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.
