Mastering Conflict: My 3 Tips to drive your Story with Tension.
Adding tension to your story can elevate it to new levels of excitement, emotional depth, and reader engagement.
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Conflict or tension, is the life-blood of any novel. It helps drive the story forward—of any genre—whether it be fantasy to contemporary fiction. Its what keeps readers flipping those pages non-stop till the end. Without tension woven throughout your book, the story falls flat and bland. Readers would be easily put off and place your book on the dreaded “DNF” (Did Not Finish) pile. A pile you don’t want to be on.
Luckily, in this blog post we’ll discuss types of conflict that propels the narrative and creates emotional investment. Things like having your protagonist fight their inner demons or them trying to save the world from a villain—the combination of emotional tension and high stakes make for an unforgettable story. Let’s begin!
Internal vs. External Conflict
Raising the Stakes.
Satisfy the Reader!
1. Internal and External Conflict.
Crafting compelling tension can be a bit tricky, mainly because—as new writers—we want to it to be perfect and logical. We want it to be so high stakes, we think of every possible angle to make sure the conflict is foolproof and couldn’t be subject to analytical probing. But conflict doesn’t have to be complicated.
It could be as simple as your protagonist choosing what to wear for school—do they wear what is the norm and conform or do they rebel, and risk potentially succumbing to ridicule and be typed an outcast? However, deep down they yearn to be free and show their uniqueness. Here you can see the inner conflict of fitting in or being different (self-doubt) that is battling what society deems normal, which is the eternal conflict.
Take a look at this conflict infosheet!
This downloadable PDF describes the various levels of ‘conflict’. Have a look! (Courtesy DayDream Designs from Canva)
Simply, start with your protagonist’s desires or wants and what stands in their way of getting. External conflicts, like societal norms or a villain’s evil plot, provide action and excitement. Internal conflicts, such as self-doubt or a moral dilemma, add emotional depth and relatability. The key is balancing both types of conflict to keep your readers hooked.
2. Raising the Stakes!
‘Stakes’ are closely tied to your protagonists’ goals and an outside influence trying to block them from achieving it. What makes a great story—and what some writers often mistakenly do—is increase the stakes so high and so soon, that it becomes overwhelming to the reader. The key is to start small then build gradually. Introduce small stakes early in the story to establish the protagonist’s world and what they care about. As the plot progresses, escalate the stakes in a logical, step-by-step manner.
For instance, using the above example of the ‘problematic outfit of the day’, the protagonist decides to rebel and be unique, flaunting there own style. Later she finds out she started a revolution at school where students begin to follow their trend, and teachers begin a conspiracy to kick them out.
Next, increase the tension by showing how the protagonist's life begins falter. Their friends and family start feeling pressure from the school’s administration, which strains their relationships and creates deeper conflict. This rift makes the stakes even more personal, adding emotional resonance that readers can easily relate to. Note, personal stakes not only heighten the drama but also makes the characters more relatable.
Additionally, the stakes should force the protagonist to make tough decisions where both options have risks. This makes the conflict more intense without having to rely too much on external forces.
3. Satisfy the Reader!
Satisfying the reader in a typical fashion could leave them feeling underwhelmed. To really reward them, give them a resolution they never saw coming. One of the satisfying things to do as a reader is to flip back into the book and find the clues that lead to the solution!
For example, instead of using brute force to defeat a villain, the protagonist noticed something earlier in the story but decided not to act upon it. Later, your main character outwits the antagonist by using that overlooked piece of information.
To make the conflict even more powerful is to tie the conclusion to your character’s growth. Let’s say your protagonist struggled with being shy, scared and fearful but by the end of the novel, they surprise the villain with their bravery and courage.
And there’s plenty more ways to payoff the reader like:
Let the Antagonist Contribute to Their Own Downfall - Instead of the protagonist directly defeating the antagonist, allow the antagonist’s flaws—like arrogance or greed—to lead to their demise.
Leave Room for Ambiguity - Not all conflicts need a perfectly tied-up ending. Sometimes, a bit of ambiguity allows readers to imagine what happens next. Foreshadowing, anyone?
Introduce a Moral Dilemma - Instead of a clean-cut solution, present the protagonist with two equally challenging choices, forcing them to weigh their values. Think of sacrifices!
And that’s it! I hope you gained some insight and value from this post! Take a look at my other blog, “Creating an Engaging Story: My 4-Act Structure” for more helpful tips on creating conflict and tension!
A helpful video by ‘Writer Brian McNulty’ on how to weave tension into every page. Give it a watch!
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