What Is Conflict In a Story? Definition & Examples Of This Technique

Conflict in a story occurs when two or more characters are trying to achieve different goals.

Often, they are trying to achieve conflicting goals, but they are still able to work together.

This is the essential key to successful fiction writing. Whether that be a screenplay, a book, or a short story.

If one character is trying to win the affections of a loved one and the other is determined to destroy that character, then this conflict is present.

Sometimes, however, the two main characters are working towards the same goal, yet are battling each other, which is also a type of conflict.

What Is Conflict in a Story?

Conflict is the opposite of peace. Conflict can happen in any circumstance, but it most often occurs between two or more people. It is important to understand what conflict really means and how to handle it.

There are many different types of conflicts: verbal arguments, disagreements about who should do something, physical fights, etc.

Conflict is a situation with opposition, disagreement, or hostility. It can be raised by two opposing points of view and it can also result from different needs or desires of the participants which are incompatible.

Conflict is not a new phenomenon. It has existed since the beginning of human life and can be seen in every part of society.

The different types of conflict range from war to disagreements, but they all have one thing in common: tension.

In order for conflict to happen there need to be at least two parties involved that disagree with each other on some level.

Conflict also needs an issue where the two parties differ in opinion on how it should be solved or handled which usually leads one party to feel like they have been wronged by the other’s actions.

The conflict has a major impact on our lives as individuals and as members of society overall because it affects all levels of life: family life, workplace interactions, and international relationships.

Why Is Conflict Important In Stories?

Conflict is an essential part of any story. Without it, there would be no reason to read the book or watch the movie.

Conflict can come in many forms such as interpersonal conflict, man vs. nature, and man vs. self-manifestation (internal conflicts).

With so many different types of conflict in stories, the question becomes what makes a good one?

Conflict is one of the most important elements in stories because it has a direct effect on the way readers will perceive and interpret what they read.

Conflict can be either negative or positive, but both types are necessary for an engaging story.

It can be used for both a protagonist and antagonist, but it’s not always necessary to have both.

Conflict is what drives the story forward and makes it interesting to read or watch because we don’t know how things are going to turn out. Without any conflict, there would be no story at all!

Why Conflict Is Key

Conflict is the key to a good story. Without it, there would be no plot, and all stories would fall flat. Conflict can take on many forms, such as the emotional or physical conflict between two characters.

However, sometimes conflicts are not always so obvious; they can exist in places that seem calm and serene on the surface but are actually rife with an underlying tension.

Conflict is one of the most important aspects of a healthy relationship. The conflict process is how we work through our issues and come up with solutions that make both parties happy.

However, it’s not always easy to start this process.

This is because while conflict resolution can be difficult, there are many benefits from having an open dialogue about what bothers you as well as what makes you happy in your relationship.

The word conflict means to struggle, or resist. It can also mean a disagreement that leads to fighting. A common misconception is that conflict and violence are the same things, but they are not.

Conflict and violence have different meanings when it comes to relationships–they are two very different things.

Conflict is not a bad thing. It’s often what drives our best stories and it’s an inevitable part of life. However, when conflict becomes too much for the individual to handle, there are ways to manage the situation and find peace once again.

Types Of Conflict

There are many types of conflict in fiction, and the most common is character vs. self.

This type of conflict often leads to tension as a protagonist struggles with some internal issue or flaw that they need to fix before achieving their goal.

Conflict can also be between two characters who have opposing goals, or it could be external forces that are trying to stop a character from reaching their goal.

Conflict is the essence of any good story, and it can be found in many different forms. There are a number of ways to categorize these conflicts: internal vs. external, moral vs. immoral, positive vs. negative, and active vs. passive conflict resolution strategies

Conflict is a necessary element in fiction. It makes for interesting reading, and it also helps to keep the reader interested.

After all, without conflict, there would be no story! In this post we will explore seven types of conflicts you can use in your next novel or short story:

   

Conflict is the driving force in any story. It’s what gets readers interested and invested.

Without conflict, there would be no plot – just a series of events that happen one after another without any real significance or meaning (think: your day today).

There are many different types of conflicts, but they all boil down to two core kinds: external and internal.

Person vs. Person Story Conflicts

What is the best way to handle a person vs. person conflict? This is one of the biggest dilemmas in human history and has been debated for centuries.

Some believe that it would be better to avoid confrontation altogether, while others believe that if you are confident in your position, you should always stand up for yourself and fight back when being wronged by another.

There are many ways that people compete, but one of the most popular ways is through sports.

Sports are games where players or teams either win, lose, or tie against each other by scoring more points than the opponents.

Have you ever been in a situation where someone, who is close to you, tells you that they don’t like your friend? It’s one of the worst feelings.

You’re stuck between two choices: either stay with your friend or listen to what they have to say. One thing that we can all agree on is how tough it can be when both parties have different opinions about something.

Do you have a story conflict with someone in your life? Do you know how to handle it without the situation escalating?

Person vs. Nature Conflict Examples

When you think of a person vs nature conflict, what comes to mind? There are many different examples of this type of conflict and the most common ones involve technology and natural disasters.

Humans have always been curious about the unknown and what lies beyond their grasp. Throughout history, people have strived to discover the truth of nature.

From ancient civilizations that went exploring in uncharted territories to modern-day astronauts who explore space, humans are constantly seeking out new information about our world.

In the past, people have always fought nature in order to survive. This is why many conflicts between humans and animals still exist today.

These battles are not just physical, but also mental because of our desire for peace and prosperity.

One example of this conflict is when we build homes on land that was once inhabited by these animals, which causes them to be displaced from their natural habitats.

This can lead to an increase in human-animal conflicts such as animal attacks or property destruction because of migration patterns changing due to a lack of food sources.

These two types of conflicts are so prevalent that it’s hard to find one that doesn’t fit into these categories.

Person vs. Self – Internal Conflict

Internal conflict is a struggle that comes from within. It’s the battle between what we want and what we know is right. This type of conflict usually stems from stress, trauma, or addiction.

The battle within your mind is often a war between two opposing forces. One side, the self, wants to be happy and do things for themselves.

The other side, person vs self, is constantly comparing their accomplishments against those of others and feeling like they’re not good enough or doing enough.

The first type of conflict you may experience is person vs self, which means the struggle between one’s own beliefs and values versus what society thinks or expects them to be.

A great example would be when someone has an idea but they know it will go against what everyone else thinks so they don’t say anything because they’re afraid of being judged by others.

Another type of internal conflict is introversion vs extroversion, meaning the balance between how outgoing one wants their personality to be and how much energy they want to spend on socializing with other people outside themselves.

Layered Conflict Makes For Compelling Stories

The idea of a good story is that it has layers. It’s not just one conflict, but many conflicts that come together to create an engaging and interesting storyline.

This is how the best stories are told – with complication and depth that will keep readers on their toes for every word.

In the entertainment industry, conflict is a necessary element in creating compelling fiction. Conflict can be thought of as any disagreement or struggle that has the potential to create drama.

Without it, there would be no need for writers and directors to incite interest in their stories. Conflict must exist at different levels of intensity; without some level of conflict, a story might become boring and lack depth.

We all love a good story, but what makes a story really captivating and compelling?

Is it the plot twists or the interesting characters? Maybe it’s because we can’t put down our phones. The answer is actually all of the above-layered conflicts that keep readers on their toes is one way to make your fiction more compelling.

The most compelling stories are those that have multiple layers of conflict. A good way to think about this is by imagining a cake with multiple layers.

The top layer might be the protagonist’s story, but what if there was a hidden layer beneath that? What would happen when the reader gets to that second layer and finds out it has nothing to do with the protagonist’s story?

This can be an exciting twist in your plot because it means readers will want to keep turning pages until they find out how these two different plots connect.

What Is The Purpose Of Conflict?

The purpose of conflict is to make the reader or viewer feel something. It can be an emotional response such as anger, sadness, joy, or a combination of these feelings.

It can also be a physical response like tension in your chest and stomach.

Conflict also forces the character to act on their goals and desires, which makes them more three-dimensional because they are forced to learn from their experiences.

“Conflict is a natural part of life. Conflict can be seen in many different ways and it often gives people the opportunity to grow and learn new things.”

The purpose of conflict is actually very simple; it is there to help you grow, learn, move on, or even just get what you want.

Internal And External Conflict

Internal conflicts are those that occur within a person, such as an argument with another character. External conflicts are those that happen outside of one’s self, like being chased by a dog.

The setting of a story can also cause conflict to arise from either inside or out – for example in Jumanji the characters find themselves in unfamiliar territory while on their quest to return home.

Most people don’t realize that internal and external conflicts are two different types of conflict.

External conflicts are the problems that come from outside the character, usually in a physical form such as violence or abuse.

Internal conflicts are those which originate inside the character’s mind, such as depression and anxiety.

In everyday life, we often find ourselves in situations that will require us to make a decision.

These decisions can be about anything from what we eat for breakfast to who should be the next president of our country and everything in between.

However, these decisions are not always easy because there is often an internal conflict within ourselves and/or external conflicts outside of ourselves as well.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you are being pulled in two different directions?

Internal conflict arises when there is no resolution to the problem, and external conflicts arise when there is an outside force that is causing the problem.

What Is Conflict In A Story – Wrapping Up

The term “conflict” is often used to describe the opposition between two or more things.

   

Conflict can be found in any medium, from interpersonal relationships to academic debates and even international mail-order brides.

Conflict in any medium is a complicated thing.

In the world of video games, this idea can be especially difficult to grapple with because we are so used to the conflict being fun and exciting- not something that is necessary or even desirable, but instead an optional part of gameplay.

Many people believe that a story cannot be told without conflict, and when it comes to media, they may be right.

Conflict is present in any medium and can manifest itself in different ways.

For example, two writers might have an argument over what the next scene should be like between their characters; or two artists might disagree on what color paint to use on a canvas.

Whatever medium you are using for your story, there will always be some form of conflict involved- even if it is just disagreements about how things look and sound!

Conflict is the bane of human existence. It can be found in any medium you care to name, whether it’s a novel, movie, or war.

You may not even realize it but there are conflicts going on all around you as we speak.