How to Identify a Conflict Within a Story
A good story requires conflict, which is the point in the story when the protagonist runs into obstacles. There are many types of conflicts that can take place in a story, including conflict within a person, conflict between characters and conflict with the environment. Even if the reader is not familiar with conflict within a story, there are ways to determine what the conflict is.
Step 1
Identify the protagonist of the story. This is the main character, who the story revolves around.
Step 2
Find out what the protagonist's goal is. The protagonist's goal is usually revealed in the first act of a story. Once the protagonist's goal is determined, it is easy to find the conflict. Sometimes the protagonist's goal is to get a person to fall in love with him, to achieve something or to get to a particular place.
Step 3
Identify what or who is coming between the protagonist and his goal. If the goal is to get somewhere, and there is a huge storm, then it's a conflict. If the goal is to get a person to fall in love with him, and another person gets in their way, then that's a conflict. Sometimes a protagonist creates conflict within himself. If the protagonist wants a certain person to notice him, but is unable to make a move due to insecurity, then it is an internal conflict.
Writer Bio
Megan Richardson began her career as a freelance writer and editor in 2009. She has experience in public relations and event planning, and she worked as a writer's assistant to a published author for more than a year. Her work has also appeared in "The Daily Sentinel." Richardson holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication and journalism from Stephen F. Austin State University
