When we think about conflict in a story, we mean two types of conflict: internal and external. Every story must have both kinds of conflict, and they are interconnected–the external conflict keeps the main character from resolving internal conflict, or vice versa.
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In order for the story to keep the reader engaged, every single scene needs internal and external conflict. This is what keeps the main character moving through the plot, and it’s keeps them from getting right to happily ever after a few pages into your story.
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The main conflict of the story should be intricately linked with the main character’s emotional wound and main goal. It should create tension for the main character, bringing in the main character’s emotions, values, and previous experiences.
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If your feedback is often that the reader is “not connecting”, it might mean you don’t have enough or the right mix of conflict.
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What is the main conflict of your #WIP, and how is it tied to the MC’s emotional wound and character arc?
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- 2 Types of Conflict: Internal & External
- These conflicts need to be related: external stops the main character from resolving the internal or vice versa.
- Every story, regardless of age category or genre, needs both types of conflict.
- In addition, every scene needs both internal and external conflict.
- If you get feedback about not connecting, it might mean not enough/the right mix of conflict.
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