They say “all good stories arise
from conflict”.
Conflict and desire are two main elements that every story needs. Why are they so important? Well, they keep the story moving and help create tension within it. The protagonist of a story has to have desire something , and the story is basically his or her journey to overcome conflict of some kind in order to fulfill/obtain their desire.
Conflict and desire are two main elements that every story needs. Why are they so important? Well, they keep the story moving and help create tension within it. The protagonist of a story has to have desire something , and the story is basically his or her journey to overcome conflict of some kind in order to fulfill/obtain their desire.
When we think of conflict we tend
to think mainly of a fight or argument between the protagonist and the antagonist,
but conflict doesn't come only in these forms. It could be internal – a conflict
within, whether it be mental, or some kind of moral conflict; there’s also
personal conflict – conflict between the protagonist and his loved ones, so
family, friends, lovers; and then we have social conflict – that occurs when
the protagonist is dealing with big issues, eg. issues with society, authority,
etc.
The point of conflict and desire is to make the character want something to the point of desperation, but withhold it from them. And then you take the readers on this journey with the character, filled with hindrances (conflict), searching for this thing they crave – making each step more intense than the last.
Let’s imagine for a second what a story would be like without some form of conflict or desire. If every character got along or had no inner turmoil, or had every one of their needs met and got everything they wanted with no struggle; that would make a pretty boring story, right? And not only would it be boring, it would be unrealistic. We all face conflicts daily trying to fulfill our desires, so why shouldn't these elements be present in a story?
Whether you choose to allow the character to fulfill their desires in the end, or to have them fail in their quest, it is most important to make the characters and their conflicts relatable for the readers. By doing so you allow the reader to fully embark on the journey with the characters because they’re identifiable.
The point of conflict and desire is to make the character want something to the point of desperation, but withhold it from them. And then you take the readers on this journey with the character, filled with hindrances (conflict), searching for this thing they crave – making each step more intense than the last.
Let’s imagine for a second what a story would be like without some form of conflict or desire. If every character got along or had no inner turmoil, or had every one of their needs met and got everything they wanted with no struggle; that would make a pretty boring story, right? And not only would it be boring, it would be unrealistic. We all face conflicts daily trying to fulfill our desires, so why shouldn't these elements be present in a story?
Whether you choose to allow the character to fulfill their desires in the end, or to have them fail in their quest, it is most important to make the characters and their conflicts relatable for the readers. By doing so you allow the reader to fully embark on the journey with the characters because they’re identifiable.
Good post. Have yet to read a story without an ounce of conflict!
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