📍 Back in the Flow
Returning to this series after my biking injury recovery has reminded me how foundational structure is—not just in healing, but in writing. And if there’s one element that defines the heartbeat of a scene, it’s this one: Conflict.
Let’s explore why conflict isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.
🎯 What Is Conflict, and Why Is It Crucial?
Conflict is where story lives.
Whether it’s an argument, a race against time, or a quiet dinner filled with unspoken tension, conflict gives a scene its stakes. It puts a character’s desire in jeopardy—and when something’s at risk, we as readers lean in.
As Fictionary teaches:
“You need both conflict and tension to keep your reader engaged. You don’t need both in every scene, but you should have one.”
In short: Tension is the threat; Conflict is the clash. Both drive your story forward. One must be present in every scene.
🧠 Two Faces of Conflict
1. In-Your-Face Conflict
These are the bold moments—fights, arguments, chases, showdowns.
Example: A woman clings to the edge of a boat while her aggressor tries to shove her overboard.
2. Subtle Conflict
These are the scenes that hum beneath the surface—emotionally charged conversations, quiet betrayals, unresolved power dynamics.
Example: During a group dinner, a woman shares a story. Her husband interrupts to “correct” her. She grits her teeth, smiles, and finishes his version.
Both are valid. Both create friction. Both give the reader something to feel.
🛠 Using Fictionary to Track Conflict
In Fictionary’s StoryCoach software, every scene is evaluated for Conflict:
- ✅ Mark with a √ when the conflict is present and effective.
- ❌ Enter “None” if there’s no real struggle or opposing force.
- ⚠️ Use “Too Little”, “Too Much”, or “Unrelated” to flag imbalance or irrelevance.
- 🗣️ Use “Dialogue Length” when lengthy speech reduces the force of the conflict.
💡 On the Story Map, select:
- Scene Name
- Conflict
- Tension
Seeing these side by side helps identify weak points in story propulsion.
📚 Case Study: Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny
Inspector Gamache and Myrna meet a stranger in a snowbound cabin.
- Conflict: The stranger wants them to sign a document without knowing why they’re there.
- Gamache & Myrna’s goal: Understand before they act.
The scene simmers with tension (the collapsing cabin) and delivers conflict through opposing character goals.
This interplay is the kind of storytelling Fictionary helps you recognize—and replicate.
🧾 Advice for Writers: Building Believable Conflict
Here’s what to check when evaluating your own scenes:
- Is there an obstacle to the POV character’s goal?
- Does that obstacle feel real and plot-related?
- Is the conflict emotional, physical, internal, or interpersonal?
- Does the dialogue advance the tension—or slow it down?
- Are your key structural scenes (Inciting Incident, Plot Points, Midpoint, Climax) filled with heightened conflict?
If not, it’s time to revise.
❗ Common Conflict Pitfalls
- Contrived dialogue that manufactures drama without purpose
- Conflict that feels unrelated to the main plot
- Scenes with no friction or easy outcomes
- Excessive arguments that numb the reader
- Revealing too much too soon, reducing stakes
The best conflict aligns with your character’s deepest wants—and blocks them from getting it.
🧭 Use the Story Map to Visualize Conflict
Once your full draft is in Fictionary:
- Select Scene Name + Conflict + Tension
- Look for scenes marked “None,” “Too Little,” or “Unrelated”
- Focus revision efforts where conflict and tension are weak or mismatched
💡 Pro Tip: Include a screenshot of this Story Map when sharing feedback with editors or critique partners. It helps visualize the peaks and valleys of your story’s emotional energy.
🔁 Final Thought
Conflict is not optional.
It’s the crucible in which your characters are tested—and where your readers decide to stay with you or walk away.
So don’t play it safe. Put goals in jeopardy. Challenge your characters. Risk disagreement. Raise stakes.
Because without conflict… there is no story.
The Pencil Driven Life 