Knowledge Base
Find Answers to Your Self-Publishing Questions: Search Our Knowledge Base and Master the Terminology
Starting
Introduction To Childrens Book Publishing
Creating The Ideal Writing Environment For Childrens Book Authors
The Importance Of Crafting An Effective Book Summary
Brainstorming And Conceptualizing Ideas For Your Childrens Book
Planning
Should You Establish Your Own Publishing Company
Understanding The Differences Between Fiction And Nonfiction
How To Plan And Choose The Right Genre For Your Book
How To Plan Distribution Options For Your Selfpublished Book
How To Plan Your Narrative Pointofview Pov
How To Write An Impressive Author Bio For Your Book
How To Choose The Right Book Type For Your Story
Ideal Word Count For Illustrated Books Based On Age And Book Type
How To Develop Engaging Characters For Your Book
How To Write A Captivating Book Blurb For Childrens Books
How To Plan Where Your Story Begins
How To Conduct A Competitive Analysis For Your Book
How To Plan Your Story Using Flow
How To Plan The Ending Or Resolution Of Your Story
How To Plan The Plot Climax Or High Point Of Your Story
Setting Your Title And Author Name Before Applying For Copyright
How To Plan The Theme Of Your Book
How To Enter The Author Name For Your Book
How To Define The Time Setting For Your Story
How To Plan The Plot And Key Conflict Of Your Story
Understanding Book Types Formats And Sizes In Childrens Publishing
Typography And Text Design In Illustrated Books Best Practices
Structuring Your Childrens Book Plot Climax And Falling Action
Your Childrens Book Tone Theme And Point Of View
How To Define The Place And Setting For Your Story
Writing
How To Plan Page Turns With Spread Breaks In Made Live
How To Add Tags To Your Manuscript In Made Live
Crafting A Compelling Plot In Childrens Books
The Milestone Of Completing Your First Draft
Overcoming Writers Block In Childrens Book
How To Selfedit Dialogue In Your Book
How To Plan The Language And Tone For Your Book
Effective Techniques For Childrens Books
Registrations
How To Set Up And Modify Your Copyright Information In Made Live
How To Officially File For Copyright Protection As An Author
How To Enter Your Isbn In The Section
How To Secure An Isbn For Your Book A Global Guide
Designing
How To Use Visual Storytelling In Your Illustrated Book
How To Check The Visual Appeal Of Your Book For The Target Audience
How To Check Your Storyboard And Design For Continuity
How To Design The Back Cover Of Your Book
How To Generate Or Import Placeholder Images In The Storyboard Workspace
How To Insert Copyright Information Into The Storyboard
Basics Of Book Illustration Style And Color In Childrens Books
How To Modify Text Blocks In The Storyboard Workspace
Adding A Dedication Or Acknowledgements To Your Book
How To Create Effective Pacing In Your Illustrated Book
Creating A Physical Book Dummy For Your Illustrated Book
How To Delete Extra Spreads To Avoid Blank Pages In Your Book
How To Transfer Your Manuscript To The Storyboard
Revising Your Books Design And Layout For Optimal Flow
How To Design A Book Cover For Your Book
How To Create A Title Page For Your Illustrated Book
How To Import Final Illustrations For Your Illustrated Book
How To Add Your Barcode To The Back Cover
Choosing The Right Fonts For Your Book
How To Add Back Matter To Your Illustrated Book
How To Set Up And Select Color Choices For Your Book In Made Live
Prioritizing Accessibility In Childrens Book Design
Selfediting Your Book Layout Fitting The Story To The Format
How To Find And Hire A Professional Illustrator For Your Book
Choosing The Right Illustration Style For Your Childrens Book
Editing
Self Tips And Techniques For Aspiring Authors
How To Selfedit For Punctuation In Dialogue
How To Selfedit For Filler Words
How To Review The Cover Design For Your Illustrated Book
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Clarity
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Pacing
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Consistency
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Story Structure
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Illustrations
How To Selfedit For Flow By Reading Your Manuscript Aloud
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Vocabulary
How To Provide Clear Illustration Notes For Your Illustrator
How To Edit With A Final Read Aloud Before Sending To An Editor
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Your Audience
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Theme
How To Selfedit And Proofread For Grammar Punctuation And Spelling
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Redundancy
Steps To Finalizing Your Manuscript For Childrens Book Publication
How To Find And Hire A Professional Editor For Your Illustrated Book
How To Get Feedback On Your Manuscript
Publishing
Choosing The Perfect Title For Your Childrens Book
Going Global Preparing Your Childrens Book For International Distribution
Preparing For International Distribution Language Translations And Multiple Formats
Understanding Isbn Pcn And Pcip For Childrens Book
Navigating Legal Aspects Of Copyright And Infringement In Childrens Book
Navigating Contracts And Rights For Childrens Books
Navigating Self Vs Traditional In Childrens Books
Marketing
Building An Author Brand And Online Presence
Navigating Book Reviews And Publicity For Childrens Books
Connecting With Key Players Engaging With Schools Libraries And Bookstores
Mastering Book Launches And Promotional Events For Childrens Books
Maximizing Your Reach Utilizing Social Media And Online Platforms For Childrens Books
Mastering Effective Strategies For Childrens Books
Community
Joining Writing And Publishing Communities For Childrens Book Creators
Enhancing Skills With Workshops Webinars And Learning Opportunities In Childrens Book Publishing
Maximizing Your Publishing Success With Made Live Resources And Support
Building Connections Networking With Other Childrens Book Authors
Business
Navigating Literary Agents And Query Letters For Childrens Books
Advanced Marketing Techniques And Analytics For Childrens Picture Books
Leveraging Technology In Childrens Book Publishing
Staying Ahead Keeping Up With Industry Trends And Changes In Childrens Book Publishing
Embracing Diversity Exploring Diverse Themes And Representation In Childrens Books
Mastering The Query Process In Childrens Book Publishing
How to Plan the Plot and Key Conflict of Your Story
How to Plan the Plot and Key Conflict of Your Story
Overview: The plot of your story revolves around the character’s journey to get what they want or need. But it’s the conflict—the roadblocks, obstacles, and challenges—that adds interest and drives the story forward. Conflict creates tension and gives readers a reason to keep turning the page. In this article, we’ll explore how to plan the plot and key conflict for your story, helping you build a narrative that keeps readers engaged while supporting the story’s theme or central truth.
Why Conflict is Important for Your Story
Conflict is what prevents your character from achieving their goal or getting what they want. Without conflict, there’s no tension, and the story can feel flat or uninteresting. By planning key conflicts or problems, you can create roadblocks that add depth to your story and make your character’s journey more compelling. Conflict also helps highlight the theme or central truth your story is trying to explore, making it a vital part of plot development.
Key Considerations When Planning Plot and Conflict
1. What Does Your Character Want or Need?
Before identifying the conflict, it’s important to establish what your character wants or needs. This is the driving force behind their actions and decisions throughout the story. Their goal could be something tangible, like finding a lost object, or something intangible, like finding acceptance or overcoming a fear.
- Define your character’s main goal or desire early on, as it sets the foundation for the plot.
- Identify whether the goal is tangible or intangible, and how it motivates the character’s actions.
Questions to Ask:
- What does my character want or need?
- Is the character’s goal something they can achieve, or is it more abstract?
2. What Obstacles or Conflicts Prevent the Character from Achieving This Goal?
Conflict arises from obstacles or problems that stand in the way of the character getting what they want. These roadblocks can be external (a physical barrier, another character’s opposition) or internal (self-doubt, fear, conflicting desires). Identify the key conflicts that will shape the character’s journey and add interest to the plot.
- Determine the main obstacles that prevent the character from achieving their goal.
- Include a mix of external and internal conflicts to create a more dynamic story.
Questions to Ask:
- What are the main obstacles or conflicts in the story?
- How do these conflicts prevent the character from achieving their goal?
3. How Do the Conflicts Affect the Character’s Journey?
The conflicts you introduce should have an impact on the character’s journey, forcing them to grow, change, or make difficult decisions. Consider how each conflict influences the character’s development and brings them closer (or pushes them further away) from their goal.
- Show how the conflicts affect the character’s actions, decisions, or emotions throughout the story.
- Use conflict to reveal the character’s growth or transformation, highlighting their journey.
Questions to Ask:
- How does each conflict affect the character’s journey?
- What changes or growth does the character experience as a result of the conflicts?
4. Does the Conflict Support the Story’s Theme?
The conflict should tie into the theme or central truth your story is exploring. Think about how the obstacles your character faces highlight or reinforce this theme. Whether your story is about perseverance, friendship, or self-discovery, the conflict should help bring this theme to life.
- Use conflict to support the story’s theme or central message.
- Ensure that each conflict adds value to the overall theme or truth being explored.
Questions to Ask:
- How does the conflict relate to the story’s theme or central truth?
- Does the conflict help highlight or reinforce the theme?
How to Plan the Plot and Conflict of Your Story
Step 1: Identify Your Character’s Goal
Start by defining what your character wants or needs. This goal will drive the plot forward and give your character a clear direction. Consider whether the goal is something tangible or more abstract, and how it motivates the character’s actions.
Step 2: Introduce Obstacles or Conflicts
Next, think about the roadblocks or conflicts that prevent your character from achieving their goal. Create a mix of external and internal conflicts to make the character’s journey more interesting and challenging.
Step 3: Show How the Conflicts Affect the Character
Describe how each conflict impacts the character’s journey, decisions, and emotions. Show how the character responds to these challenges and how they grow or change as a result.
Step 4: Connect the Conflict to the Theme
Ensure that the conflict supports the story’s theme or central message. Use the character’s struggles and obstacles to highlight or reinforce the theme, making the story more cohesive and meaningful.
Final Notes:
Planning the plot and key conflict of your story is essential for creating a compelling narrative. By identifying your character’s goal, introducing obstacles, and connecting the conflict to the theme, you’ll build a story that keeps readers engaged and supports the overall message. Take the time to plan your plot and conflict carefully, and watch as your character’s journey comes to life.