Stories need conflict

Your story needs conflict. If you don’t have conflict, then you don’t have a story. There must be problems for the protagonist to overcome. However, conflict does not mean all guns blazing and people at war with one another. Conflict comes in all different forms. Even the gentlest of stories needs conflict, including children’s stories. Glance at picture books and you’ll find the main character is trying to do or achieve something, even if it’s just a teddy looking for their lost ear or a cute steam train that's come off its tracks.

There is inner and outer conflict – or emotional and physical. Inner (emotional) comes from a character’s own moral standing, their beliefs, background, upbringing, personality, etc. For example, your main character could be doing battle with their conscience over something. The conflict may revolve around unrequited love, or a family dispute. Maybe your protagonist is anxious about a forthcoming event. It’s those inner emotional traits that can cause conflict inside the character, so they are fighting against themselves in a way.

Outer conflict (physical) comes from difficulties arising which are beyond their control, such as other people, the weather, physical obstacles, health issues, restrictions put down by others, the world around them. Everything and anything in fact that they can't control.

Your story must have conflict. Your protagonist’s difficulties are what keeps the reader reading on. Combine emotional and physical conflict to make your story even more compelling.

Basically, give your character problems to overcome and don’t let them resolve the problems too easily. By the end of your story your character will either have got to grips/overcome their problems – or not. But even if they haven’t, try and end on a note of hope that at least they have learned something by the experience. Don’t leave your reader feeling dissatisfied by the outcome. If your story has a number of sub plots make sure these are all wrapped up. Avoid leaving lose ends.

Two quick tips

If you’re stuck for a story idea, try this: Give your character a goal – something they are trying to achieve. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Perhaps a new bride wants to cook a meal to impress her in-laws. Next, think of obstacles to spoil her plans. Maybe the cooker breaks down, or she burns everything, or she adds salt instead of sugar to the dessert. Thwart your character's plans and you have a story.

Another quick idea is to give your character a fear – something they really struggle to cope with. Now create a situation where they have no choice but to face that fear. How will they cope? As an example, let’s say your protagonist is new to the area, but has been invited to a party with her child. They are both delighted – the chance to make new friends. However, she has an irrational fear of clowns – coulrophobia. And wouldn’t you know it, a clown has been booked as entertainment for the kids. Does she face her fear or give in to it and pass up the chance to make friends? Her phobia has far reaching consequences - and you have a story.

Simple ideas but with twists and surprises these basic scenarios can be used time and again, and the stories made as in-depth as you wish. It’s just that little spark you need to get going.

Today’s exercises

·         Choose a place you know well, allocate a season of the year to it. Now place a character into that setting. They are feeling one of these emotions: sorrow, joy, fear or anger. Free write on this scenario, see if you can come up with the reason the character is feeling that way. See the situation through the character’s eyes.

·       Write for 10 minutes on something that happened to you yesterday. After 10 minutes introduce a fictional element to your story – something that takes the story off into a new direction. See where you can go with this.

Tomorrow: Developing your own unique style

Thank you Rob Tysall, Tysall's Photography for the photos.