No Conflict, No Story: Why Tension Is Everything in Fiction
Every great story needs conflict. Learn how to add tension, raise stakes, and keep readers hooked from the first scene to the last.
Hey again!
Reginaldo Osnildo here, and this time we’re diving into one of the most
powerful forces in storytelling: conflict.
Let’s get
one thing straight:
If there’s no conflict, there’s no story.
Even if
you’ve got beautiful characters and poetic prose, readers won’t care unless
something goes wrong. Because what makes people turn the page is one
thing:
Tension.
So let’s
talk about what conflict is, how to create it, and how to use it to make your
stories totally addictive.
What Is
Conflict, Exactly?
In fiction,
conflict means a struggle—something standing between the character and
what they want.
It can be:
- A
person
- A
situation
- An
internal fear or belief
- A
force of nature
- Even
time running out
Without
conflict, your character just floats through life… and that’s not a story. That’s
a diary entry.
5 Types
of Conflict (Pick One or Mix Them!)
1. Character
vs. Character
Two people
clash. Could be enemies, rivals, lovers with opposing goals, etc.
Example: Two siblings fight over their
mother’s will.
2. Character
vs. Self
An internal
struggle. Doubt, fear, guilt, identity.
Example: A soldier struggles with the guilt
of surviving a battle his friends didn’t.
3. Character
vs. Society
The
character is up against a system, culture, or group.
Example: A teen rebels against a strict
religious community.
4. Character
vs. Nature
The setting
itself becomes the antagonist.
Example: A family survives a hurricane while
stuck in their attic.
5. Character
vs. Fate/God/Technology/etc.
Bigger,
more existential battles.
Example: A man learns his future is
predetermined—and tries to change it.
Why
Conflict Is the Heartbeat of Your Story
Conflict
does three amazing things:
- Creates suspense – We keep reading to see what
happens next.
- Reveals character – How your character handles
the struggle shows who they really are.
- Drives growth – Through conflict, the
character changes—and that’s what stories are all about.
How to
Add Conflict to Any Scene
Ask yourself:
- What does the character want
here?
- What (or who) is stopping them?
- What’s at risk if they fail?
Even small
scenes can (and should) have tension.
Example: A guy ordering coffee while trying
not to run into his ex = conflict!
Conflict
vs. Drama (They’re Not the Same!)
Conflict is about goals in opposition.
Drama is just emotional intensity.
You can
have drama without conflict (think: crying in a monologue)… but it doesn’t move
the story.
With
conflict, something has to give. Someone has to change, win, lose, or break.
Quick
Conflict-Building Exercise
Take a
character you’ve created. Ask:
- What’s
their main goal?
- What’s
their biggest fear?
- Who or what is in their way?
Now write a
scene where both the goal and fear collide. That’s where the tension
lives.
Writing
Tip: Raise the Stakes
Don’t be
afraid to make things harder.
Every time
your character solves one problem, throw a bigger one at them. Tension builds
with escalation.
Think of it
like this:
Want +
Obstacle = Tension
Tension + Stakes = Story
Story + Growth = Impact
🎁 Want to Learn How to Turn Conflict Into a Full
Story?
If you’re
starting to see how all these pieces fit together, but still need help crafting
scenes with real tension and emotion—I’ve got something just for you:
👉 The Basics of Creative Writing for
Those Who Have Never Written Short Stories or Novels
Inside, I’ll show you:
- How to create conflict that
fits your story
- How to use tension to keep
readers hooked
- How to guide your character
through meaningful growth
You’ll go
from blank page to fully written story—even if you’ve never written fiction
before.
So let’s
start some trouble.
Add a little chaos. Stir the pot.
Because without conflict, your story can’t come alive.
Catch you
in the next article!
— Reginaldo Osnildo