Internal Conflict

by David Batten-Hill
14th March 2012

Here's a thought. We all know that conflict is what hooks readers, don't we? But can this be the conflict in one character? I'm thinking, the character wants/needs to do something bad but his conscience argues with him throughout the plot.

What do you think?

Replies

What CD said above. We all carry on internal conflicts, however laid-back on the outside, and so must your character. Otherwise he/she is just a cut-out.

I'd be wary if that is the only conflict in the story. There must be others; external, just as in everyday life.

Now - tea or coffee? :)

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Jonathan
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Jonathan Hopkins
14/03/2012

I don't think that is anything new. A lot of good stories contain a character that at some point comes in conflict with himself, his conscious or whatever you want to call it. I believe so anyway.

All good stories should talk about internal conflict as well, that is how one can make the character seem more real, that is how, I think, you can show some growth and development in your character. By showing him dealing with his own internal conflicts as well as what is happening around him. Two of the biggest stories I have written so far, (trying to get them ready to send them to an agent) speak a lot about the main characters internal conflicts and how they evolve through what they are experiencing. One of the two is based solely on what the character is feeling and how he is dealing with what is happening to him in the story.

Even stories that speak about characters with split personalities, or schizophrenics are, again I believe, just using extreme cases to show internal conflict. Even the ones that don’t use these personality disorders, they more often than not describe, mention, how their character is feeling delusional, or he is losing his sanity because of this internal conflict.

I really enjoy such stories, and I always try and write my stories in a way that show at least some internal conflict. I think it makes it way more interesting. As I said, the second story I have written is solely about a character’s internal conflict and how he is dealing with a situation that happened to him.

I say go for it, give it a try, as such stories also tent to reveal to you, the writer, a lot about yourself :D

Good luck with it and I would love to read the opening chapters one day here on the site :) .

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Christophoros Demetriou
14/03/2012

My book is based on alot of internal conflict....but then my character has a demon soul. But I think the most interesting conflict of all, is the one inside ourselves! I have some of the best internal arguments when I want to do something I know I shouldnt. Best thing about humans is that we have very diverse personalities, with a bit of good and a bit of bad in us. We are not just one thing :)

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Victoria Limbert
14/03/2012