What is Conflict & How Does it Drive Your Story?

Without conflict, there wouldn't be much of a story.

It is what motivates your characters and drives your narrative forward. Everyone wants something, both in life and in stories. The best stories, though, are the ones where something gets in the protagonist's way of getting what they want. One of the best and simplest pieces of advice I ever saw was involving conflict. First, you have to figure out what your character wants most of all. Then, try and stop them from getting it at all costs. Depending on the kind of person that character is, they will overcome their obstacles. Or they won't.

Conflict can get the story started, and keep it interesting as the character continues their journey. So to begin, let me familiarize you with a couple different types of conflict found in stories, with some examples from some of my own favorites.

1. Person vs. Self: This conflict occurs when the character is struggling internally against themselves. This could involve a conflict with mental illness, a curse, or even their own morality when faced with a tough situation. One example I like is from Lord of the Rings. This is a great example of person vs. self in how Frodo (and any other in possession of the One Ring) must resist its seductive power and remain in control of their senses. If they fail, they will draw the gaze of Sauron.

2. Person vs. Person: This type of conflict is the most clear external conflict, literally being two people opposing each other. They could be physically fighting, or they could be engaged in a debate. My favorite examples always involve superheroes for this one. Just take a look at any Marvel or DC film. The hero faces off against their opponent for the film, like how Captain America fights Red Skull in his first film.

3. Person vs. Nature: Conflict against nature happens when the character(s) must do whatever they can to survive a harsh environment. This could include a storm, an animal threat, or even a secluded and uncivilized area. My example for this is the film Cast Away featuring Tom Hanks. In the film, his FedEx plane goes down in a storm, and he is marooned on an island. This portrays person vs. nature in how he must scavenge for food and supplies from both the crash and the island in order to survive.

4. Person vs. Society: This conflict centers around a character or characters fighting against social norms or against a controlling government/organization. My first thought usually drifts to most dystopian novels today, such as The Hunger Games. In this series, Katniss Everdeen must fight to the death in a competition created by the Capital for their entertainment. The series evolves into a fight against their tyrannical reign in an effort to stop the Hunger Games.

5. Person vs. Technology/Science: This type of conflict is central in stories about science going too far and the fight against the outcome. My personal favorite is Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein, in which Victor Frankenstein struggles with the result of creating life once it turns against him. You could also apply this conflict to any of our modern Sci/Fi stories today.

6. Person vs. Fate/Destiny: A conflict with destiny usually involves an inescapable prophecy of some kind. This struggle occurs when a character must fight against what is seemingly set in stone. An example that comes to mind is found in Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. With each installment, the heroes must achieve their goal while also being guided by a prophecy from the Oracle. And sometimes, those prophecies are not so pleasant to hear, especially when they spell doom for our beloved characters.

7. Person vs. The Unknown: The last one I would like to mention is person vs. the unknown. This could be on a grand scale of not knowing your fate or the environment you're in, or it could simply be no knowing the outcome of a situation. One example is in the film The Martian, featuring Matt Damon. After an accident in a storm when a team of astronauts tries to leave Mars, Mark Wattney is stranded on the planet. Space is one of the worlds biggest unknowns, which is seen as Wattney tries to figure out how to survive this new environment and contact Earth for a rescue.

Now that you know what types of conflicts you can use, try adding different ones into your story. Try combining different ones into the same scene, such as having characters fight each other for supplies when stranded by a hurricane. Mix it up, and see what works best for developing your characters and advancing the story.

However, keep in mind that there shouldn't be conflict just for the sake of conflict. Make it interesting, and keep it relevant to your characters and what goals they have in mind. Make it matter what your characters are fighting for.