7 Great Tips to Create Conflict in Your Story

• Focus on conflict in opening lines
Almost certainly the most important lines in a story are the first ones. They give the tale direction and set the mood and tone. With an opening sentence, a writer must push the reader through the looking glass into a new world that can’t be escaped from.

• Utilize both internal and external conflicts
All stories center on conflict; arguably, the whole point of a story is to resolve some type of conflict. One way of thinking about conflict is to divide it into categories – internal and external.

• Center on internal flaw for compelling story 
To make a story more compelling, consider structuring it around an internal flaw in the main character. An internal flaw is some personal trait that makes a character less than perfect – perhaps being quick to anger, possibly suffering from jealousy or envy, maybe believing his outlook on the world is the only correct one. 

• Use confidant to reveal hero’s inner turmoil
Sometimes to reveal the protagonist’s inner conflict, he shares his thoughts with another character. This character who the protagonist trusts is referred to as a confidant (or a confidante if a female).

• Develop complex antagonist to maximize conflict 
In most stories, someone causes the problem that vexes the main character. This character is called the antagonist. 

• Deliver thrusts and counterthrusts 
 When the main character attempts to take charge of a situation and overcome his central problem, the author has created a scene. This effort by the main character is called a “counterthrust.”

• Use man vs. man conflict in story
When developing your story, you’ll want your characters to face a number of challenges or conflicts. One of the most basic of them is man vs. man.