The importance of conflict in fiction (and how to create conflict in your writing)
Imagine the Harry Potter series without Voldemort. Or The Handmaid’s Tale without Gilead’s oppressive regime. At the heart of every page-turning story is a conflict — a fight between your protagonist and an internal or external foe.
Writers sometimes ask me whether they absolutely 100% need conflict in a story. If they’re writing cosy fantasy or slice-of-life fiction, is conflict really necessary? My answer is always a resounding yes — it’s a key element of any fiction story. Because even if conflict is cosy, low stakes or internal, it gives your book purpose and momentum.
In this post, I’ll explain what conflict in fiction really is, break down the seven different types of conflict and share tips on how to create conflict in your own writing — so you can keep readers hooked for the duration of your novel.
What is conflict in fiction?
Conflict in fiction is a struggle between two opposing forces. But it isn’t just epic sword fights, wars between worlds or heated arguments.
It can be as subtle as a moral dilemma or a tug-of-war between competing desires. A character may wrestle with fear or guilt just as dramatically as they would face an arch-enemy.
Ultimately, conflict is an obstacle. A physical, mental or emotional challenge that a protagonist has to overcome.
Why do we need conflict in stories?
Conflict is an essential part of any story because:
It keeps your story moving. Conflict is the engine of your plot. It’s what drives your protagonist away from their comfort zone, through a period of change and towards a resolution. Without conflict, a story lacks pace and purpose.
It creates tension. Conflict creates tension. Readers don’t know how — or even if — the conflict will be resolved. So they keep reading to find out. Without a clear conflict, curiosity fades and readers stop caring about what happens next.
It forces characters to grow and change. Conflict is an opportunity for characters to confront their fears, flaws, values and true motivations. It helps characters to evolve and change, revealing unexpected strengths or vulnerabilities. This growth makes your characters more compelling and deepens a reader’s emotional investment.
Internal and external conflict: what’s the difference?
All conflict in fiction falls into one of two categories: internal or external. Understanding the difference will help you weave both into your writing.
So what do these two terms mean?
Internal conflict occurs when a character struggles with their own opposing desires, beliefs, fears or moral dilemmas. This conflict takes place within a character’s mind.
External conflict occurs when a character faces opposition from an outside force — another character, society, fate, nature, technology or something supernatural. The source of external conflict is known as an antagonist.
Both internal and external conflict create tension. They force a character to grow and develop — and they stand between where a protagonist is at the start of the story and where they end up.
In many stories, both types of conflict are involved. For example, your character may have to defeat an enemy (an external conflict) but also wrestle with their own feelings of self-doubt (an internal conflict).
The 7 types of conflict in fiction
There are lots of ways to write conflict into your work of fiction. Broadly speaking, there are seven classic types of conflict to choose from.
Only one of them — character vs. self — is internal. The rest are external, ranging from clashes with other people to struggles against nature, society or even fate itself.
Different genres lean towards certain conflicts. Crime fiction, for example, often thrives on character vs. character conflict — a detective versus a criminal. But many of the most memorable stories combine several types at once.
Let’s take a closer look.
Character vs. Self
This type of conflict occurs when a character faces an internal struggle. They may question who they truly are and what they stand for. They may have to set aside personal desires for the greater good — or grapple with deep-seated emotions, like fear, guilt or self-doubt.
At its core, a character vs. self conflict challenges a character to confront and overcome their own mental, emotional or physical limits, transforming into a changed version of themselves by the story’s end.
An example from fiction: The Lord of the Rings. Frodo struggles against the corrupting power of the ring, battling not just external dangers, but temptation and doubt within himself.
Character vs. Character
This is a common type of external conflict in fiction. It occurs when your protagonist’s personality, goals, values or worldview are at odds with those of another character. The tension often comes from their direct opposition — whether that’s as rivals competing for the same prize, as representatives of opposing ideas, or as potential lovers who just can’t see eye to eye.
An example from fiction: Pride and Prejudice. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy’s mutual misunderstandings and clashing values prevent them from getting together sooner.
Character vs. Nature
Character vs nature conflict is usually grounded in reality. It’s created when a character has to struggle against the forces of the natural world. That might mean towering waves, catastrophic drought or icy tundra.
This conflict often explores humanity’s place on the planet and our relationship with nature. It can highlight a character’s resilience and survival instincts, and also serve as a metaphor for a character’s inner struggles.
An example from fiction: Life of Pi. Pi faces storms, the vastness of the ocean, the relentless heat of the sun and the constant threat posed by Richard Parker, the tiger sharing his lifeboat.
Character vs. Supernatural
Another type of external conflict, character vs. supernatural conflict occurs when a character faces forces that operate outside the laws of nature. Think ghosts, witches, werewolves, aliens or some entirely new, imagined entity.
Common in fantasy, paranormal and science fiction, this type of conflict is often used to explore themes of fear, faith, the unknown and humanity’s place within the universe.
An example from fiction: The Shining. Jack Torrance battles his inner demons and the malevolent supernatural forces that haunt the Overlook Hotel.
Character vs. Fate
This type of story conflict arises when a character struggles against destiny or a godly power. It was the primary conflict in many Greek tragedies. Writers use it today to explore themes of free will versus inevitability — and the tension between accepting or resisting your fate.
An example from fiction: Macbeth. Macbeth is driven by the witches’ prophecy that he will become king, his ambition and desire to control his fate leading him to commit murder.
Character vs. Technology
Often found in science fiction stories, this type of conflict occurs when a character has to contend with technology that challenges or threatens humanity. It may involve AI, machines, robotics or other forms of advanced technology that either act in unintended ways or challenge human values.
Writers often use this conflict to explore what it means to be human, the limits of human control and the ethics of invention.
An example from fiction: Frankenstein. Victor Frankenstein creates life through science. But his creation becomes a force beyond his control.
Character vs. Society
When a character struggles against social norms, family expectations or the powers that be, they’re experiencing character versus society conflict. This type of conflict often explores themes of justice, freedom, individuality and rebellion.
The conflict can be overt — like fighting against an oppressive regime — or more subtle, involving personal resistance against ingrained social attitudes or traditions. It forces characters to question the world they live in and their place within it.
An example from fiction: To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus Finch defends Tom Robinson, challenging the racial prejudice of his home town.
How to create conflict in your story
The best story conflict feels inevitable. But it’s always carefully and consciously crafted by a writer. These tips will help you write conflict into your story to make it more compelling — and impossible for a reader to put down.
1. Create complex characters
Before you can figure out the type of conflict you want to include in your story, you need to get clear on your characters. Ask yourself questions like:
What motivates them?
What are their strengths and weaknesses?
What are they most scared of?
What do they believe in?
With an in-depth understanding of who your protagonist is at the start of the story (and maybe also at the end), you can create conflict that feels personal and specific to their journey.
2. Write an inciting incident
Every great story has a spark — an event that prevents your protagonist from continuing on their current path. This inciting incident brings the primary conflict of your story into focus and pushes your character towards new challenges and experiences. An inciting incident should come during the first chapters of a novel, towards the end of the expository act.
3. Make the sources of conflict believable
A good antagonist should be just as complex and believable as your protagonist. Enemies need their own motivations and desires. Supernatural forces should operate within the rules of their own worlds. Societies and technologies should be so detailed and coherent that they feel entirely real.
The more grounded and consistent your source of conflict, the more a reader will invest in the struggle.
4. Always incorporate internal conflict
Even the most thrilling external showdowns feel deeper and more meaningful when paired with internal struggles. Internal conflict reveals your character’s fears, doubts and desires — the hidden battles that shape who they are and how they act. It makes your characters feel human.
So even if your story focuses on external conflict, weave in internal conflict to create richer, more nuanced characters and a more captivating plot.
5. Raise the stakes
The source of conflict shouldn’t be easy for your protagonist to defeat. It should be as strong (if not stronger) than your character. The consequences of failure should also be high — although that doesn’t necessarily mean it has to be a matter of life and death.
Think about what your character stands to lose if they fail in this conflict. It could be a friend, their social standing or their belief in themselves. Then raise the stakes by putting this treasured thing at even greater risk throughout the course of your story.
6. Make it pay off
During the climax of a story, conflict comes to a head. Then, we get a resolution. This resolution has to feel earned. It should result from the protagonist’s choices and personal growth — not from a deus ex machina moment or a happy coincidence.
That being said, some writers choose to leave a central conflict unresolved as a way to mirror life’s complexity. And this is definitely preferable to an unrealistically neat ending that risks leaving your readers underwhelmed.
7. Take your character somewhere new
Conflict changes your character. By the story’s end, your protagonist should be different in some way — stronger, wiser, broken or otherwise transformed. Think about their character arc. How will the challenges you create push them into uncharted territory?
Need some help writing conflict into your novel?
Conflict gives your story momentum, purpose and emotional depth. It challenges your character, reveals who they truly are and pushes them to grow. Conflict transforms a simple sequence of events into a story your readers will remember.
Whether your conflict is dramatic or subtle, personal or epic, internal or external, it’s what keeps readers turning pages. By crafting believable sources of tension, raising the stakes and resolving conflict in a satisfying way, you make your story richer and more exciting to read.
If you’re struggling to write conflict into your novel — or want to know if your current work in progress (WIP) has just the right amount of conflict — take a look at my manuscript assessment service.
As part of this service, I read through your manuscript and give extensive notes on point of view, pacing, character, dialogue, structure and plot. I’ll tell you whether your central conflict helps to drive the narrative or holds it back from its full potential.
Want to know more? Get in touch to chat about your WIP. I can’t wait to hear all about it!