Whether you're writing a fantasy epic or a fluffy romance, conflict is the thing that drives your story, keeping your reader turning the pages. Let's delve into why conflict is essential in your novel.
Conflict Creates Tension
Conflict is the friction between your protagonist and antagonist. This friction is what grips your reader. It's the will they/won't they in a romance, or the question of whether the good guy overcomes the villain. Without that conflict, your plot could easily become stagnant.
Conflict Drives Character Development
When characters confront challenges, they're forced to make changes. This is super important for their journey during the story. Every main character begins at point A, and the conflict they overcome helps them develop to point B, earning the empathy and investment of your readers.
Conflict Enhances Emotional Impact
Conflict elicits powerful emotional responses from readers. Whether it's excitement, fear, anger, or sorrow, these emotions forge a connection between readers and characters, keeping them engrossed from beginning to end.
Conflict Creates Stakes
Conflict raises the stakes for your characters, threading their journey with urgency. Whether it's a personal vendetta, a race for survival, or a fight to save a loved one, the outcome of the conflict holds huge consequences that resonate with readers long after they've turned the final page.
Conflict Reflects Reality
Let's be honest, conflict occurs in real life all the time. Your book could be set on Mars, but if there is no drama in it, nobody will relate. Why? Because conflict is REAL, and people can connect to it on a deep level.
Conflict is the heart of your story. By adding conflict to your novel, you add tension, depth, and emotional resonance, holding your readers' attention and taking them on the characters' journey with them.
