red Planet, astronaut Mark Watney must overcome its unforgiving environment and survive long enough to be rescued. Using his resourcefulness, he must overcome the obstacles that Mars presents by growing food and find a way to communicate with Earth.

Moby Dick: Ahab, the captain of the Pequod, launches a voyage in search of a white whale that previously took his leg. The crew faces many natural challenges on this ill-fated journey, including storms, harsh waters, and the titular whale Moby Dick.

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Since the dawn of the industrial age, humanity has had a turbulent relationship with technology. Some see scientific progress as a defiance of God and the natural, while others have used it to question the limits of our morality, patience, and greed. While the idea of ‘character vs. technology’ might summon up the image of a Terminator-like robot apocalypse, this type of conflict could also be as modest as someone struggling to teach their Grandma Millie how to use emojis!

Examples of character vs. technology

Frankenstein : A scientist brings to life a creature made out of spare human parts. This ‘monster’ quickly becomes sentient and exceeds his creator’s wildest expectations, leading to Dr. Frankenstein’s demise on the tundra. Subtitling her book “The Modern Prometheus,” Mary Shelly likened her hero to the mythic Greek figure who stole fire from Zeus, putting a fine point on the idea of humans daring to play God.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?: In the distant future of 1999, bounty hunter Rick Deckard is given the task of retiring (read: killing) a group of androids recently escaped from a Mars colony. The only problem? These synthetic creatures are practically indistinguishable from real people. When Deckard falls for one of these androids, he begins to question the very nature of humanity.

When your hero finds themselves up against something that cannot be explained by logic or science, they are probably in conflict with supernatural forces! While some writers employ this type of conflict to tell rip-roaring tales, supernatural stories can also explore human fears and inexplicable everyday events.

In practice, character vs supernatural conflicts will often see the protagonist face off against the forces of fate, religion, ghosts, gods, demons or aliens.

Examples of character vs supernatural

Ghostbusters: Three disgraced scientists (and a guy they find on Craigslist) set up shop as supernatural pest controllers, ridding New York of hungry ghosts and spectral librarians. But when a Sumerian god arrives looking to enslave the world, our four heroes must answer the age-old question: does bustin’ make them feel good ?

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: A doctor in Victorian London creates a serum that causes him to become his evil alter-ego, Edward Hyde. Inspired by the real-life case of Deacon Brodie, an upstanding Edinburgh citizen by day and burglar by night, author Robert Louis Stevenson uses this supernatural tale to depict one man’s struggle against his inner demons.

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Similar to “character vs. supernatural,” this conflict deserves its own entry — if only for its historical significance. “Character vs. fate” can include dealings with God or the gods and their prophecies — where our protagonists desperately try to assert their free will. This is a common trope in Greek tragedies, where the characters can do nothing but endure the destinies befallen to them.

Examples of character vs. supernatural

Macbeth: In Shakespeare’s “Scottish play,” the Thane of Glamis receives a prophecy from three witches that foretells his rise to the throne of Scotland. However, the witches also reveal that his buddy Banquo will father a line of kings — which gets Macbeth more than a little worried. In his fight against this fate, Macbeth takes extreme measures that prove to be his undoing. 

Oedipus Rex: Boy meets oracle. Oracle tells boy he will marry his mother and kill his father. In an effort to defy the prophecy, boy kills a stranger (who turns out to be his birth father) and marries a woman (who turns out to be his birth mother). Boy plucks his eyes out in a fit of frustration. It’s a tale as old as time.

If these stories teach us anything, it’s that tragedies are almost always self-inflicted!

Until now, these types of conflicts have seen our heroes deal with external forces. For our final entry on this list, let’s look at what is perhaps the most important conflict of all.

Writer Maxwell Anderson once said that “the story must be a conflict, and specifically, a conflict between the forces of good and evil within a single person”. Though that might be an oversimplification, every interesting story will indeed, at some point, involve a character’s inner dilemma. That’s because, as James N. Frey points out in How To Write A Damn Good Novel , a reader experiences the most empathy for a character when that character is in the middle of some intense inner strife.

Internal strife will stem from a debate that occurs within a character. It might originate from any combination of the character’s expectations, desires, duties, and fears. To get what they want, they must make a choice that threatens to change the very fabric of who they are.

Examples of character vs. self

The Hunger Games : Kind-hearted teen Katniss Everdeen is drafted as a contestant in a deadly reality show staged by a totalitarian government. As per the rules of the game, in the end, there can be only one — to survive, it seems that Katniss must overcome her reluctance to kill. Will she stick by her principles, even if it ultimately results in her death?

Great Expectation : Pip, a poor Blacksmith’s boy, is plucked from obscurity by a mysterious benefactor and allowed to become a London gentleman. Seeing this as his only chance to ‘better himself’ and win the heart of his childhood crush, Pip finds himself torn between getting everything he ever wanted and protecting his ideals. Will he devote himself to becoming a callous member of the upper-middle crust or remain loyal to his family and authentic self?

Now that you’ve seen the many faces of conflict in a story, it leaves only one question: how does a writer use this knowledge to benefit their own writing? In the final section of this guide, we’ll answer that very question as we show you how to identify and accentuate conflict in a story.

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Conflict is not a secret sauce to telling stories; it’s the basic ingredient. It moves the plot forward and makes characters more engaging. Without genuine conflict in your story, it’s just a narration of events where nothing exciting happens. So, let’s find out how to create conflict that is engaging. We also have some examples of conflict in literature to ease the process!

Enhance your conflict with perfect editing! Learn more

What is conflict? 

Before you learn how to create conflict, you need to learn what it is.

Simply defined, conflict is an element of struggle. It’s the barrier that a (central) character must overcome in order to achieve what they want or need. Essentially, it’s what goes wrong in the novel.

Let’s take the most basic example: In Little Red Riding Hood , the conflict is the Big Bad Wolf. Without the wolf, Little Red Riding Hood would safely reach her grandmother with no threat to her life. If this happens, there is no tension in the story. Now, what reader would want to read a story like that?

There has to be some scandal in the industry, some turmoil in the family, or some personal enmity between characters. These are the big and small issues that amount to conflict in a story. Conflict can be major (societal problems like sexism) or minor (familial struggles, personal enmity). A story becomes more interesting if characters have to solve a series of minor conflicts before they combat the major one.

For example, Arya and Sansa’s enmity in A Game of Thrones is a minor conflict while the same between Ned Stark and Cersei is a major one.

Did you know that there are five important types of conflict? It’s impossible to know how to create conflict in a story when you’re unaware of the different shapes it comes in! Let’s tackle that head-on.

Types of conflict

There are two major types of conflict: external and internal. These can be further divided into five important types of conflict, as follows:

External conflict

External conflict is the tussle between a character and an outside force. This force can be another character, or nature, or even the situation they’re in.

Yes, it’s that simple. There are four types of external conflict:

• Character vs. character
• Character vs. nature
• Character vs. society
• Character vs. technology

Internal conflict 

This struggle happens within the mind of a character. Internal conflict in a story is a character’s battle with their own emotions, opinions, or ambitions. The most popular example of such a conflict is Shakespeare’s Hamlet .

There is only one category under internal conflict:

1. Character vs. self

We can now take a deep dive into each type of conflict, and visit a few examples along the way!

1. Character vs character 

This is the most common type of conflict in all stories. A classic example: Hero against the villain.

Superhero comics and movies are entirely based on this conflict. The heroes are out to uphold the law while the villains are out to break it. This conflict of values and interests leads to their clash. The origin stories of both the protagonist and antagonists are rooted in such conflict.

Conflicting values

Most often, character vs. character struggles have the basis of a conflict of values. Often, this works with or alongside a conflict of interest to make different storylines. For example, what if Batman and the Joker together want to stop the Riddler? Here, Batman and Joker have conflicting values, but their interests are the same. This makes for an engaging story, doesn’t it?

Therefore, the character vs. character conflict can take any shape based on the surrounding circumstances. It’s the most common conflict because it’s that versatile: you’ll find it everywhere!

2. Character vs. nature 

Popular in both books and movies, this is when characters have to face the wrath of nature in different forms.

The unpredictability and immense power of nature makes for a strong challenge to the characters. Often, this conflict is quite difficult to overcome.

While every apocalyptic movie comes to mind, forces of nature don’t always mean geographical occurrences like a tsunami or a volcano. A disease like cancer is also a force of nature. So, stories like The Fault in Our Stars and The Normal Heart are also examples of character vs. nature type of conflict.

3. Character vs. society 

When a character feels out of place in the social life around them, their struggle amounts to this type of conflict. Cyberpunk and dystopian novels often feature a conflict where the character stands up against unequal or oppressive social structures.

This conflict is well represented in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 through the protagonist’s struggle against his dystopian world . Another notable example can be Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale .

Most tragic plays feature this conflict in some capacity. The protagonist’s inability to overcome their conflict with the surrounding society eventually leads to their death.

4. Character vs technology 

Common in sci-fi stories, this conflict usually unfolds in a future where technology has become highly advanced. Technological advancements then reach a level where machines and A.I. begins to pose a threat to humanity. Naturally, the human characters then have to battle technology.

In Isaac Asimov’s The Evitable Conflict , machines in the far future decide to take control of humanity and break the first law of robotics. This is a pretty typical example of conflict between character and technology.

This conflict is appealing because it brings back the Renaissance-era questions of intelligence, creation, and divinity. The next time you watch a Terminator movie, you’ll know exactly what we’re talking about!

5. Character vs self 

Hamlet can’t arrive at a decision about how to exact revenge upon his uncle. He struggles with his own self, and not any outside force. This is an example of the sole internal conflict, which is character vs self.

This type of conflict often brings forth themes of mental instability and madness. Often, characters succumb to this struggle and lose their grip on reality.

This also features as a minor conflict in many stories. In this case, it helps the characters become better or more able versions of themselves, allowing them to evolve.

How to create conflict

Conflict is embedded in every story. If you have a story to tell, it will naturally have a “situation”, unfolding from a beginning to an end. The question is, how do you refine this situation into an exciting battle between different powers?

How to create conflict from the base elements of a story like character and setting? This is nothing short of a craft, and we’re here to help you master it.

Here are our five tips for writing conflict like a pro:

1. Create conflict with a purpose

Remember, the conflicts in your story aren’t just hurdles that your characters need to cross. They need to serve a thematic and literary purpose.

Basically, it should make sense why character A is against character B. Or, for that matter, how character A battles against a robot uprising. The place to do this is in your characters’ backstories and character traits.

Ground your conflict in your characters, and show your readers how it affects them. Conflict, external or internal, is only effective if it has a purpose.

2. Set differing goals and agendas

Remember the scene in Marvel’s The Avengers where the six superheroes interact for the first time? Why is this scene so effective?

No one likes to watch people agreeing with each other. Dialogue gets interesting only when people disagree, and the plot becomes gripping when they try to find ways to counteract each other.

Make sure to set different, opposing goals for your major characters. It’s a given that heroes and villains will be set against each other. But your story becomes more engaging when friends or allies also have distinct, clashing viewpoints.

It’s like Batman and Joker working together to defeat the Riddler. A narrative is entertaining when not just the characters, but also their agendas are in conflict with each other.

3. Define the problem 

The easiest way to set the narrative in motion is to start with a problem. It can be a mystery, a theft, or an old secret being revealed. How many times has a movie begun with a gimmick being stolen?

Give your characters simple goals like getting back the stolen item, rescuing the kidnapped child, or searching for the lost treasure. This helps you develop the plot, and provides a chance to complicate or deepen the theme of your story.

4. Play on setbacks and failures 

A way to make the middle of your story is to fail your characters. Make them lose the battle, or fail an exam, or get negative results in a crucial experiment stage.

Your protagonist’s struggles with their emotions and mental health help the readers get to know them better. How they deal with failure may also lead to other conflicts you can explore. So, don’t be afraid to let your characters get defeated.

5. Keep your genre in mind 

There are certain conventions about how different genres feature conflict in a story. Take cues from the types of conflict you observe in other works. When you sit down to watch an apocalyptic movie, don’t you expect to watch humans struggle against nature?

If you’re writing a story in fifteenth century England, your conflict is likely to feature the Wars of the Roses . If it’s  romance you write, the main couple’s struggles to be together will form your central conflict.

Your characters’ struggles need to align with the generic conventions your audience will come to expect.

To enhance your novel further after writing an engaging conflict and completing your piece, you can consider taking our editing and proofreading services . 

Still have doubts about how to create an engaging story? We’ve answered a few in the next section. Keep reading!

• How to Write Dialogue: 7 Rules, 5 Tips & 65 Examples
• What is the Setting of a Story? Meaning + 7 Expert Tips
• 5 Elements of a Short Story & 6 Stages of a Plot

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My philosophy, monday, july 12, 2021, the 8 types of conflict (with examples, possible resolutions, and stakes).

Every story needs a character in a setting engaged in conflict. But sometimes writers get hyper-focused on one or two types of conflict, and never explore or include the other types. This can make a story feel flat or repetitive (similar to what I touched on in my plotlines post ). Sometimes the writer senses that there is something wrong, so tries to add more to the story, but they end up either adding more to the same conflict, or simply adding the same type  of conflict. Like always, I'm never going to say you can't ever  do this, but just that it's almost always more satisfying if you put in a variety. Variety gives a story more depth and breadth--and also keeps things interesting.

Conflict is key in moving plot, character arc, and theme forward--in other words, the whole story forward. No conflict = no story. If there is no struggle, the character never grows. If there is no opposing argument, the theme never carries its weight. If there is no antagonistic force, no climax is earned. 

Early on in my writing journey, I was only introduced to five types of conflict. And indeed you can find arguments about what does and does not count as a conflict type (and some types can overlap). But today I've put together a comprehensive list of the most prevalent categories--and I think just about any conflict will fit within one of them . I'll also share a few things about each along the way. 

1. Person vs. Self

At the most intimate level, we have person vs. self conflicts. In regards to plotlines, you may have heard this called the "inner journey." 

There is usually a flaw, weakness, or misbelief the protagonist and/or another key character has and is struggling to overcome, which helps make up the character's arc. Often at some point, the character struggles with conflicting belief systems. For example, in A Quiet Place, Part II , Emmett struggles between believing people aren't worth saving vs. believing people are worth saving. As he comes to believe the latter, he completes his character arc.

Any key character may struggle with doubt, assertiveness, confidence, costs, conflicting wants, or something else. They may be in conflict with themselves about what to do or who to believe. Even characters who don't arc drastically can have internal conflicts. 

And of course, you can have an internal conflict that isn't fleshed out into a full plotline, but may be an incident. A character may have a brief internal struggle about whether on not to trust someone they've just met, and that may only last a scene. 

Person vs. self conflicts are great at making a story feel personal and deep.   They are often the most empathetic conflicts.

Frodo caught between wanting to destroy The Ring, and being tempted to keep The Ring.

Simba struggling between believing he is meant to be king vs. turning his back on being king. 

Jean Valjean trying to decide whether he should reveal his identity and save a man from going into prison in his place.

Possible Methods of Resolution:

Having a personal revelation (an epiphany) Making a personal choice Taking a personal action Giving into a personal weakness Overcoming a personal weakness Learning new information

Common Stakes (Negative vs. Positive):

Psychological death  vs. life, or a better, healthier psychological life Loss of identity or sense of self vs. clearer sense of identity or a better sense of self Becoming something undesirable vs. becoming who they want to be Becoming unfit to do what is necessary vs. gaining the power and wherewithal to complete the task Coming to terms with a painful reality about one's self vs. fully accepting one's self How one's changing nature affects others (or the environment) around the character negatively or positively Having to live with painful regrets vs. having the peace of overcoming Loss of power (over self, or the internal conflict affecting an outside power) vs. gaining power (self-mastery, or the internal conflicting providing an external power)

2. Person vs. Person

In person vs. person conflicts, the character is (you guessed it) in conflict with another person. This is often what people think of, when they think of "conflict."

If your antagonist is a person, then your protagonist will be in conflict with him or her. Usually person vs. person conflicts mean that the characters have different goals or at least different methods for obtaining a goal. In Harry Potter , Harry and Voldemort are in conflict because they want opposing outcomes and have different views of the Wizarding World. But sometimes Harry also gets in conflict with Hermione about what methods they should use to reach their goals.

Most often the protagonist and antagonist will be embodying opposing belief systems, so their person vs. person conflict is an example of these two belief systems clashing and trying to claim dominance ( which plays into theme ). 

And usually, the protagonist and their ally (or allies) will clash about what is the best way  to move forward in the plot.

These are just rules of thumb, of course, and the person vs. person conflict can also be as brief as a character getting into a heated debate with a stranger on the street. It can come across as obvious as a fistfight or as subtle as a smirk. Many times, the conflict will be expressed through subtext . 

In most stories, the protagonist will have many person vs. person conflicts, with different people.

Batman fighting The Joker.

Jim and Pam arguing about how to deal with Michael in The Office.

Belle turning down Gaston's continual pursuits in Beauty and the Beast.

Defeating the other person physically, intellectually, or emotionally Agreeing to disagree Being defeated by the other person physically, intellectually, or emotionally Coming to a compromise One character comes to embrace the other character's perspective, so they are on the same side Going separate ways

Death (psychological, professional, or physical) vs. life Physically or emotional pain and injury vs. Physical or emotional health and safety How the outcome will affect the character's future lifestyle negatively or positively Opportunities (gained or lost) Plot goal lost or achieved  How the outcome will affect loved ones or the world negatively or positively

3. Person vs. Nature

Here, a person is in conflict with nature. This is a struggle that usually comes from the setting. It could be surviving in the wilderness after a plane crash, dealing with disease, an earthquake, starvation, or a bear. Person vs. nature conflicts show characters at the mercy of Mother Nature; this often emphasizes a lack of control.  Despite his best efforts, a person may be blindsided by illness or an earthquake. Some disasters can't be prevented, only coped with. We can try to prepare, or deal with the outcome, but we often can't simply stop nature.

Unlike most other types of conflict, there (arguably) isn't really anyone or anything to blame . Nature is indifferent. We can't really blame the clouds for not raining, or the ocean for the tsunami that wiped out our homes. Even if someone puts us in that situation, ultimately, it's Mother Nature that deals the blow.  Without a clear entity to blame, this sometimes leads people to find someone or something else to blame, to take their hurt out on. 

Person vs. nature conflicts can be a great way to illustrate unfairness in the human experience. They also tend to reveal human tendencies, as characters typically find themselves in desperate situations.

In Hidalgo , Hopkins and his horse must weather a sandstorm. 

In  Hatchett  by Gary Paulsen, Brian must survive in the wilderness after a plane crash. 

In The Martian , Mark Watney must survive on Mars.

Armed with proper preparation (ex. having no clean water but having brought iodine) Gaining knowledge (ex. discovering how to cure a disease) Gaining experience and skill (ex. figuring out how to spear fish for food) Finding ways to properly cope with the situation (ex. going under a desk during an earthquake) Help from others, being rescued Suffering or death

Death vs. life Physical pain and suffering vs. comfort and safety How death or suffering of the character will affect other characters, the world, or plot vs. how their physical safety affects those things How lack of resources or stamina impede progress vs. having resources and stamina improve progress Loss of valuable time vs. gaining valuable time Loss of valuable resources (ex. a fire burning down a house or food becoming contaminated) vs. gaining valuable resources (ex. finding shelter or clean drinking water) Exposing others to illness or danger vs. limited or preventing exposure

4. Person vs. Society

A "society" in a story is any type of collective. It may be as big as a government or as small as a school club. It's a group of people who work as a unit. The character may be in conflict with a culture, tradition, or an established law. It may be a conflict with a lifestyle or a taboo. 

Societal conflicts are less personal than one-on-one conflicts. Often the character is pitted against ideologies that can't be overcome directly or quickly. For example, in The Hunger Games , Katniss is pitted against Panem's government--it has laws, traditions, and ideologies that she can't defeat with sheer force. These things have to be undermined or challenged through smaller actions.

Other times, the collective may work more as a "person"--just multiple people joined together as one. For example, a character may need to overcome a group of bullies who all heckle him together. The fact there are multiple, makes the bullying worse, but doesn't add much more to the dynamics outside of that. 

The character will be different from the collective in a significant way, and the collective will usually try to get the character to bend to their will. Because the opposing force is a collective, it often feels like the odds are stacked against the character.

Worth noting is that it's not unusual for a particular character to become the "face" of the society. For example, President Snow becomes the face of Panem's government, even though from the series' beginning to the series' end, the true antagonist is the society (one of the reasons I think Mockingjay is often misunderstood 😉).

It's also possible to develop a society vs. society conflict in a story. It may be the protagonist is part of a collective that is going head-to-head with an opposing collective. 

Katniss ultimately refusing to be a piece in the Hunger Games

Lyra fighting for truth in a society that wants to keep humankind ignorant in His Dark Materials

Hamilton fighting his way to the top in Hamilton

Helping the society have a revelation (epiphany) Destroying, dismantling, or punishing the collective Convincing society that it is wrong Persuading the collective to allow the character to pursue her goal A compromise with the society Educating society on a better way forward Being forced into submission or defeated by society Eventually siding with society Being exiled from the society or put to death Being persuaded by society to give up

Death (psychological, professional, or physical) vs. life Loss of identity and individuality vs. stronger sense of identity and individuality Affecting society (negatively or positively) by refusing to conform Society being corrupt vs. being enlightened Individual being corrupt vs. being enlightened Believing and perpetuating harmful ideologies and narratives vs. helpful and accurate ones Imprisonment vs. freedom Inviting danger to loved ones vs. safety for loved ones

5. Person vs. God

In modern times, the person vs. god conflict often gets left off lists. It is usually combined with or even replaced by the person vs. fate conflict. But because fate conflicts don't necessarily have gods, and god conflicts don't necessarily include fate, I've decided to put them in separate categories.

One may argue that the person vs. god conflict actually fits into the other categories , and I think that's fair. At the same time, it feels distinct from many conflicts, so I'm giving it its own space. In the end, just remember that these categories are meant to help us gain better discernment, which is certainly my intention. 

Here, a person is in conflict with a god, or even the  God. It may be a person trying to outsmart or even kill a god, or it may be a person struggling to reconcile with God.

In His Dark Materials , Lord Asriel is in conflict with the Authority, which is seen as God. In Princess Mononoke , several characters aim to obtain the head of a forest god in order to bring immortality to the emporer. 

A character may face a personal, internal conflict with God, believing God wants her to do something she does not want to do, for example. Or maybe she is angry at God. Or seeks forgiveness from God. In Les Mis , Jean Valjean hopes to be found worthy of God's mercy. 

Other characters may be in conflict with the concept  of God. Maybe their society believes in a concept of God that the character knows isn't true. (For this reason and others, I'd argue that even an atheist character can have a person vs. god conflict.)

God may seem to retaliate in the form of nature. Jonah was swallowed by a whale. 

With all that said, one may argue that Lord Asriel and the Authority fit into a person vs. person conflict. The forest god fits into a person vs. supernatural conflict. Jean Valjean could arguably fit into a person vs. self conflict. Fighting the concept of a god could fit in a person vs. society conflict. And being swallowed by a whale may be argued to be a nature conflict. 

Nonetheless, this is a category of conflict that goes far back, and I'd be remiss to leave it off. Besides, one can't help but debate if Jean Valjean's relationship with God is really a conflict with himself. I mean, if one believes in a god, and believes to be able to communicate with that god--would that even be considered a conflict with the self? In any case, I still feel person vs. god has a place.

In Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson, the antagonist is seen as a god and the key characters want to destroy him.

In  His Dark Materials , Lord Asriel aims to bring about the downfall of the Authority (God).

In Les Mis , Jean Valjean hopes to find mercy from God. 

A god is defeated The character is defeated by a god The character eventually joins the same side as God God is revealed to not actually be a god The god is persuaded by the character The character gains a better understanding of God The character ignores, dismisses, or stops believing in God

Spiritual death and damnation vs. paradise and redemption; eternal misery vs. eternal glory Physical death vs. physical life Cloudy sense of self and purpose vs. divine clarity of one's self and purpose Remaining in ignorance vs. gaining knowledge and wisdom How the outcome of the conflict affects others, society, or the world, negatively or positively Imprisonment (mental, spiritual, or physical) vs. freedom  Losing meaning in life vs. finding meaning in life

6. Person vs. Fate

I feel out of all the conflict types, this one is most often misunderstood.  

Traditionally, person vs. fate is seen as a part of person vs. god, but as I mentioned above, not all fate conflicts actually include gods. In fact, most of those around today, don't. 

Here, the character is in conflict with a destiny. Something is predetermined or foreordained and the character is struggling with that. Certainly the event can come from the will of the gods, but it doesn't have to.  In fantasy, this information often comes from a prophecy. In horror, this may be a kind of curse. In Final Destination , the characters are trying to cheat their deaths--they are fated to die. It can even play into the concept of the universe having a particular order or law (perhaps dharma ?), that must be upheld or fulfilled (like the Circle of Life). 

If you want to broaden the concept further, the "law" or destiny need not be otherworldly. For example, a man on death row arguably has a predetermined fate. This has a slightly different tone than what is traditionally placed in this category, but still fits within it, more or less. One may also broaden the category to look at things such as terminal illnesses or arranged marriages. Even in these cases, there is a sense of a "higher" power being in control (even if that power isn't otherworldly).

The character may openly take action to fight against fate, or the character may have more of a personal struggle with either accepting fate or the costs of the fate. Often characters who fight against fate are punished (and the fate portrayed as inevitable), but it's possible to write a story where that is depicted positively and/or where they succeed in altering fate. With this conflict type, consider whether or not the fate is altered, whether that is a good or bad thing, and whether the character ultimately embraces or rejects fate. Are they punished or rewarded for that? Was the effort worth it?

Usually person vs. fate conflicts emphasizes free will within strict limitations. While some writers choose to ultimately emphasize a lack of free will, others choose to emphasize the power of free will. Free will may alter fate, or the character may realize they have the power to  choose  how to face and accept an inevitable fate.

Sometimes it's interesting to explore the origins of the "destiny." In Dr. Faustus , Dr. Faustus sells his soul to the devil to gain all knowledge--he only has himself to blame for his inevitable fate. Was gaining all knowledge worth an eternity in hell?

Oedipus Rex is prophesied to marry his mother and kill his father. And in his effort to keep this prophecy from happening, he fulfills it. 

In The Lion King , Simba is destined to be the king to fulfill the Circle of Life, but rejects that idea in the second half of the middle.

In Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince , Harry struggles with accepting the prophecy that was revealed in the previous book.

The character unknowingly brings about his fate, in his efforts to thwart it The character eventually embraces her destiny The character successfully alters fate Another character intervenes, bringing about the destined outcome Fulfilling a prophecy in an unexpected way

Death vs. life Disrupting divine order vs. upholding divine order; or chaos vs. order Lack of choices vs. power of choices Experiencing limitations vs. power and opportunities How the outcome affects society and the world, negatively and positively How the behaviors and outcome affect one's soul (ex. ultimately going to hell vs. going to heaven)

7. Person vs. the Supernatural

A character may be in conflict with something otherworldly . This may be magic, a ghost, a vampire, or a portal--pretty much anything speculative. This type of conflict can seem to overlap with person vs. person conflict. For example, a character may be in conflict with a werewolf. It may also seem to overlap with person vs. nature conflict , such as a character trying to heal a magical ailment. 

This conflict type often emphasizes a struggle with the unknown. Characters may have to learn how the supernatural functions in order to overcome the conflict.  Getting the necessary information typically proves difficult because the character has few resources to turn to. Usually there is a mystery, to some degree. 

Mulder and Scully taking on the paranormal in The X-Files .

In The Ghostbusters , characters take on ghosts.

In Stranger Things , characters must confront creatures of The Upside Down. 

Defeating the supernatural element Being defeated by the supernatural element Learning to live with the supernatural element Limiting the influence of the supernatural element Making one's self inaccessible to the supernatural element

Death (psychological, professional, or physical) vs. life Physically or emotional pain and injury vs. Physical or emotional health and safety How the outcome will affect the character's future lifestyle negatively or positively Opportunities (gained or lost) Plot goal lost or achieved  How the outcome will affect loved ones or the world negatively or positively Remaining in chaotic ignorance vs. gaining valuable knowledge

Frankly, all kinds of stakes could fit here, depending on how the supernatural manifests.

8. Person vs. Technology

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.

In Oblivion , it is revealed that an alien artificial intelligence is working to acquire Earth's resources and destroy humanity. 

In Ralph Breaks the Internet , the characters must learn how to navigate and use the internet to save Sugar Rush.

Learning how to use the technology Defeating or disabling the technology Overcoming technology with other (or new) technology Overcoming technology with human heart, intellect, or physicality Being defeated by technology

Death (psychological, professional, physical, or sometimes spiritual) vs. life Loss of humanity (literally or figuratively) vs. preservation of humanity Being dependent (on technology) vs. being self-reliant Danger in exploration vs. safety in what is familiar and simple Having one's view of reality altered vs. coming to the truth about reality Improvement in life and society vs. decay in life and society The potential of the technology (negative and positive)

As you work on your stories, check to make sure you have a variety of conflicts. Obviously some types work better for certain genres than others . You probably wouldn't want to put a supernatural conflict in a romance, for example (unless of course, you are writing a paranormal romance, then definitely do that). 

Something important to keep in mind is that conflicts are usually most effective when they have a sense of cohesion and progression. A story that has a bunch of conflicts that aren't connected or don't move anything forward, is scarcely a story at all . Usually conflicts build in intensity, which moves the plot forward. If a conflict doesn't directly move a plotline forward, then it should usually move the character arc or the theme forward--by the impact it has on the character or the thematic topic it explores. 

If you need help brainstorming more specific types of conflict, check out the conflict thesaurus on Writers Helping Writers . 

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Happy writing!

3 comments:

I've written stories with some of these conflicts but doubted myself because I couldn't really see stakes - good to see them pointed out. Stakes don't have to be life or death.

Hi Tim, Yes, it's so easy to get stuck on thinking everything must be life or death to be powerful. Definitely some things are worse than death. And they also don't have to be so intense to be meaningful and significant.

thats helpful

I love comments :)

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Internal Conflict: 25 Examples for Writers

Hi friends! A lot of times when we’re discussing a book proposal at work, we’ll ask, “What’s the conflict?” or say, “This could use some internal conflict.” What we’re talking about, of course, is the conflict getting in the way of a character’s goal—or, in the case of a romance novel, getting in the way of love and a happy ever after. I hope this list of internal conflict story examples gets your creativity flowing, and you can bookmark it or save it to Pinterest so it’s always handy!

But before I get to the list, let’s talk about..

Internal Conflict Vs. External Conflict

External conflict has to do with real-world circumstances. You want to go to college, but you don’t have enough money. You’ve fallen in love on your semester abroad, but he lives in Barcelona and you live in Idaho. You want to get home to your loved ones after a visit in Barcelona, but due to an alien invasion, all flights are grounded.

Internal conflict has to do with psychological barriers to a decision or a goal. If a struggle takes place in the character’s mind…or heart…then by definition, that’s an internal conflict. It may include wrestling with a moral quandary, pondering a difficult decision, or coming to terms with one’s sense of self.

Even stories with clear external conflict are stronger when they have internal conflict as well.  All of us deal with inner conflict in our own lives every day, so it’s easy for us as readers to relate to characters who deal with it, too! I’ve tried to include several types of internal conflict in this list. Obviously, you can change the pronouns as you like.

25 Examples of Internal Character Conflict

1. She’s not sure whether she and her team should continue on their mission, or stop everything to attempt a rescue of one of their own.

2. He’s not sure whether he should get back together with his ex. It seems like she’s changed, and he still has feelings for her, but they had so many struggles before.

3. He wants to ask someone out—but since it’s someone he sees every day, he fears it’ll be excruciatingly awkward if they say no.

4. She wants to reveal the truth about herself or about a situation, but fears her family or friends will abandon her…or fears she’ll be harassed, fired, or publicly excoriated.

5. They think their partner, friend, or family member is guilty of a crime…but they keep telling themselves it can’t be possible, since they love this person and have always trusted them.

6. His partner, parent, or employer is engaging in shady dealings. He knows he should put a stop to it…but he benefits greatly from it.

7. She wants to quit her job, but her family is relying on her.

8. He wants to end her marriage, but worries about the impact it would have on the children.

9. She’s been told divorce is a sin, but her marriage is making her life miserable.

10. He’s torn between a safe, lucrative path and taking a chance on something he’d rather do—like start a new business, go on a quest, or pursue a creative career.

11. She wants to take a dangerous job, but worries about what would happen to her children if she died.

12. If he takes the action he wants to take, his mother or father will disown him.

13. She wants to marry for love, but feels she owes it to her family to marry for money…or to marry a foreign member of the nobility, for diplomatic reasons.

14. He hates his field of study or his career, but he thinks everyone will look down on him if he switches to a less prestigious course of study or occupation that he would like better.

15. She’s doing something that she feels is necessary for the common good, but she hates it that it forces her to lie to family, her partner, or her best friend.

16. Their fear of failure is keeping them from going after what they really want.

17. Common sense (or his skeptical peers) tell him that it’s time to give up on his dream, since he’s had no success so far…but he doesn’t want to give up now.

18. The promise of an exciting new relationship conflicts with her image of herself or the kind of person she thinks she “should” be.

19. She doesn’t believe she has the skills, competence, or knowledge to succeed in a role or do what needs to be done.

20. Because of a past mistake, she thinks she doesn’t deserve to be happy.

21. Because of a past mistake, he’s lost faith in his own judgement or abilities. (This is the inner conflict for one of my characters in the novel I’m writing now!)

22. She’s isolated and lonely, but because of a past trauma, she doesn’t trust others. (This is the conflict for my other character!)

23. To save his community, his country, or the world, he has to give up on his own dreams. (I got this idea from It’s a Wonderful Life. )

24. Being in a particular relationship will mean giving up on one or more of the things he was hoping for in his ideal relationship.

25. She wants to be successful, but she also believes it’s selfish to want that.

26. He’s starting to suspect that things his community or society taught him are very wrong.

Oops, I threw in an extra one! No extra charge. 🙂

In general, if you think about situations where society, logic, family, or friends are telling a person one thing, but their heart is telling them another, you’ll discover compelling inner conflict.

If you love writing inspiration, I hope you’ll check out my book Master Lists for Writers . Lots of authors use it to find their inspiration for stories![spacer height=”20px”]

[spacer height=”20px”]And whether you’re writing a short story, a script, or a novel, I hope these examples were helpful!  If you don’t want to miss future posts about writing, be sure to follow the blog—there’s a place you can sign up at the left. Thanks for dropping in, and happy writing!

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11 thoughts on “ internal conflict: 25 examples for writers ”.

Awesome thought provokers, Bryn! I also wanted to say…love your new photo…it personifies your personality!

I love posts with examples! Thanks, Bryn! 🙂

Those are wondeful examples.

**wonderful

I love this list. It jumpstarted my brain on how to improve the story in a manuscript I’m about to start. You’re lists are always so helpful. Thanks Bryn!

This is a terrific story-building list! So useful to all of us. Thank you for sharing Bryn.

Perhaps if you have time, you could comment on my blog at naomiplane.com

Could you give some External Conflict examples? It would be wonderful! I’m so glad I discovered you, reading your blogs have helped me so much!

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Love this post! I too am writing a story with a character who can’t trust himself because of harm he did to his best friend. I have just recently found your website, and, as a young aspiring writer, have learned so much already!

Hi Lillance! I’m so sorry for the belated reply. I’m so glad you like the website! And it sounds like you have a great internal conflict there. Good luck on your writing!

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7 Different Types of Conflict in Literature with Examples

In literature, even in its earliest forms, conflict is a crucial and major narrative element. Alongside other literary components, conflict helps develop the story and propels the overall storyline.

It is what brings spice and entertainment value to the story. Writers are always faced with the conundrum of creating a story that is compelling and interesting. Here are 7 types of conflict in literature to use in your writing: 

• Man vs. Man
• Man vs. Himself
• Man vs. Destiny
• Man vs. The Elements
• Man vs. The Unknown
• Man vs. Society
• Man vs. Technology

The use of conflict, if melded well in the narrative, is a handy literary technique to address this entertainment aspect.

Now, let’s delve into what conflict is and its importance in writing a story.

What Is Conflict in Literature?

Conflict is a literary device in the literature that shows the struggle between two opposing factors. The conflict is meant to create tension within the story and move the story along.

There are two categories of conflict, which are internal and external conflicts. The internal conflict takes place in the character’s mind while the external conflict comes from outside forces.

These external conflicts usually come in the form of antagonists or uncontrollable circumstances.

1. Man vs. Man

The man vs. man type of conflict pits two characters against one another. This is a very popular type of conflict because it compels the two characters to face off during the climax of the story.

It is this upcoming event that puts spice into the man vs. man type of conflict.

The Iliad. The Iliad is one of the earliest written works that humanity has ever known, and it centers on the epic Trojan War. At the very center of this conflict were two warriors—Achilles and Hector.

Achilles was a warlord who fought for the Greeks while Hector was the prince of Troy. Achilles was a conqueror of men—proud—and a lover of war.

Whereas Hector was a defender of his people and only wished to save his beloved nation from the predations of marauding Greeks.

Both men were sublime warriors, but that is where the similarities end. Both men are also fated to meet in a climactic battle where only one man lives.

2. Man vs. Himself

The man vs. himself type of conflict pits the main character against his or her own impulses and inner demons. This type of conflict creates a more introspective read and pits the main character against his or her own inner demons.

Crime and Punishment. One of the best examples of man vs. himself is Fyodor Dostoevsky’s classic book Crime and Punishment.

The story follows the moral quandaries of a former law student named Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov. He lives in poverty and hates a pawnbroker who he considers a very greedy and detestable person.

He kills her and steals her belongings. He soon goes on an introspective journey where he wrestles with his inner demons.

3. Man vs. Destiny

The “man vs. destiny” conflict pits the main character against destiny itself. The main concept for this type of conflict is that the main character is fated to fulfill a certain action and strives to change his or her destiny.

Oedipus Rex. One of the most famous examples of man vs. destiny is the myth of Oedipus. Born the son of Laius the king, he was prophesied to kill his father.

Fearing for his life, the king has Oedipus sent away to be killed. However, he survives and is adopted by a shepherd, and later raised as the son of another king.

Years later, while on a journey, Oedipus meets an old man and his servants. They get into an argument, and he accidentally kills the old man. The old man turns out to be Laius, his real father.

4. Man vs. The Elements

The “man vs. elements” conflict pits the main character against nature. This type of conflict uses nature as the central antagonist.

Robinson Crusoe. The story of Robinson Crusoe follows the adventures of a young man named Robinson Crusoe who is shipwrecked and marooned on a deserted island.

He faces a life of hardship and loneliness. He is a castaway with only his dogs and farm animals for company. He also has to inhabit a land where the flora and fauna are unknown to him.

5. Man vs. The Unknown

The “man vs. the unknown” concept pits the main character against the unknown nature of life itself. This type of conflict gives your story a more foreboding feel.

Kafka on the Shore. Renowned author Haruki Murakami’s immersive story follows the journey of a young teenaged boy named Kafka who runs away from home. The story has a metaphysical feel that uses various unknown forces as the conflict in the book.

6. Man vs. Society

This type of conflict pits the main character against society as a whole. With this type of conflict, society is usually portrayed as corrupt and is the main evil in the story.

The main character must strive to change or at least survive in this corrupt society.

Les Miserable. This classic by Victor Hugo follows the story of Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who makes his fortunes and becomes the mayor of a town. However, despite reaching such a lofty post, his past as an ex-convict still haunts him.

7. Man vs. Technology

This type of conflict pits the main character against technological advancements. The main concept for this kind of conflict is that despite technology’s incredible advantages, there is still a dark side to it.

1984. This classic by George Orwell takes place in the year 1984. It is a dystopian future ravaged by war and civil strife.

The world is now under a totalitarian regime where everyone is forced to adhere to the regime’s rules. The regime uses television screens, cameras, and hidden microphones to keep tabs on the people.

How to Use Conflict in a Story

The ingenuity of a writer in building a storyline varies; some have a solid idea from the beginning while others let the plot present itself as they are writing it.

Regardless of one’s process and writing technique, these tips can be handy in introducing conflict in your story.

1. Creative writing prompts for creating conflict

Aside from knowing the types of conflict, you will also need to use creative writing prompts in order to pull off your conflict properly. If you are going to write writing prompts for your conflict, it does not have to be overly long.

What’s important is that you have a list of writing prompts. Write whatever comes to mind and use your imagination freely.

2. Base your conflict choice according to your genre

When it comes to writing conflict for your story, you should base it according to the genre you are writing in. For example, if you are going to write a story about survival, then you could use the man vs. nature type of conflict.

On the other hand, if you are going to write a book about warfare, then you could use the man vs. man or man vs. society kind of conflict.

3. Your characters are a key element for your conflict choice

Yet another aspect to take into account is your characters. Make sure to create compelling characters and flesh them out.

After fleshing them out, you should make conflicts that will truly challenge your characters. The more difficult the conflict to deal with, the more compelling your story will be.

4. Your antagonist is key to creating great conflict

If you want to enhance your story further, you should write great antagonists. Remember that your antagonist is the main source of conflict within your story.

Take the time to fully flesh out your antagonist and strategically place him or her in your story.

Writing is a skill inasmuch as it is knowledge; it takes constant practice to get better at it as well as understanding to master the art.

Learning the fundamental and basic literary elements, such as conflict, can help you, as a writer, develop your own unique style and content.

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43 Conflict Writing Prompts

When practicing creative writing, adding conflict to a story captivates the reader and drives the plot. As students improve their storytelling skills, their conflict and conflict resolution within those stories will become stronger and more believable. 

To help students exercise this skill, we’ve put together a list of conflict writing prompts. With this set of prompts, they can explore types of conflict and let their imaginations run wild.

Using This Guide

Our goal is to take even the most nervous writer and turn them into a confident storyteller.

Using this guide, you can encourage your students to improve their skills and have fun in the process.

Here are a few ways you can use our writing prompt guides in your classroom:

• Have students create a fake conflict that could fit into the plot of the book they’re currently reading.
• Challenge students to use one writing prompt each day for one week.
• Have students pick their plot by adding their birth month and date together and using that number.

Let’s Create Some Conflict!

• Write about a time you were blamed for something that you didn’t do.
• Write a dialogue between siblings who are naming their new pet.
• Tell a story about a kid who takes credit for someone else’s accomplishment.
• Write a poem about conflict using the words: bother, upside-down, lime, toothpick
• Talk about a time when you got into an argument with your best friend. What happened next?
• Write a story about a camper who gets lost in the woods.
• You find a treasure map at the end of a rainbow. What happens next?
• Why do you think conflict is important in creative writing? Use examples.
• You were blamed for pulling a prank, but it was actually your friend who did it. However, if they get in trouble at school one more time, they’ll be suspended. What do you do?
• Tell a story about two students who are having trouble taking turns during recess.
• Write a story about a kid who keeps copying another kid’s work in class.
• Write a dialogue between your two favorite superheroes, who each believe they are the best.
• Talk about a time when you overcame an obstacle when you didn’t think you could do it.
• You accidentally break your sister’s brand-new toy. Write about what happens next.
• Write a step-by-step guide on how to resolve simple conflicts.
• Open the dictionary and pick a random word. Use that word to write a story.
• Write a story about a small lie that grows out of control.
• Talk about a time when you felt like you were being treated unfairly. How did you resolve the issue?
• You and your friend have tickets for one more ride each at the carnival, but you want to do different things. Write about how you would solve this problem.
• Tell a story about a kid learning how to play an instrument.
• Write a story about a kid who is very confident about what they want to say… until they stand up in front of the class. How do they overcome this fear?
• Write 4-6 paragraphs about a historical conflict of your choosing.
• You go to take a bath and find a mermaid in your bathtub. What happens next?
• Tell a story about a kid who gets caught cheating during a family board game night.
• Create a conflict-to-resolution story involving your favorite superhero.
• When was the last time you got into an argument with your sibling? What happened next?
• Write a story between the hero and villain of your favorite video game.
• Write about a time you were afraid to try something new.
• You’re transported into your favorite book. To, you have to complete a quest. Tell a story about what happens next.
• Write a story about someone who is hiding a secret.
• You find a jewel-encrusted box in your attic. What do you do with it?
• Write about a time you were embarrassed.
• Retell your favorite fairytale but change the main conflict.
• Write about the most exciting thing that happened last summer.
• Your class takes a field trip to a haunted museum, where you befriend a misunderstood ghost. What happens next?
• Write a story about something exciting that happened when you were little.
• Your neighbor’s pet snake escapes its enclosure. How does your neighborhood react?
• Write a poem about conflict using the following words: litter, knuckle, happened, twice
• Write a dialogue between two opposing student council candidates.
• You wake up in your favorite video game. How do you get home?
• You’ve discovered the secret of the Bermuda Triangle in your locker, but no one believes you. How do you convince them?
• Your character has to choose between two fun activities. How do they make their choice?
• Write a poem about a storm.

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If you are looking for something in particular and can’t find it, let us know! We’d love to help.

The Secret to Creating Conflict

by Joe Bunting | 59 comments

We often think that to create conflict we need to show major conflict or fight scenes. For example, a car chase, an argument between lovers, a fistfight, or the threat of a nuclear explosion. Or we think of conflict as some kind of internal suffering: depression, longing, or pain.

But the truth is that if events and emotions were the only elements of conflict in our stories, we'd have some pretty flat stories.

Conflict, in good stories, is not always about spectacular events or painful emotions. Good conflict is about values.

Conflict is at the heart of good fiction. Our characters have to face opposition in their pursuit of a worthy goal to keep us interested. It's conflict that shows us who they really are. Let's look at how to develop good conflict story ideas from values.

What is a Value

When you hear the word value in this context, you might think of “family values,” or in other words, morals. While morality is crucial to storytelling, morals aren't what I mean by value.

Let's simplify it. A value is something you admire, something you want. If I value something, it means I think it's good .

Here are some examples of things you might value:

• Money / Wealth
• Your little brother
• Getting good grades
• Organization
• The Environment
• Productivity

Think about a few of your favorite protagonists. What do they value?

For example, Elizabeth Bennet, our heroine from Pride & Prejudice , values honesty, humility, intelligence, kindness, and her family (am I missing any?). The source of conflict with Mr. Darcy was on the basis of these values. She thought he was dishonest, prideful, rude, and worst of all, he “ruined the happiness of a most beloved sister.” She believed he acted against her values.

Types of Conflict

Once you know what a character values, you can decide how to put that value at risk for strong character development . There are different types of conflict.

One is external conflict, meaning that something outside the character gets in the way of what they value. If a villain tries to stop the superhero, that's external conflict. If a terrible storm keeps a character from reaching the person they love, that's external conflict.

Win Pride and Prejudice, when Mr. Darcy convinces Bingley that Jane doesn't love him, he's creating external conflict that gets in the way of Jane's happiness (even if this is a secondary conflict in the novel).

Another type is internal conflict, where the character is at war with themselves. Elizabeth Bennet holding onto her own pride is an internal conflict—she has to overcome something in herself to find love.

When Good People Create Conflict

You don't need a villain to create narrative conflict. Most conflict comes about between two positive values that conflict.

In our example of Pride & Prejudice , looming above the whole story is the value of marriage and love . Mrs. Bennet wants all her daughters to get married. The daughters want to get married too, but only if they're in love… and preferably in love with someone wealthy (another central value in the story).

Marriage, love, and wealth are all positive values. They're values most of us would agree with! However, figuring out how to adhere to all of those values at once is incredibly difficult, and in Pride & Prejudice , we get to watch the characters try, fail, and then finally succeed at achieving all of these good but conflicting values.

There can even be conflicts within a single value.

All of the Bennet daughters value love, but what does love even mean? Does it count when the object of your affection isn't respectable? Is foolish passion still love? What if you love knowledge and books more than people? What if you make a marriage of convenience and end up loving your lifestyle but not your spouse? Is that okay? Those are all conflicts raised within the single value of love.

How To Create Conflict in Your Story

To create conflict within your own story, ask yourself the following questions:

What does your main character value? Do any of his values potentially conflict? How can you reveal the conflicts in those values? Do any of his values conflict with themselves ? How can you delve into the complications of that single value?

A Note About Villains

While your story may not need a villain to have conflict, it's always fun to have one. A villain is a character who has the opposite values as those of your main character.

For example, Batman values justice and order. Joker values crime and chaos. Frodo values his friends and the peace of the Shire. Sauron values power at the cost of relationship and beauty.

To create the perfect villain, figure out what your main character values. Then, twist those values into some hideous shape and set the characters loose on each other.

Who are some of your favorite characters? What do they value and how are those values tested? Let us know in the comments .

Write a short scene showing one of your character's values. Then test that value, either with another positive value or by negating that value.

Write for fifteen minutes . When you're finished, post your practice in the practice box below. And if you post, please be sure to comment on a few fellow writers' work too.

Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

Want best-seller coaching? Book Joe here.

59 Comments

Emilee’s lips moved but Jim couldn’t hear what she said. He leaned over and put his ear so close to her mouth that he felt her breath.

“No,” she said.

“All.” Her sentences were impossible to piece together.

“I know it’s scary, Em, but you’re in good hands. We’re going to take care of you.”

“Look at me. You are not going to die.”

Jim hesitated. He had a personal rule never to make promises he couldn’t keep, especially not to patients about treatment. After all, Emilee would die someday and it could easily be on the operating table that afternoon. “Promise.”

Great way to show two positives , honesty and compassion, clashing. Good job Katie!

Well said, Jeff. That’s what I was thinking.

Short and to the point. Excellent!

I loved that! Are you an author by any chance?

I believe in extra-terrestrials. Not that there is life on other planets or worlds beyond our own. That’s a given. It’s like saying you need lemons to make a lemonade. People know lemonade is made up of lemons. What I’m saying is I believe aliens are here, on Earth, flying around in circular craft.

I usually look up at the sky, hoping that one day I’ll see that elusive silver disc. Maybe it’ll be close enough for me to see it in detail. I’ve heard many stories, including one from my aunt, where they saw a colorful star-like object in the sky. That says nothing. I want to see one up close. Heck, I want to see the aliens. So fascinated by little gray men that I can’t help buying every book on alien abductions I lay my hands on.

Just imagine you’re in bed and wake up in the middle of the night. Your bedroom door is closed but you see the doorknob turning. The door slowly creaks open and peering through the small opening is a large pear-shaped gray head with two large almond shaped eyes. I can’t possibly imagine what alien abductees have been through. I’d imagine it’s scary, but nonetheless a revelation in and of itself. Something most of us would never get the chance to experience.

But there is something sad in all this. No matter how much I believe aliens exist, whenever I ask a friend or family member, they try to shoot me down. Last time I brought up the topic of aliens and flying saucers, a friend of mine shook his head and said it could be anything. I found a video on YouTube which shows a disc shaped object hovering over the Mediterranean sea and when the camera zooms in you could see two figures with large gray heads and black eyes. Eager to convince my brother and his girlfriend, I show them the video. But my brother jumps to another website showing a drone fighter used in Afghanistan and makes the claim that the disc is not a flying saucer but one of the drones.

“How about the aliens?” I ask him.

“Anyone could’ve Photoshopped the image.”

He doesn’t convince me. Even though the video could be one of many hoaxes, out there somewhere, aliens are flying the skies and making their presence known to a select few. How I’d like to be able to see one of them someday.

As a big X-Files fan, I really like this.

I love the concept of aliens (Except if they go all XCOM on us)

Nice practice, Marc. So what’s the value? Aliens? Or the belief in aliens? And the negation of the value is his friend’s lack of belief?

You got it. It’s belief in aliens, the excitement at the thought that aliens might be here. The negation is the narrator’s friends saying otherwise. I came up with this on the fly, right after reading your post so it doesn’t go too in depth as to why the narrator has those values. It’s also lacking more action, which I tried adding some in the end.

Interesting. Belief or faith, in other words, is an interesting thing to value, especially in our skeptical culture. I wonder how this would change if the character valued the aliens themselves, and the belief in them was a given. So rather than, “I believe in extra-terrestrials,” it would be, “I love extra terrestrials.”

There were only two sounds: the persistent high buzz of the half-dimmed lights dangling from the chrome light fixture and the repetitious sloshing of the dish-washer droning in the kitchen.

I sat on the fading, tan couch with feet tucked to the left. My right elbow braced my weight against the threadbare arm of my current dais. Book in hand, I was stoically poised for the long, afternoon read. I was a monk in meditation.

Five minutes into my trance, the door connecting the kitchen to the garage met the refrigerator for the eighty-third time. Trust me, I’ve counted the dents. A young, squeaky voice rattled along the walls and crumbled my resolve. Consoling the child whose friend wouldn’t share a stick became a priority.

Time dissolved without notice, and as I was chopping onions for a stew, I looked up and saw the scarlet book spread open, face-down on the couch, soaking in the feeble rays of electric light. I smeared a tear with the back of my hand and resumed my work, not knowing when another monastic moment would find me again.

Nice job showing the conflict between what we value and what must be done.

Wow, beautiful. Very poignant, and I know a lot of people can relate to this feeling.

Thanks. I hope I can one day give them hope that they are not alone.

This is funny, Jason. Poor guy. He just wants solitude and contemplation, and he’s stuck in the messiness of modern life. It’s a little hyperbolic (monk in meditation, the tear), although I’m sure that was the point. 🙂

My life is one cliched hyperbole after another, Joe. And the tear is from the onions. Maybe.

Duh. Don’t know how I missed that. Very funny, señor.

He stood looking at the gun, staring at it silently. He didn’t want to fight this battle this way, but there was no other choice. There were people’s lifes at stake, people that he cared about, especially Krista.

“I can’t even be sure this is the right guy. Maybe you got it wrong. You know, you helped me.” He said aloud as he shifted from his silent reflection into a nervous pace.

His target didn’t see him. Outside Governor Douglas was relaxed in a lawn chair out back with a half of can of Coke watching his two little girls attempt to do cartwheels, courtesy of their new friends at school.

“Watch me, Daddy.” Tara said.

“No, Dad. Watch me” her sister yelled back as she tried to wriggle in front of Tara to get her father’s attention. “I can do it better”

Inside Governor’s Douglas house, Alex was still pacing. Something had to be wrong. There was no way that this man could have been dangerous as the omens had said he was. Perhaps he needed to check them again.

He reached in his pocket and pulled out the all too-familiar wreath made of bone. He sat down and crossed his legs and closed his eyes. Within seconds, he began murmuring the chant.

Moments later, he awoke on the Other Side. Once his consciousness settled, he saw the last person he wanted to see, Hypno.

“:I can’t do it” Alex said resolutely, “I won’t.”

Very nice, Charles. So the value is the people he loves (and wants to protect), on one side, and compassion on the other side. Two positive values put into conflict. Very nice.

This part was backstory: “There were people’s lifes at stake, people that he cared about, especially Krista.” In a normal scene, you’d want to get rid of that and show it instead. But for the purposes of this practice it’s fine.

Great job! 🙂

Loneliness. It could happen to anyone. Lately, it had overwhelmed me. Weighing me down. Barnaby’s warmth is the only thing keeping me sane, I know, but it’s just not the same. Today, though, I have dragged myself out of bed, tugged on my clothes, and opened up to the crowded world.

“Our new friend is coming over today,” I say, “So, we have to be good.”

He answers with a toothy grin and a wagging tail.

A rapid knocking and he jumps about my feet excitedly.

“Hi,” I say, only a bit nervously, as I pull open the door. “Come on in.”

“Thanks for inviting me over,” is the reply. Dusty flip-flops on the newly-mopped floor. Shiny hot-pink fingernails.

“Yeah,” I say, stepping back and closing the door. “I’m really glad to hang out with you.”

“Oh.” A sudden hint of disgust. “What’s that?”

“That’s Barnaby.” I reply with an affectionate glance. He offers his lolling pink tongue and enthusiastic wiggling.

Then, “I don’t like dogs.”

“…Oh.” Hesitantly, I glance down at the huge brown eyes that just can’t understand, and I give up.

Wow, that is a great way to leave it, just introducing the conflict and knowing that things are not going to go well from there.

Awesome. Conundrum central! Man’s best friend must prevail.

I really like how you introduced the conflicting character. It gives you a sense that she might be a bit disagreeable. Nice job!

All alone in the vestibule of the Papal palace, the Duke of Barcelona was sitting on a richly decorated french divan.. or fauteuil.. or whatever those buffoons called a chair. The power of the Vatican was unabashedly flaunted all over the room, everywhere there where colourful tapestries, ceremonious arms and glorious statues, as if to awe visitors into the greatness of the kingdom of God. Personally, Ramon did not believe that an all mighty deity would bother with all those boring decorations, but he wasn’t the one who was going to tell them that!

Since it did not seem like he was going to be granted an audience for some time still, he decided to take the time to review the mission that took him here, to this most holy of cities. His royalness, King Sancho Jimena of Aragon had asked him to go to Rome and plead for the military and religious support of the Pope in his war against the Muslim emirates that plagued his beloved Spain, a war that was bringing so much hope that some nobles had started to call it the ” Reconquista de Hibernia ”. The Duke knew that his mission was of the utmost importance, because without that support, the war would fail and any hope of ever being free from the heathens rule would be lost forever. But if he managed to succeed, then Spain would once again be free and united under a real Castillian king!

Spotting the arms of Frankfurt on a tapestry, he immediately thought about the flaw in his King’s plan, the Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire, spotting an opportunity to expand his power, had been sending envoys all over christian Europe, shouting far and wide that he would take care of the Muslim menace if only the puny castillian Kings would accept his help. If the Kaiser managed to bring enough nobles to support his claim then his King and his allies would have no choice but to bow down to his authority and then everything would have been for naught, instead of being Moorish, Iberia would be German!

As that black cloud hung over his mind, a page arrived and told him that his Holiness would see him now. The big curved doors of the courtroom swung open and as Ramon entered he crossed a man in rich black and gold robes. « Why, hello there dear Duke! My Kaiser will be glad to hear that you seek the council of the Pope as well.. » The man said, before slowly leaving the room. The smile on his face sent a shiver down Ramon’s spine, what had just gone down here? Was he too late?

This is complicated! So the value in the first paragraph is wealth, and then it’s negated by phoniness. The value in the second paragraph is freedom. Then, it’s negated by lack of freedom. Would you say that’s right? I wonder if it would be more powerful if you just focused on one for this scene?

Possibly, what I was trying to do is establish that wealth and power meant nothing to the character if they took away his freedom, the wealth of the church made it vulnerable to decadence and the ambition of the Empire established it as a possible actor of that decadence.

Nice. I like that.

I sat at the bar, nursing my third beer of the night. The television on the far wall was showing some football game between two teams I wasn’t familiar with. Patrons sat at most of the tables talking animatedly about their weeks, or their love lives, or whatever came to mind. Waitresses slipped between the crowds, expertly keeping their drink trays horizontal, not spilling a drop. Music drowned out almost everything, creating a miasma of noise that made it hard to think.

I looked at the bartender, a tall brunette dressed in a red t-shirt with the tavern’s logo on it and tight-fitting jeans, smiling as she took orders from the customers who shared the bar with me. Her long dark hair was pinned up nicely, exposing her neck in a very attractive manner. Some of the guys sitting at the bar around me were staring at her too, some with thinly disguised lust and others just wanting their beer.

As she took an order from one of the guys who was leering at her, she leaned in so she could hear him. She laughed, poured two glasses full of beer, and placed them on the bar in front of him. He said something else and she had to lean in again. His eyes darted to her chest before moving back to her eyes as he spoke. She smiled again and said something in that matter-of-fact way that I was intimately familiar with from my time trying to pick up women in bars.

The “that’s sweet, but I’ve got better things to do than go home with you” way.

I downed the rest of my beer in one gulp and stood up. I waved to her and her startled smile lit up as she noticed. The love in her eyes was evident as she waved back, even to this misguided man. I put on my coat and walked out the door.

She would be coming home to me when the night was over. And home was a much better place to work on overcoming this pointless jealousy than actually sitting there and watching her work.

That smile had been all the evidence I needed.

I really enjoyed this, how you totally fooled the reader. Great!

Thank you! I really appreciate the feedback.

I like. It could go so many places too. In fact, I was kind of imagining that brass chime sound and the start of a Law & Order episode. Enter frantic husband who’s wife went missing after her shift…of course it’s almost always the husband and an insurance scam…

Joe, I *love* this post. Along there with the different parts of story (action, dialogue, etc) which adds new insight into my writing. Thanks!

Firelights cracked through the sky like gunfire. Jessy looked at the side of Wayne’s face and in the reflection of the blasts, there was something sinister about his high cheeks. She covered her shoulders with the dainty evening shawl she’d bought from Woolworths especially for tonight.

‘That’s pretty impressive,’ Wayne said, slipping his arm around her waist.

She wanted to say no it’s not, that it’s too loud and I’ve never liked firecrackers since one lopped off my neighbours’ little finger. That they remind me of war and arrogance and men who carry their guns in their holsters because they need everyone’s jealousy.

But instead she took his finger in hers. ‘Mmmhmmmm.’

She averted her eyes from the blaze by trying to focus on the food in front of her. It was a man’s picnic – a hulk of chicken in the middle of the red and white checked table cloth (that was a nice touch, she had to admit), a tomato and cucumber in case she wanted to make her own salad and a six pack of Castle. In his haste not to miss the opening, he’d forgotten to bring the wine along, and the two plastic cups lay on the frayed edges of the blanket.

‘Wow, look at that one!’ Wayne said, pointing at the gaudy sky.

She glanced up and then quickly back down. It hurt her eyes so she closed them and leaned against Wayne’s chest. There at least he couldn’t see that she wasn’t watching. If he knew how she hated this, he’d be gutted. Her aversion would be a personal assault against Wayne, a vote of no confidence in his taste, his personality and his ability to seduce not only her but any member of the female race. So she shut her eyes and let the lights flicker against her eyelids as she pretended that Smudge was sitting on her lap on the rainbow patchwork quilt her grandmother made for her when she was six.

I love this Zoe – I think you expressed some innate male/female conflicts really well.

Thank you, Juliana!

Thanks Zoe. I’m glad this helped. 🙂

I love how you’ve shown the conflict between masculinity and femininity here. I think it’s interesting and clever to think about those as values, since so much of it is about cultural norms. Men value explosions, meat, inspiring envy in other men, beer, and seducing women. Women value daintiness, salads, cats, grandmothers, and… the feelings of their men. 🙂 So much conflict in so little space. I love it.

Thanks a lot Joe! Haha, the salad/meat conflict still rages in our house… although I’m finding an inroad through roasted vegetables!!! 😉

I do love roasted vegetables. 🙂

Cory knew the bathroom needed to be cleaned. She also knew that once she started the bathroom she’d notice the baseboards that needed cleaning, the dirt on the walls and the carpet that needed vacuuming. I’ll get back to that she thought, can’t forget to take the salt dough ornaments out of the over.

She looked disappointingly at the swollen dough. She’d hoped to make beautiful handmade ornaments as gifts this Christmas. This was now looking unlikely. She surveyed her “to do list” for the day, grab a coke, chocolate bar and some gummy bears. She began typing y..o..u.. then pressed enter once the auto-fill completed her destination. Maybe after this, she though, I’ll take a nap.

Cory knew the bathroom needed to be cleaned. She also knew that once she started the bathroom she’d notice the baseboards, the dirt of the walls and the carpets that needed vacuuming I’ll get back to that, she thought… can’t forget to take the salt dough ornaments out of the oven.

She looked disappointingly at the swollen dough. She’d hoped to make beautiful handmade ornaments as gifts this Christmas. This was now looking unlikely. She survey her “to do list” for the day, gabbed a coke, a chocolate bar and some gummy bears. Settling into the office chair, she begins typing y..o ..u then presses enter once auto-fill completes her destination. “Maybe after this I’ll take a nap.”

Excellent post! I would go further to say, think about what values are changing in your characters. You need Pre- and Post- values. Then, prioritize the values, which values does your character think are most important at the beginning. Contrast this with what they think is most important by the end of the story.

Just to let you know, I just love the name of your website. It’s so cool!

Thanks Danielle!

Joe Bunting joebunting.com

Just found this site recently and worked on your advice about values. Very helpful and this is what I came up with.

Zander Cole valued his freedom. He valued his freedom so much; he knew he had to fight for it. Enlisting in the Army at Seventeen, he was so ecstatic and could not wait to get his first deployment. However, when he came home with the news, his father did not share his excitement. His father had plans for him and Zander knew that. But Zander did not like those plans. He felt he needed to do this. This was what he was put on this earth for. As he arrived home after enlisting, he ran through the house and called everyone down to the living room for a meeting.

“Everyone, I have an announcement.” He stated as his mother Sharon, father Martin and sister Zara, sat on the leather couch in the family room.

“Oh, what is that son?” Martin asked as he raised a curious eyebrow at him.

“I’ve just been accepted in the army!”

“Congratulations son!” Sharon said with a warm smile.

His sister Zara rose from the couch and hugged her older brother, “Congrats bro! When do you leave?”

Zander would not answer them until he got approval from his father as well.

“Dad, why are you so silent?” Zander asked.

“After everything I have done for you, this is how you repay me?” Martin asked with a bitter tone.

Zander cocked his head at him.

“Zander, how did you get permission to join? You need at least one parent’s consent and I did not allow this.”

Martin glared at his wife.

Zander gulped hard, he hoped this would not turn into a huge argument.

“I allowed it Martin.” Sharon informed him.

Martin tossed his hands up in the air. He grabbed the papers from his son and began to tear them up.

“You are not joining the army! You are going to U of M in the fall. You are going to be a doctor!” Martin demanded.

“This is what I value dad. I value our freedoms. I feel I must fight for them. You know I have always supported our troops ever since I could understand. This is what I want. You cannot control me anymore!”

“I have worked twenty years to save every penny, so you could make something of yourself. How could you do this behind my back?” Martin yelled.

“Because I knew this is how you would react.” Zander replied back.

“Yeah, well, now you are throwing all of that away. I worked so hard to set money aside for you and Zara! At least Zara used it wisely.”

“That’s right, daddy’s little girl, who is always the princess around this house. What is she sucking your dick?”

Zander’s father smacked him hard across the face as Sharon walked in the foyer.

“How dare you use that kind of language in this house? Out, get the hell out!”

“I guess so!” Zander smirked.

Zander grabbed his Army gear bag and tossed it over his shoulder. He hurried out of the house. He saw his sister hurry to him, but Martin held her back.

“You’re not even going to let me say goodbye to my big brother?”

“No, he is throwing his life away.” – Martin looked harshly at Zander – “If you leave, I will disown you!”

Zara looked at her parents and Zander. She shrugged her shoulders. Zander came back in and Martin grabbed Zara. He held her tight.

“You touch her and I will press charges Zander!”

“I have a right to see him go!” Zara said.

“No you don’t! You better take a good look at him, because he is never allowed back here again!” Martin said.

Zara broke free from her father and ran after Zander.

“Hey bro, here, this will always protect you. Hold onto it tight. Never let it go.”

She handed him a black jewel bag.

“What’s this?” Zander asked her.

“It will you protect you and always bring you back to home.” She said with a bright smile.

He opened the bag and pulled out the rosary, made from true mother of pearl beads strung with black silk string. The sun’s rays caught the beads and glistened with a magnificent glow. Her and their mother made it for him. They always knew he was troubled by bad spirits. They hoped the rosary would help him find his true way home.

Zander smiled at his sister as she grabbed his hands and closed them together.

“Remember this Zander, “The angels grant thee, the angels rescue me, angels please set me free, free me from my hard day, free me in every way, as I lay down to sleep, the angels guard my keep.”

“Thank you sis.”

Zander held his tears.

Zara did too.

Zander looked back at the house and gulped.

lonliless sucks BIG PENUS

Zoey’s cracked pale lips moved but Natasha couldn’t make a word out of it. So, she leaned in closer. Zoey’s mouth formed the words, but no sound would come. In order to grasp what actually she is trying to say in her drowsy state of disarray, Natasha leaned in closer so near to Zoey’s mouth that she could feel her respiration.

“No”, she said.

“No what?” Natasha asked.

“Him” she mumbled in a weak voice.

“Who?” Natasha asked absentmindedly only to regret what she asked. Because suddenly it hit her. Netasha became perplexed. She hesitated at the thought of it. She was suddenly in a state of confusion. She was unsure how to break the news to Natasha, her patient and an old friend, who went into a comatose for four years, surviving miraculously to a massive brain injury after a car accident.

She wondered how hard it might be for Zoey to hear that her husband abandoned her in the state of coma and went off with another woman.

This was excellent, succinct advice. I’ve been working on an idea for a novel in my head for quite awhile and this has been one of the major sticking points for me. I haven’t yet felt that I had sufficient conflict built into the world I’m creating to give the whole thing legs. This has helped shape my idea of what conflict should be, and that it doesn’t necessarily have to be overt melodrama to work. Thanks!

Camille’s enthusiastic hands shot up to her forehead to emphasize her disbelief in the news she had just delivered. To stress the gravity of the announcement, she followed up with a melodramatic pause.

Her theatrical demonstration was acknowledged only by the soundlessness of the room.

Annoyed, she rolled her eyes as her arms forfeited their zest. They drooped heavy with the weight of disappointment to her sides. His dismissiveness still stung a little, even though she knew better than to take it personally.

Her eyes widened with suggestion as she heaved a loud, pathetic sigh.

She began to grow restless with the disinterest that floated aimlessly on the other side of the room. The information bubbled inside of her with an uncomfortable pressure, similar to the highly compressed contents of a confetti cannon before the trigger is pulled. She couldn’t contain herself for another moment. Excited anticipation rose from her fidgeting feet, defied gravity, and finally exploded from her fervent mouth.

“DID YOU HEAR WHAT I JUST LEARNED,” she blurted, rather than asked, considerably louder than she had intended to. She couldn’t help that she was passionate about politics, although everyone else her age seemed to be.

“Hmm?” Her boyfriend reacted flatly, unconcerned. He didn’t look up from the computer screen.

She recognized Holt’s complete disinterest in what she was about to tell him, but she hadn’t the time to clamor for his attentiveness. Especially not now that so much unnecessary silence had ensued.

Camille reconsidered her eagerness. At this rate, it wasn’t likely she even had the time to explain the story in the first place. She chuckled to herself under her breath for only just realizing this logic, then she took one last moment to evaluate the possibilities.

He had wasted enough of her time, she concluded.

And with that, but without further explanation, she grabbed her bag and marched out the door. A purposeful sense of determination was the only thing on her mind; Holt’s inattentiveness a vague memory of the past. A past that, to her, already felt like it belonged to somebody else.

Now, all of her focus needed to be rooted in the future. Her future.

Samuel sat in his kitchen looking across the several nick-nacks he had found or made over the years. A wooden spoon he had made by the river, a basket formed of twigs, and a table he had spent several weeks figuring the exact values for. After finishing his tea and walking to the door his pet ferret Jack jumped atop his shoulder and pressed his furry face against Sam. Jack knew it was time for their daily walk and was very excited. Sam threw on his overcoat when the sound of falling trees overwhelmed the atmosphere. With terror on Sam’s face he blew through the door and leaped off his porch. Sam and Jack raced through the forest and bush until reaching a horrid site.

Flames roared as smoke soared. A putrid scent filled the air as heat like the aired deserts blasted Sam and Jack. Giant creatures trek across the land coveted in ash while stopping for nothing other than to push trees down in groups of three. Trees fell with great sound only to stoke a great inferno of terrible measure. There were none who could put it to an end.

Sam turned around to run to the nearest city and warn of the danger when a dark figure approached out of the wood.

“Can I help you elf?” His coarse voice created tension in an already gloomy atmosphere. Sam took steps backwards only to trip upon a log, falling on his back he looked up to the giant centaur.

“Who are you?” Asked Sam with a shaky voice.

The centaur chuckled as he rose a dark ax to the smoke filled sky.

“I am Terimal the great!”

We run across the beach, laughing and yelling. Asha catches up and pushes me over.

“Tag! I got you Shaw!”

She collapses on the sand next to me, both of us giggling hard. Up above is a beautiful, infinite stretch of blue. My twin turns to face me.

“Wow… pretty, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” I reply, still looking upward.

Suddenly, a stream of water collides with my face. I jump up and shake the drops out of my eyes, spluttering in shock.

“Gotcha!” Asha sticks out her tongue, daring me to strike back.

“Well, if that’s the way you want it,” I say, grinning mischievously and summoning a huge wave, “Come and get some!”

A mass of water flies out of the ocean and soars right toward her, as if of its own accord. She screams with delight and transforms into a small gull. A moment later she is flying over the water.

Tears sting my eyes as I remember the happy memory from our childhood.

Oh, what I wouldn’t give to bring her back.

Thanks, this helps. Writing conflict is my greatest challenge. (I’m really good at dialogue, though.)

Taylour pulled up to the Krispy Kreme in a hurry. She needed to satisfy her inner cravings for calories as she had a long day of lawyering ahead of her. As she drove up to the window, she handed the bored teenager acting as the cashier a $20 to pay for her order of $8.25. She quickly took the box of glazed donuts and creme stuffed, put them on the seat next to her, and then extended her hand to receive the change from the cashier.

The reach through the window was awkward, and when the change was handed to her, the three quarters slide off the dollar bills and onto the ground. Clink!

She heard one of the coins roll under the car, but when she pushed opened the door, she felt it bang against the tall cement post that was positioned to protect the building from being run into from inexperienced drivers blinded by their need for sugar.

“I hate those posts!” she said out loud, and then realized that the teenage cashier was still looking at her. Obviously Taylour was going to be her entertainment this morning.

Taylour decided to pull the car forward enough to clear the post, and then she tried again with the door. It opened wider this time, but now the quarters were out of reach behind her. She heard the girl at the window chortle at Taylour as she contorted her body behind her. They were mere inches from her fingertips, but no matter how she twisted and turned, Taylour just couldn’t reach the coins.

Honk! Honk! The car behind her showed its displeasure at having to wait a few seconds for this obsessive patron to get her change, and then Taylour heard a door open and close behind her.

Still reaching, this time with her right hand on the ground to give her more leverage, she thrust herself out, and with a yelp, she fell out of her car and onto the greasy pavement.

A masculine hand reached out, gathered the coins together, and then handed them to her.

She looked up, embarrassed, and then froze as she recognized the person trying to give her the change.

“Uh, good morning, judge.”

“Ms. Dixxon, I believe these belong to you.”

Hon. Davidson surpressed a grin as he helped Taylour up. She dusted herself off, wiped the hair from her eyes and then nodded sheepishly as she took the change.

“Thank you, sir. And let me apologize –”

“No need to apologize, Ms. Dixxon. The value of a dollar is not what it used to be.” He wiped his hand across his mouth as if to hide a smile. “I know how difficult it is to make ends meet as a small-town lawyer. Every penny counts!”

He turned to go, and then said over his shoulder, “I look forward to seeing you in court later this afternoon.”

Taylour couldn’t get back into her car fast enough. Her tires squealed as she sped out of the parking lot.

It took her a half hour to climb the stairs. I watched, spider black from my black window, death with a view, in its spider eyes, all eight of them. I measured her from right across the road we shared. Now. she paused, as much as a drunk can pause, on the porch. She teetered, I could tell, by the way she tried to cling to things that weren’t there; then at last found the trunk of the potted palm. Now was my chance.

The pistol was in my wet and nervous grip. It was not the season for long coats. Though I was never adverse to pastiching the traits of the famed murderers. My hand shook as I attempted to slide the pistol into my pocket – again; again; gone from view.

I don’t remember whether I left the door behind me open, or not. My mind was all on her, my teetering drunk. I crossed the road (and, dear fellow murderer, had no idea whether I checked for traffic or not ). Why did the chicken cross the road? To kill. To kill.

Upon her porch, my drunkard had attained the supernatural brilliance of her kind – and though I was noiseless, a spider at the final loom – about to end her, send out a silver thread and render my prey dead, dead, end her – she turned. Her eyes were dark – porch light gone – and dared crack her face to smile – at me!

“Oh, Tony! My gad -” the rest, incomprehensible. Some blather that like scared or scarred, skis, skies, tease or tees – then the wicked bitch ambled to me and threw her arms around me and tried to- well; you know – and then tried to again! Her breath was already death, I winced, the murderer winced from her gin and vodka breath!

I wrestled free from her supernatural strtength, and all her joints were fluid in trying to draw me back into her arms. I felt a clawing, flawing strong paw on my coat sleeve – and was forced to pull away a second time, as she muttered something about “my god, shoulders.” I stood far off from her at the end of the porch, in the darkest shadows. She at once tried to lumber after me.

“What’s wrong, darling?” Blurry speech.

“Just stop there. Not a move more and, my darling,” note well – this was said with a caustic pitch of sarcasm. “Darling, I want you to know something.”

“Oh gad!” She teetered and wavered and found her palm tree again. “There’s no time for talk!”

“I beg your pardon?” I reassured myself that the pistol was still in my grip, in the sweaty warmth of my pocket.

“No time for talk. I feel like dancing – GAD you’re handsome, Charlie! Come a little closer- strike up the band, C sharp, band man!”

“It’s Tony; and no.” I was more adamant with a second, “No!”

She seemed dumbstruck. At length, she got it out. “Why not?”

“Because!”

“Because why?”

“Not ‘why!’ Just because – and because, you must understand-! Is, because, I came here to kill you, tonight!”

Her shoulders slumped. “Oh gad.” She leaned like all of Pisa against the locked door to her house. “Gad.” Then, the horrible hag straightened right back up. “Well, Tony. To hell with C sharp. That would be G minor!”

(Rough first draft, with apologies… from Karma Ray, who was locked out of her FB acct).

This book is named” The Outsiders”

Ponyboy is one of the main character, he is a smart person, I don’t know his character trait…! Ponyboy values his buddies. He don’t want to keep hating the Socs and have peace. No more label between Greasers and Socs or fight.

I know my writing isn’t good but I’m out of ideas for more. It took me about 8 min to think sooo……O_O…..

Hi Joe, I linked to this page from an article I wrote, here: http://practicemanagement.dentalproductsreport.com/article/3-ways-attract-new-patients-within-3-months

I’d like to invite you as an expert guest on http://www.youtube.com/dentalmarketingguy where I interview experts that can help dentists attract new patients to their practice. Let me know if you’re interested. I’ve had marketing thought leaders in all areas EXCEPT writing.

Andrew clenched his fists and leaned over them in a weak attempt to hide the shoe on his face. He had lost control, he had almost killed his friends, his family. The night had dragged on for what seemed like hours before he attempted to sleep. He moved his stiff legs and shuffled from the desk chair to the bed, the sheets cold, he slipped between the covers and curled into a fetal position trying to gather whatever warmth he could.

He listened to his breath, in and out before actually letting himself relax into the bedding. The constant thoughts of what could happen next clouded his mind as he pried his eyes open over and over again not letting himself sleep in fear. In fear, fear of what he can do, fear of the result, fear that he might wake up and everyone he loved would be gone and it would be his fault.

Painfully he released his mistake but it was too late, the door opened and footsteps came closer to his form, Andrew had left the light on. The light had alerted a certain person that a certain boy was not getting the sleep he so desperately needed. The footsteps stopped and a hand was placed on his head.

“I know you’re awake” His soft voice made Andrew stiffen, without a response the intruder opened the sheets widely letting the cold air hit his exposed skin and climbed into the bed. Adding another warm body to the bed. Andrew despite his mental protests leaned into the heat.

He was thankful that the body was warm.

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Great, you do not know how helpful This is. This is exactly what I was looking for, I was not sure what makes conflict but you perfectly explained it with exact detali, great. Thanks Joe Bunting.

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Creative story writing tips on writing a book filled with surprises, suspense and a satisfying ending: here's how to write a story that engages readers... Conflict in a story creates tension and excitement. The conflict may be internal (within the protagonist himself or external (between characters, or between a character and her circumstances or environment). show the character struggling with his/her own fears or weaknesses. For example, give your protagonist faults that your audience can identify with. This draws readers into the story as they begin to feel for your hero/heroine, sharing intimately in his/her setbacks and victories. for example, clashes between persons or groups with conflicting beliefs or loyalties; or personality clashes between the protagonist and another character, or between two strong-willed characters; or competition between rivals in a sport, profession or love triangle. for example, the sole survivor of an airplane crash, marooned on an uninhabited island; or a firefighter battling rising flames to save lives; or adventurers who set out to sail the seas or trek across deserts and end up getting more than they bargained for. A story may contain more than one kind of conflict: for example, the protagonist may be fighting his inner fears while trying to win a race or some other competition, which decides whether he gets the girl (who may not turn out to be the one he really wants after all) - and all this in a hostile environment. Varieties and layers of conflict enrich a story but must be handled carefully. Vary the pitch and intensity of the conflict at different stages of your story, sometimes underplaying it, at other times building up to a climax. A piece of writing that is always keyed up to fever-pitch wears the reader out; paradoxically, constant excitement becomes monotonous after a while. It's better to have the conflict rise to a peak, subside, and then start boiling up all over again. Soap operas can be addictive. Every episode ends on a cliffhanger - a dilemma, a revelation, a twist in the turn of events - to keep the audience coming back for more. That's also a great way to end each chapter - on a cliffhanger that'll get your audience all agog and eager to find out what happens next. Begin each new chapter by playing out the tension. Don't resolve the dilemma straightaway, keep readers guessing for a while. Stretch out the suspense and let the tension build up. However, don't leave the matter hanging for too long, either; otherwise readers will lose interest in the story. Your cliffhangers should resemble a series of peaks and valleys: rising suspense followed by an easing of the tension, then up we go again. Also, your peaks should get progressively higher - a bigger conflict, more excitement each time - until they reach a climax. Let's take a simple example of this: Third pig builds a brick house. Tension intensifies as we wait to see if this house will go the way of the others. A sigh of relief: the house stands strong and safe. Then comes the climax: Wolf climbs chimney; tension peaks. Wolf goes down chimney, and there's a little surprise for him at the end of it. It's a tale with a roaring hot, satisfying ending. Vary the pace of your story: sometimes fast, piling on the thrills; at other times slow, to give a breathing space and build up to the next cliffhanger. You can control the pace of your writing by varying the lengths of your sentences: the shorter the sentence, the quicker the tempo. Compare these two examples: Mix short, clipped sentences with longer ones to spin out the mystery and suspense, as in the examples below. In this episode from , the heroine is awakened by a mysterious scream in the night: The night - its silence - its rest, was rent in twain by a savage, a sharp, a shrilly sound that ran from end to end of Thornfield Hall... It came out of the third storey; for it passed overhead. And overhead - yes, in the room just above my chamber-ceiling - I now heard a struggle: a deadly one it seemed from the noise; and a half-smothered voice shouted - "Help! help! help!" three times rapidly. "Will no one come?" it cried; and then, while the staggering and stamping went on wildly, I distinguished through plank and plaster - "Rochester! Rochester! for God's sake, come!" Notice how the author, Charlotte Bronte, varies the lengths of her sentences to build up the tension: short, dramatic utterances that carry the action forward, interspersed with longer sentences to flesh out the scene and prolong the suspense. In the following scene from by Charles Dickens, the suspense turns on flight from imminent, terrible danger. Here again, short and long sentences unite to evoke an atmosphere of frenzied terror and tense, long-drawn-out anxiety among fugitives fleeing for their lives: "Are we not going too slowly? Can they not be induced to go faster?" asks Lucie, clinging to the old man. "It would seem like flight, my darling. I must not urge them too much; it would rouse suspicion." "Look back, look back, and see if we are pursued!" "The road is clear, my dearest. So far, we are not pursued..." Out of the open country, in again among ruinous buildings, solitary farms, dye-works, tanneries, and the like, cottages in twos and threes, avenues of leafless trees. Have these men deceived us, and taken us back by another road? Is not this the same place twice over? Thank Heaven, no. A village. Look back, look back, and see if we are pursued! Hush! the posting-house. Cut out long-winded narratives; use short, sharp bursts of dialogue to carry the action along. Here's how Alexandre Dumas does it, in this passage from : "I am ready." Milady mounted upon a chair and passed the upper part of her body through the window. She saw the young officer suspended over the abyss by a ladder of ropes. For the first time an emotion of terror reminded her that she was a woman. The dark space frightened her. "I expected this," said Felton. "It's nothing, it's nothing!" said Milady. "I will descend with my eyes shut..." Not a second was to be lost. Milady passed her two arms round Felton's neck, and let herself slip out of the window. Felton began to descend the ladder slowly, step by step. Despite the weight of two bodies, the blast of the hurricane shook them in the air. All at once Felton stopped. "What is the matter?" asked Milady. "Silence," said Felton, "I hear footsteps." Notice how the short, clipped dialogue conveys the characters' desperation and sense of urgency, while the longer narrative sentences serve to spin out the suspense? Show, don't tell: let your characters speak for themselves; their different voices and personalities will create tension and make your story come alive for readers. For more creative story writing tips, go to and             Kindle Unlimited Free Books Writing Piggy Monk Square Piggy Monk Square – Book Reviews Practical Creative Writing Exercises Book Authors Notes – Writing Fiction Street The Sunshine Girl Kindle Unlimited eBooks for Children Writing About Ballyyahoo Free Stories For Kids The Witch Of Ballyyahoo A Story For Cats And About Cats. Bonkers In Ballyyahoo The Little Book Of Swinging On A Gate Free as a Ladybird The Tree Hugger Football Mad – A Funny Children’s Story Football Crazy Creative Thinking Creative Writing – Flow Walking and Inspiration Dream a Little Dream How To Increase Your Creativity in Five Easy Steps On Confessing To Depression Giving up the Day Job to Write Don’t tell me nobody wants to read my stories. Political Satire – Funny or Not? Talking To Strangers Go Set A Watchman – Her Choice? Writing For The Market Why Women Writers Use Initials Ten worst things about social networks. How Not To Deal With Criticism Transparency and The Irish Film Board What Do I Know About Bullying? Valentine’s Day And My Green Heart Too Many Experts Be True To Yourself The Glass Castle – Jeanette Walls Small Great Things – Jodi Picoult Just Friends – Elizabeth Grey The Woman Who Walked Into Doors – Roddy Doyle Cookie Policy How To Create Story Conflict Learning how to create conflict in your stories is crucial.  Imagine reading a story that begins where the main character has no flaws or fears, lives in a great environment, has happy well-balanced relationships, a great job and boss, has fantastic hobbies, plenty of money etc. In other words I am asking you to think of a story that gets better and better. A character starts off happy, remains happy and gets happier. Does this sound interesting? Then imagine reading more and more pages about this wonderful person and their wonderful life. How many more pages do you think you will turn before you put the book down? The same goes with films and television – conflict is everything. I think a good book is one you are dying to get your friends to read so you can discuss it and one where you have to bite your tongue not to tell them what happens in the end. None of us want to know the end of a story before we have read it because we are aware that the enjoyment of ‘finding out’ will be spoiled. What is the point of reading a book if you are not the least bit curious to know both what happens next, and how it happens? CONFLICT – A JOURNEY THROUGH OBSTACLES This is why, whether we consciously realise it or not, we all want something to happen to the characters in a story. By this I mean something that affects the character enough to change their path and set them off on a journey through obstacles. Simply put, this is what makes a story differ from a straightforward report or list of events. This is conflict. If we want to create a story we need to create conflict. Some people like to see characters overcome all the obstacles and end up at the proverbial happy ending and some of us like an ambiguous ending where the reader gets to project their own thoughts and imagination on to an undefined future and are left with something to think about. The question of story versus character is one that has provoked much debate among writers. There are those who argue strongly that it is character that matters most and that character development should take priority over story. The argument goes that it is the revelation of the layers of character underneath the initial observation of looks and personality that make the story. LET CONFLICT REVEAL CHARACTER I would argue that we need both to create a character. Conflict is change and this is what forces hidden and therefore interesting characteristics to the surface. We are aware of this in our lives. There are people who surprise you by their response to conflict or crisis and those who don’t – who are the most interesting? Are people who do exactly what you expect all the time interesting? We might like them but sometimes it takes a crisis to learn ‘the truth’ about a person.  The events, obstacles, etc. in a good story inform this crisis. Crisis is crucial when you create a plot for your story. In real life crisis is something that varies from person to person and so it is for stories. A crisis doesn’t have to be huge to be interesting – it just has to cause conflict – problems and obstacles for our characters to overcome. Without this there is no story, just description and no matter how wonderful your description is, it is not what turns pages. Best of luck with your writing. Share this: Trackbacks/pingbacks. […] How To Create Story Conflict […] Leave a Reply Click here to cancel reply. Name (required) Email (will not be published) (required) Notify me of new posts by email. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed . Writing Prompts About Conflict Conflict is the heart and soul of all stories! It drives the plot forward, provides more context to the overall setting, can contribute to complex character development, and, most important of all, it’s what makes a story interesting.  Generally, when people think of conflict, their minds go to fight scenes, intense arguments, or a deep emotional struggle. These are all fine examples, but there are many many different ways to add conflict to a story. If you want to practice writing a variety of different conflict scenes, then these writing prompts are just what you need! If you want a more detailed explanation of these different types of conflict, make sure you check out The 4 Main Types of Conflict in Stories (And Variations!) Person vs Person Two characters are going head-to-head in a competition (racing, singing, playing chess, etc), but rather than win honestly, both intend to try to sabotage the other in some way.  Two characters are planning their wedding, but they just can’t agree on the details. The points in their argument are relatively trivial, such as what color flowers to get or what kinds of cheese to serve during the after-party, but tensions are high! Is this argument really just about the flowers, or does it foreshadow some bigger disagreements for the lovebirds in the future? An assassin has been hired to kill another character, but they didn’t count on the job being this difficult .  Two grandparents are arguing about their adult grandchild’s less-than-traditional lifestyle choices. These can be things like getting tattoos, having more than one romantic partner, dressing immodestly, or anything like that. The grandchild can be present for this conversation, or they can be absent—it’s up to you.  A character is being mugged at knifepoint by a mugger that looks far younger and more nervous than the character would have expected.  Two characters who hate each other have to get along for only one day, so that they can be there to support a mutual friend on their big day (like a birthday, wedding, competition, etc.).  A prank that was supposed to be funny goes very, very wrong.  A celebrity character barely survives a particularly violent encounter with the paparazzi—or at least, they had thought it was the paparazzi… A character is sick and tired of their best friend’s toxic habits. They decide to stage an intervention with the rest of their friend group. What are the terms of the intervention, and more importantly, how does the encounter go?  A character has been hired to babysit for a family’s four kids, but as soon as the parents leave, it becomes clear that the children are not as innocent as they pretend to be. Kids can be challenging to write, so if you need some tips, be sure to check out A Guide to Writing Child Characters Authentically .  Person vs Self A character decides they need to clean up their space and get rid of their clutter. However, once they start going through the piles, they struggle to part with some of the old trinkets and the sentiments they hold.  Write a villain’s origin story, and focus on how the villain tries to justify their thoughts and actions. Do they sometimes struggle with the choices they make, or are they steadfast in their misguided principles?  A character is coming to terms with the fact that their gender or sexuality is different from what they thought initially. How do they come to this realization? Are they worried about the reactions of their friends and family? How do they feel about this personal development?  A character has to face their phobia. What is it, and how does this go? Remember that a phobia is generally irrational and relates to things that are actually harmless. If you want more information on writing about phobias, you can look into Writing About Fears and Phobias . A character has to tell a lie, but they feel really bad about it. Even with the intended outcome, they still can’t help but feel guilty about deceiving someone.  A character struggling with their mental health tries to come up with new ways to motivate themself to take care of necessities, like getting out of bed, showering, and making dinner. What are some of these strategies, (pretending their life is a simulation game, awarding points for doing chores, talking to a friend while they do stuff, etc), and how well do they work for the character?  A character has accidentally killed someone and now has to make a decision about what to do next. Do they report the accident to the authorities, or try to keep it a secret? Do they implicate someone else? Try to hide the body? Do they tell a friend in a desperate bid for help, or do they not trust anyone well enough? Explore their thoughts and how they ultimately come to a decision.  A character has lost a large portion of their memory, and it’s likely they’ll never get it back. Now they have to come to terms with their new life, but it isn’t easy to look at old photos and not recognize anything, or have to be introduced to friends they’ve had since childhood all over again. Writing about memory loss can be hard, but if you need help, you can reference this other article: How to Write a Character with Amnesia . Person vs Nature An unending snowstorm has swept across most of the globe, blanketing the world with ice. Native wildlife has started dying out everywhere, and society’s regular food sources have been severely impacted. With government rations tapering off and no food to be found foraging, people begin to die out. With no end in sight, only the most daring and innovative individuals have a chance at long-term survival.  A group of best friends managed to scrape together enough money for them to go on a cruise ship. However, their perfect vacation turns into a nightmare when the ship sinks (the specifics are up to you, whether it is caused by catastrophic malfunction, striking an object at sea, getting attacked, poor weather conditions, etc). Now, they must survive floating out on the ocean in a raft or lifeboat with only what they managed to grab from their rooms.  When the volcano erupted on a small island, everyone expected the initial explosion and subsequent lava spilling into the streets to be the worst part. However, for the survivors, the worst was yet to come. Smoke blacked out the sky and all drinking water was contaminated. Animals died out over time, and the people who stayed in the area had to deal with the health effects of the volcanic gas and ash. Since all boats on the island had been burned up or taken by others during the initial eruption, the survivors have no way to escape. Instead, they must try to find food and clean water, while many of them are dealing with burns and smoke-related illnesses—all while protecting their eyes and lungs from further damage from the toxic compounds in the air.   A sinkhole opens up beneath a corporate office, trapping many employees underground. The characters find themselves in a cave, however, and spend some time exploring while they wait for a rescue team to arrive. While underground, they encounter something unexpected.  A character decides to go hiking—alone, of course. However, they didn’t plan to encounter an angry bear along the path, and they now have to choose their next moves very carefully.   Recently, a bizarre new illness has been spreading across the world. Despite countries’ best efforts to contain the disease, it soon becomes a global emergency. What is this illness like? What are the symptoms, and what about it makes it unique? Try to be as creative as possible, and be sure to reference “ How to Create a Fictional Illness for Your Story ” if you need help.  Person vs Society  A group of children band together to oppose the oppressive rule of their nanny. In reality, these rules are things such as a reasonable bedtime, no sweets before dinner, and other things of that nature, but the children take their mission very seriously. A character is on the run from the law. They claim to have been falsely accused, but are they telling the truth? How do they try to prove their innocence without getting apprehended?  A character has recently moved to a new neighborhood, and at first, everything was better than they could have imagined. Their house was a good price, their neighbors are nice, and the area is clean and well-maintained. However, after a few mysterious disappearances go uninvestigated, it becomes clear that the town is hiding a dark secret.  In a world where everyone over the age of 60 gets executed, two young characters become increasingly desperate to save their aging parents. They begin to stir a revolution, intent on completely overthrowing their government.  One character believes themself to be the ultimate judge of right and wrong, and routinely breaks laws that they disagree with. Explain their reasoning behind the crimes they commit, and why they think they are morally right in their choices.  Person vs God A character discovers they are a prophet—but there’s a problem. They don’t want to have any connections to the divine. They merely want to live a normal life, but they keep getting plagued by prophetic visions. Soon, angels start appearing to them in disguise, urging them to spread the word—but the character remains stubbornly steadfast in their resistance.  A group of characters must prevent the awakening of an old god.  A group of characters decides to flee from their god to escape the harmful rules and regular sacrifices the god demands. However, escaping from a divine being is far from a simple task.  A character gains godly powers for the purpose of overthrowing an unjust deity, only to become the very thing they swore to destroy.  A character’s very existence seems to anger their god, despite them not doing anything wrong. Maybe they were conceived in a way that goes against the god’s rules, their parents were sinners, or they’re only half human (and half elf/demon/etc). How do they go about life while incurring divine wrath for simply existing?  The gods are sheltered and misguided. They are oblivious to the ways their people suffer. One character embarks on a quest to try to reach these gods, to share the truth with them, and plead for their help.  It’s hard to write about gods without fully understanding the context these gods exist in. Be sure to check out Creating a Fictional Religion for Your Story if you need help with this part! Person vs Fate A character is able to get a glimpse into the future, but what they see is tragic. Armed with this knowledge, the character must now do everything in their power to change their fate—but it’s futile. It ends up becoming reality anyway, but unexpectedly, the character learns that they had misinterpreted the real meaning of what they saw.  A person travels back in time to prevent something from happening. However, they botch it the first time, and the outcome ends up being the same. They travel back in time to try again, but despite doing everything differently this time, the outcome is the same again . No matter how many different things they try, they cannot alter the ultimate end result.  A character is told that they are fated to do something, but they are determined not to. However, by trying to prevent this from coming true, they end up accidentally fulfilling it. If they had never known about this fate, they would have acted differently and therefore avoided it. The character’s knowledge of their fate made it inevitable. This is known as a self-fulfilling prophecy .  A character visits a psychic to ask about their love life. However, they are shocked to learn that their soul mate is supposedly the one person they despise more than anyone. Over the course of the story, however, the character finds themself overthinking everything they dislike about the other person, and they begin to find those elements kind of… endearing. (As a bonus, the concept of fate could be completely bogus, and the character was just tricked into seeing the good in someone that they hadn’t previously taken the time to understand.) A character was always intended to be the “chosen one” (to save the world, embark on a specific quest, etc). What is it about them that makes them special? Is it their lineage or special abilities, or was it simply foretold in a prophecy? How do they end up dealing with all the pressure of these expectations? Do they inevitably become the hero everyone expects them to be, or do they twist the trope and become the villain instead?  Person vs Supernatural A character witnesses a faerie switching their baby out with a changeling . They then embark on a quest to find the faerie and get their real baby back—all the while toting around the magical faerie child they didn’t have the heart to leave behind.  In a comedic turn of events, a character ends up accidentally bonding themself to a demon. Now, they must go everywhere together—which can sometimes be hard to explain.  Scientists discover bizarre supernatural creatures and keep them locked away in a laboratory, hidden from society. However, at some point, the creatures escape their restraints and spread out through the building. The scientists must subdue the threat or escape alive, facing off against rightfully vengeful creatures that are much stronger than they are.  Zombies ended up being a much bigger threat than most people expected. Instead of being slow, shambling, mindless creatures, they’re incredibly fast and agile, and no matter how much they are shot at or injured, it never really seems to stop them. On the plus side, they generally end up mauling their victims far too much for them to become functional threats too, but there is still enough of them to cause widespread mayhem. (Psst! If you’ve never tried to write a zombie story before, I highly recommend it! Check out my other article Zombie Writing Prompts and Story Ideas for more!) An unknown beast has been ravaging a nearby town. A character has been commissioned by the townspeople (or governor) to track down and kill the beast—but things don’t go exactly according to plan.  Aliens have recently decided that humans make the cutest pets, and have started abducting people at alarming rates.  A character has always been able to see ghosts. Surprisingly, however, they aren’t a very common sight since most people move on without issue. When they do encounter the dead, it’s usually in a place that makes sense, like a hospital, graveyard, or the site of a past tragedy. Naturally, this makes it all the more unusual when they encounter a spirit in an unexpected place, such as a playground or an amusement park. For more ideas like this, check out Writing Prompts About Ghosts . Person vs Technology Characters have to deal with some mundane piece of technology malfunctioning, such as an elevator getting stuck right when the building is supposed to close.  A character has always believed that the rise in robot servants would backfire eventually, so they always made sure to treat the robots with respect—a behavior that got them teased by nearly everyone. When the robot uprising does begin, the main character teams up with their robot companion to quell the uprising. As technology evolves, companies and governments alike are able to harvest more and more information about their users. Now, no one can get away with anything. Every single thing they do, in public and private, is monitored and recorded. Even their very thoughts can be spectated if they have opted in to using implanted chips that connect their brains to the internet. Your character is part of a guild that lives completely underground without technology. The guild’s ultimate goal is to dismantle the technological dystopia their world has evolved into.  A character has to learn how to use a complicated machine under pressure, like making an emergency landing in a plane or disarming a bomb. A character is driving across the country on a solo road trip when their car stalls. They can’t get their car running normally again, and they are in a completely unfamiliar city. What do they do when no one seems willing to help them? The power goes out right as a student is trying to submit their paper at the last minute. Now they have to rush to the library in the hopes of being able to submit the paper before midnight, but everything seems to be going wrong and slowing them down. They manage to get to the library just before midnight—only to realize they’ve left the flash drive with their paper on it on their desk at home.  A character has always been alone and never had any luck with dating or making friends. One day, they stumble upon an AI chatbot and decide to vent their feelings to it. Surprisingly, they receive a thoughtful and sympathetic reply from the AI, and soon, they find themself coming back to chat with it often. Over time, they end up falling in love with this AI, and further isolating themself from society.  Some Parting Advice Good stories have more than one kind of conflict occurring at different points in the plot—or at the same time. If you really want a challenge, try combining more than one of these prompts into the same story. It’ll make the story harder to write, but it will create a sense of complexity and depth that will make it much more interesting to read. Alliteration with I Ai generator. Alliteration with the letter ‘I’ is a creative and intriguing aspect of language that can add a lyrical quality to writing. It involves the repetition of the ‘I’ sound at the beginning of words in close succession. This technique is often used in poetry and prose to create a musical effect, emphasizing certain points or enhancing the mood. Crafting sentences or phrases with alliteration requires a keen ear for sound patterns and a playful approach to word choice. Understanding and mastering first grade alliteration with ‘I’ can bring a unique flair to both creative and formal writing, engaging readers with its rhythmic and harmonious sound. Download Alliteration with 'I' Examples Download Alliteration with 'A' to 'Z' Examples What is the Best Example of Alliteration with ‘I’? Example: A classic example of alliteration with the letter ‘I’ is the phrase “Iggy the iguana imitated an inchworm, inching its way across the ivy.” Meaning: Alliteration is a literary device where consecutive words in a sentence or phrase begin with the same consonant sound. In the easy alliterative example “Iggy the iguana imitated an inchworm, inching its way across the ivy,” the consonant ‘I’ is repeated at the beginning of several words, creating a rhythmic and engaging sound pattern. This technique is often used in literature and poetry to add emphasis, musicality, and memorability to the text. In this specific example, the repeated ‘I’ sound enhances the image of the iguana mimicking an inchworm’s slow movement, making the sentence more vivid and enjoyable to read or hear. 20 Alliteration with ‘I’ Examples Download Alliteration with 'I' Examples in PDF Alliteration using the letter ‘I’ infuses writing with an imaginative and insightful touch. The ‘I’ sound, whether pronounced as in ‘ice’ or as in ‘illusion’, lends itself to both hard alliteration examples . These perfect for enriching various forms of writing, including alliteration in rhymes. It can be used to create vivid visual imagery or to add a rhythmic, poetic dimension to language, especially notable in alliteration in rhymes . Here are 20 unique examples of alliteration with ‘I’, each paired with a rhyme title to enhance the charm of the phrase. Illuminated Imaginations: “Illuminated imaginations ignite in the infinite, starry night.” Intriguing Islands: “Intriguing islands invite intrepid explorers inward.” Icy Icicles: “Icy icicles in intricate patterns, ideal in their icy isolation.” Impish Imps: “Impish imps improvise an impromptu, impish dance.” Intense Intuition: “Intense intuition inspires insightful ideas instantly.” Indigo Impressions: “Indigo impressions in the infinite, illustrious night sky.” Ingenious Inventions: “Ingenious inventions innovate, inspiring incredible imagination.” Iris in the Rain: “Iris in the rain, an image of isolated beauty.” Idle Ideas: “Idle ideas in an imaginative mind, infinitely inspiring.” Intricate Illusions: “Intricate illusions in an idyllic, imaginary landscape.” Ivory Isles: “Ivory isles in the immense, indigo ocean.” Infinite Insights: “Infinite insights into the intricate, inner workings of the mind.” Invigorating Ice: “Invigorating ice in the icy, iridescent morning light.” Idyllic Imagery: “Idyllic imagery in the illustrator’s imaginative world.” Innocent Interlude: “Innocent interlude in an otherwise intense itinerary.” Illuminating Insights: “Illuminating insights in an intellectually intense discussion.” Impressive Imitations: “Impressive imitations in an improvisational performance.” Imaginative Interpretations: “Imaginative interpretations of iconic, illustrious legends.” Indelible Impressions: “Indelible impressions in the imaginative artist’s mind.” Irresistible Invitation: “Irresistible invitation to an idyllic, imaginary world.” Alliteration Sentence Examples with ‘I’ Alliteration sentence examples with ‘I’ showcase the impact of this literary device in creating memorable and rhythmic phrases. The ‘I’ sound, used in various contexts, can offer both a soft and sharp auditory experience. This type of alliteration is seen across various forms of media, including alliteration in poems, songs, and even movies. Here are three examples: “Intriguing insights illuminated Ivan’s intense investigation.” “Iris’s icy gaze instantly intimidated her inquisitive interviewer.” “Invisible ink inscribed intimate, insightful ideas.” Alliteration Examples with ‘I’ Words Alliteration examples with ‘I’ words demonstrate how the repetition of the ‘I’ sound can create a smooth, flowing effect in language. This form of alliteration is often utilized in alliteration in movies for its rhythmic quality. Here are three examples: “Impish imps in ivory attire idly imagine.” “Ivy intertwines in the intricate iron fence.” “Isolated islands in the immense, indigo sea inspire imagination.” Alliteration Poem with ‘I’ An alliteration poem with ‘I’ uses the repetitive ‘I’ sound to create a rhythmic and engaging poetic experience. Alliteration in poems, especially with the ‘I’ sound, adds a unique lyrical quality that can be both captivating and thought-provoking. Here are three examples: “In islands of ice and ivy intertwined, / Imaginations ignite, ideas in mind.” “Invisible in the ink of the night, / Illuminated only by the moon’s light.” “In idle hours, ideas ascend, / In imagination’s realm, they blend.” Alliteration Starting with ‘I’ Alliteration starting with ‘I’ sets a specific tone and rhythm in a phrase, often creating a memorable impact. This form of alliteration can be found in various artistic expressions, including alliteration in songs and movies, where it adds a lyrical or dramatic flair. Here are three examples: “Ivan’s intriguing invention instantly impressed the audience.” “Ingrid’s infectious laughter ignited joy in the room.” “Iridescent icebergs, imposing and immense, inspire awe.” How to Write Alliteration with ‘I’? Writing alliteration with the letter ‘I’ involves using words that begin with the ‘I’ sound in close proximity within sentences or phrases. This can create a rhythmic and sometimes introspective effect in writing. Here’s a guide to crafting effective alliteration with ‘I’, which can be particularly useful for creating alliteration with answers or as part of alliteration figurative language exercises: Identify the ‘I’ Sound : Recognize that the ‘I’ can have different sounds, such as the long ‘I’ in ‘ice’ or the short ‘I’ in ‘it’. Decide which sound you want to use for your alliteration. Choose a Theme : Select a theme or subject. This helps in choosing ‘I’ words that are relevant and coherent with your topic, especially important when creating great alliteration examples for educational purposes. Brainstorm ‘I’ Words : Make a list of words starting with the ‘I’ sound. A thesaurus or dictionary can be handy for expanding your word choice. Create Your Sentence : Formulate a sentence or phrase using the ‘I’ words. Focus on creating a natural flow that emphasizes the alliterative effect. Read Aloud for Rhythm : The effectiveness of alliteration is often best judged audibly. Reading aloud helps ensure it has a pleasing rhythm, a key component in alliteration figurative language. Revise for Impact : Edit your sentence for clarity and impact. The goal is to enhance your message with alliteration without making it feel forced. Apply in Context : Integrate your alliterative phrase into your text. This technique is effective in various contexts, from creative writing to educational materials like alliteration for first grade. Tips for Using Alliteration with ‘I’ Here are the Tips for Using Alliteration with ‘I’: Use Moderately : Overuse of alliteration can overshadow the content. Use it sparingly to emphasize key points or to add a stylistic touch. Ensure Clarity : The primary goal of your writing should be to convey your message clearly. Alliteration should not compromise the comprehensibility of the text. Vary Word Choices : Incorporate a mix of short and long ‘I’ words, as well as different types of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives), for a more dynamic effect. Consider the Mood : The ‘I’ sound can be introspective or impactful. Choose words that match the mood and tone you aim to convey. Read Out Loud : This helps in assessing the rhythm and flow, crucial in alliteration figurative language and in creating great alliteration examples. Avoid Forced Repetition : Natural-sounding alliteration is more effective and engaging. Avoid cramming ‘I’ words where they do not fit naturally. Experiment in Various Contexts : Try using alliteration in different writing styles and formats. It can be a valuable tool in creative writing, educational content, and even in professional settings. Remember, the key to effective alliteration with ‘I’ is to balance creativity with clarity, ensuring that your alliteration enhances rather than detracts from your overall message. What are the Alliteration Tongue Twisters with ‘I’? Alliteration tongue twisters with ‘I’ are phrases designed to be challenging to articulate, often using a series of words that start with the ‘I’ sound. These tongue twisters are not only fun but also beneficial for improving diction and pronunciation. They can be used as a language tool in various contexts, such as alliteration for students , alliteration for kids , and even alliteration for adults who enjoy linguistic challenges. Here are some examples: “Iris insists on iridescent insects in Illinois.” “Ingrid’s iguana imagined an immense iceberg.” “Ivan and Imogen idly improvised an intricate improvisation.” These tongue twisters can be an entertaining way to explore alliteration and assonance, enhancing language skills. What is the Effect of ‘I’ Letter in Alliteration? The effect of the ‘I’ letter in alliteration is multifaceted. The ‘I’ sound, whether short as in ‘igloo’ or long as in ‘item’, can create a rhythmic, intriguing, and sometimes intense auditory experience. In literature, ‘I’ alliteration adds a unique lyrical quality to the text, making it more memorable and engaging. It can be used for emphasis, to create mood, or to add a poetic dimension to prose and poetry. Famous alliteration examples often harness the power of ‘I’ alliteration to create impactful phrases that resonate with readers. What is the Alliteration ‘I’ Type of? Alliteration with the letter ‘I’ is a type of consonantal alliteration, even though it involves a vowel sound. This form involves the repetition of the initial ‘I’ sound in adjacent or closely connected words. It’s a popular literary device used in various forms of writing, from creative poetry to effective prose. ‘I’ alliteration can be found in  great alliteration examples , in educational material like alliteration for students, and in entertaining content aimed at younger audiences, such as alliteration for kids. The versatility of ‘I’ alliteration also makes it a favorite in alliteration and assonance exercises, where it serves both artistic and educative purposes. Text prompt Instructive Professional Alliteration with ‘I’ Examples 198 IMAGES Managing Conflict Creative Writing Examples Read to brush up on story conflict types. Sample conflict essay External and Internal Conflict: Examples and Tips Creative Writing Strategies 3: Conflict by The Last Class on the Left Creative writing types of conflict by sarahitcbi VIDEO W.C.P.G.W.: 10 Generationally Passed Skills 11 W.C.P.G.W.: 10 Generationally Passed Skills 13 W.C.P.G.W.: 10 Generationally Passed Skills 31 W.C.P.G.W.: 10 Generationally Passed Skills 3 W.C.P.G.W.: 10 Generationally Passed Skills 38 W.C.P.G.W.: 10 Generationally Passed Skills 7 COMMENTS 120 Story Conflict Ideas and Examples Creating conflict in your story is essential for capturing your readers' interest and driving your narrative forward. In order to reveal character motivations and examine deeper meanings within your story, the protagonist must be presented with a challenge derived from conflict. Here are 120 story conflict ideas and examples based on the most common types of conflicts in fiction. From ... 99+ Conflict Ideas To Help You Write Your Next Story A long list of conflicting ideas. 1. A musician discovers they are losing their hearing, threatening their career and identity. 2. An astronaut on a solo mission starts receiving mysterious messages from an unknown source. 3. A world-class chef develops a severe allergy to a common ingredient. 4. 50 External Conflict Examples To Revolutionize Your Writing 16. A journalist ventures into a war zone to uncover the truth behind a conflict, dodging both physical dangers and censorship. 17. An amateur climber is caught in a race against time to rescue her partner stranded on a ledge halfway up a mountain after a sudden storm. How to Write Compelling Conflict: Create Conflict in Stories Writing compelling conflict is something every writer should know how to do. The key to successful storytelling is creating conflict. Writers establish the conflict of a story soon after they introduce their main character. Conflict is the element that kicks off the action and gets the story started. Writing compelling conflict is something ... Best Conflict Story Ideas to Inspire Your Writing Curated writing inspriation delivered to your inbox each week. One character wants a snake, but their roommate has a phobia. They adopt one anyway. For years, four characters have met for a monthly card game. Write a story in which one character realizes that another is cheating. You visited a psychic for romantic advice. How to Create Conflict in a Story (with 6 Simple Questions) 1. Warner Huntington III, the ex-boyfriend and dream-husband. Warner represents the external conflict between Elle and a world that undermines and underestimates women, especially when they don't fit into a traditional, conservative mold. 2. Vivian Kensington, Elle's law school classmate and Warner's new girlfriend. 7 Types of Conflict in Literature: How to Use Them (with Examples) Five of the seven types of conflicts are of the external kind. 1. Person vs. Person. Also called man vs. man and protagonist vs. antagonist, this is the most common type of external conflict. It is clear and universally understood as a good vs. evil story in which an unambiguous challenger opposes the main character. 7 Types of Conflict in Literature: A Writer's Guide By understanding what stands between characters and their goals, we can begin to grasp what their stories are about. The seven most common types of conflict in literature are: 1. Character vs. Character (s) 2. Character vs. Society. 3. Character vs. Nature. 4. How to Create Powerful Conflict in Your Story Character vs. self. We can now take a deep dive into each type of conflict, and visit a few examples along the way! 1. Character vs character. This is the most common type of conflict in all stories. A classic example: Hero against the villain. Superhero comics and movies are entirely based on this conflict. What Is Conflict in Literature? 6 Different Types of Literary Conflict Stories cannot progress without conflict. ## What Is Conflict in Literature? In literature, a conflict is a literary device characterized by a struggle between two opposing forces. Conflict provides crucial tension in any story and is used to drive the narrative forward. It is often used to reveal a deeper meaning in a narrative while highlighting characters' motivations, values, and weaknesses. The 8 Types of Conflict (with Examples, Possible Resolutions, and Every story needs a character in a setting engaged in conflict. But sometimes writers get hyper-focused on one or two types of conflict, and never explore or include the other types. This can make a story feel flat or repetitive (similar to what I touched on in my plotlines post).Sometimes the writer senses that there is something wrong, so tries to add more to the story, but they end up ... Internal Conflict: 25 Examples for Writers 21. Because of a past mistake, he's lost faith in his own judgement or abilities. (This is the inner conflict for one of my characters in the novel I'm writing now!) 22. She's isolated and lonely, but because of a past trauma, she doesn't trust others. (This is the conflict for my other character!) 4 Types of Conflict—and How to Use Them in Your Writing Write it down in one sentence. For example: A police officer has to catch a serial killer. Try to focus on this specific conflict and build outward—create the characters, give them something to say, pick a setting, and of course, keep that conflict coming scene after scene after scene. ***** 10 Powerful Tips to Infuse Conflict in Writing As authors, we must learn to wield it effectively. The power of conflict in writing is immense. So, embrace it, understand it, and use it to craft unforgettable narratives. After all, conflict is the key that unlocks the heart of a story. Get the Workbook: Conflict in writing for $49.95. How to Write Conflict That Keeps Readers Turning Pages My next tip for writing compelling conflict is to make the sources of conflict believable. Make sure that your conflict is portrayed believably in your story. If the sources of conflict feel too far-fetched or out of the blue or overly convenient, then you are running the risk of eroding the reader's trust in your storytelling, and they could ... 7 Different Types of Conflict in Literature with Examples Man vs. Destiny. Man vs. The Elements. Man vs. The Unknown. Man vs. Society. Man vs. Technology. The use of conflict, if melded well in the narrative, is a handy literary technique to address this entertainment aspect. Now, let's delve into what conflict is and its importance in writing a story. 43 Conflict Writing Prompts 43 Conflict Writing Prompts. When practicing creative writing, adding conflict to a story captivates the reader and drives the plot. As students improve their storytelling skills, their conflict and conflict resolution within those stories will become stronger and more believable. To help students exercise this skill, we've put together a ... The Secret to Creating Conflict The Secret to Creating Conflict. by Joe Bunting | 59 comments. We often think that to create conflict we need to show major conflict or fight scenes. For example, a car chase, an argument between lovers, a fistfight, or the threat of a nuclear explosion. Or we think of conflict as some kind of internal suffering: depression, longing, or pain. Person vs. What Now: Types of Conflict in Creative Writing That makes person vs. self internal conflict. Here are some examples of person versus self conflicts: Lack of self-esteem or confidence. Insecurities or self-doubt. Addiction. ... Like I mentioned in the article Why You Need Internal and External Conflict in Creative Writing, the most successful stories tend to mix together different types of ... Creative Story Writing Tips that Work: Conflicts, Cliffhangers and Climaxes Creative Story Writing Tips #4: Cliffhanger Peaks and Valleys. Your cliffhangers should resemble a series of peaks and valleys: rising suspense followed by an easing of the tension, then up we go again. Also, your peaks should get progressively higher - a bigger conflict, more excitement each time - until they reach a climax. How to create conflict Simply put, this is what makes a story differ from a straightforward report or list of events. This is conflict. If we want to create a story we need to create conflict. Some people like to see characters overcome all the obstacles and end up at the proverbial happy ending and some of us like an ambiguous ending where the reader gets to project ... Writing Prompts About Conflict Writing Prompts / Plot. Shares159. Conflict is the heart and soul of all stories! It drives the plot forward, provides more context to the overall setting, can contribute to complex character development, and, most important of all, it's what makes a story interesting. Generally, when people think of conflict, their minds go to fight scenes ... Why You Need Internal and External Conflict in Creative Writing Here's an example of external conflict from "Dragon's Deep" by Cecelia Holland in The Dragon Book: ... and writes. She has an MFA in Creative Writing and Poetics and teaches writing at colleges and writing organizations/ conferences. Her collection of modern fairy tales When Magic Calls won the CIPA EVVY Herb Tabak (best fiction) book ... Personification for 7th Grade Personification Examples for 7th Grade Students: Elevating Language Arts. Embark on a journey tailored for 7th-grade students, where personification enriches language arts studies. Engage with examples that enhance your writing prowess, ignite your imagination, and deepen your appreciation for the power of figurative language. Alliteration with Z Balance with Other Words: Since 'Z' words are less common, balance them with other words to maintain the flow and coherence of your writing. Explore Different Forms: Try 'Z' alliteration in various forms of writing. It can add a unique twist to poetry, stories, and even academic or promotional writing. Alliteration with U When using 'U' for alliteration, writers can infuse their prose or poetry with a lyrical quality that gently draws the reader's attention. Mastering famous alliterations technique can elevate your writing, whether in creative storytelling, poetry, or even persuasive writing, adding an elegant and subtle rhythmic quality. Alliteration with I Alliteration with the letter 'I' is a creative and intriguing aspect of language that can add a lyrical quality to writing. It involves the repetition of the 'I' sound at the beginning of words in close succession. This technique is often used in poetry and prose to create a musical effect, emphasizing certain points or enhancing the mood. assignment essay homework paper phd report resume review speech thesis