The Importance of Conflict in Fiction

Conflict

In a story, conflict is one of the most important tools for developing the plot. The story’s main characters are often struggling with their own feelings and goals, but they’re also dealing with forces outside their control. By exploring the relationship between these forces, a writer can develop a deeper level of meaning for the story.

When a character wants something, but that desire is incompatible with another, the conflict occurs. This can take many forms. For instance, a girl in a novel might want to stay in her house but her husband won’t let her leave. Another example is a race between two men. One of them wins, but he suffers a heart attack in the process.

While conflict isn’t always pleasant, it’s an essential part of any story. It can drive the plot forward, as well as provide readers with an opportunity to learn more about a protagonist’s arc.

As a writer, you should use conflict as a way to reveal your character’s motivations. You can do this by making your protagonist go through a series of logical steps to achieve their goal. To determine your protagonist’s objective, look at their past experiences and how they would approach a similar situation now.

To figure out your protagonist’s objective, identify which of their goals are the most crucial. Those goals should include relational, content, and process goals. Content goals involve the outcome of an event, while process goals refer to the distribution of resources and the attainment of an identity goal.

A character’s main desire will determine the level of intensity of his conflict. Increasing the degree of the antagonist’s forces will make for a more developed character. Ultimately, the best solution in a conflict resolution will be a win-win situation for both parties.

The best conflict resolution should involve understanding the opponent’s viewpoint and how they perceive the issue. This involves asking lots of questions, listening to their perspective, and understanding how they feel. Using this information to find a compromise will give you the most value for your efforts.

The same goes for the best conflict resolution, but in this case you’ll be using third parties. Third party mediators are usually trusted individuals who aren’t part of the group. They will help you brainstorm possible solutions to the problem.

Finally, the best conflict resolution may not be the solution that is most obvious. That’s because the best solution is not always the easiest to find. Often, the best solution is one that gives the most to each of the groups.

Whenever you are involved in a conflict, be sure to look for its oh-so-simple omgs and the most relevant omgs. Sometimes, this means being rational and apologizing for your actions. Other times, it means being sensitive to your opponent’s emotions and identifying the most common triggers for a reaction.

By learning how to handle conflict, you’ll be able to deal with difficult personalities and achieve better results.