{"id":455187,"date":"2021-11-01T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-01T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/?p=455187"},"modified":"2023-04-26T14:49:42","modified_gmt":"2023-04-26T13:49:42","slug":"driving-the-story-internal-vs-external-conflict","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/driving-the-story-internal-vs-external-conflict\/","title":{"rendered":"Driving The Story: Internal Vs. External Conflict"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You can\u2019t have a story without conflict. But what types of conflict should your characters be dealing with? Will it be the bad guys that get between them and their end goal \u2013 or will they<\/em> be the ones standing in their own way? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This internal vs. external conflict debate may sound unnecessary, and some writers simply choose to ignore it, however injecting various types of conflict in your story can be incredibly useful and makes for a deeper (and more tension-filled) story.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a general misconception that a literary fiction novel can\u2019t have external<\/em> conflict and a fast-paced thriller can\u2019t have internal<\/em> conflict \u2013 that commercial work is all about action, and \u2018deeper\u2019 books are more character-driven. That is simply not true.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before we delve into this discussion, let\u2019s establish what constitutes internal and external conflict – or indeed, conflict itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Conflict?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Conflict is the stuff of drama. It\u2019s the main reason people read books. Nobody is interested in a protagonist that\u2019s like a cork bobbing aimlessly in the water. No. Readers want to root for a protagonist that has some sort of aim in life, stakes that are high and difficult to achieve. To be more specific, a book character needs motivation and the drive to achieve something. The obstacles that arise to prevent that from happening are conflict and they only make us root for the protagonist harder.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a reason why plot-driven series like The Hunger Games<\/em> and Divergent<\/em> are so popular. They provide us with solid main characters who are thrust into an inhospitable environment and are asked to survive through them. With plenty of obstacles thrown in their way (be it people trying to kill them, or trauma from their past preventing them from moving on), it makes for popcorn-worthy entertainment. For the same reason, film franchises like Jurassic World<\/em>, Star Wars<\/em> and The Lord of the Rings<\/em> have enduring appeal.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conflict is what makes a story world compelling and a book \u2018unputdownable\u2019. If a conflict is weak then so is the story. The more complex and hard to resolve the issue is, the better the story. The best conflicts are an amalgamation of internal and external conflicts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what\u2019s the difference between internal and external conflict?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Internal Conflict<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In simple terms, internal conflict pertains to a character\u2019s fight with the self.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This internal struggle tells us a great deal about the kind of person they are. In the film The Woman in the Window<\/em>, the main character, Anna Fox, suffers from agoraphobia which makes it near impossible for her to venture out of her house. That is internal<\/em> conflict. It\u2019s this which drives the story forward. Everything that happens in the film basically revolves around Anna\u2019s agoraphobia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s incorrect to say internal conflict only exists in literary fiction. Sure, it can help in exploring the various nuances of a character, but it can also be vital in pushing the story forward. The Woman in the Window<\/em> is a psychological thriller that thrives on the main character\u2019s internal conflict. Similarly, in Anna Karenina<\/em>, we have an example of internal conflict in yet another character called Anna. Unhappy in her marriage, she falls in love with a man she can\u2019t have. Her internal struggle is part of the novel\u2019s enduring appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

External Conflict<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

External conflicts arise when things happen that are out of the character\u2019s control and how they affect their life and prevent them from achieving whatever they want. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

External conflict is plot-driven and thus is used to great effect in thrillers and action novels. However, that isn\u2019t to say that external conflict has no use in character-driven novels. In Anna Karenina<\/em>, her society is one of the reasons Anna can\u2019t be with the man she loves. This is a great external conflict example that appears to be a lot more internal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Jurassic World<\/em> franchise, the conflict doesn\u2019t only arise between the main characters, but mostly due to rampaging dinosaurs being an integral part of the plot. The franchise shows us how, despite every precaution being taken, life itself is difficult to control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turning to YA literature, The Hunger Games<\/em> offers an excellent example of external conflict. Survival is in jeopardy when Katniss Everdeen takes her sister\u2019s place for the games that are held on the order of the Capital. Whatever action she takes against the external forces she\u2019s forced to deal with determine her survival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Difference Between Internal And External Conflict<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Internal vs external conflicts can be more nuanced than this, but here\u2019s a handy reference to distinguish between the two\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Internal<\/strong>: Psychological, emotional, and the past: fears, mental health, trauma, social conditioning and self-doubt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

External<\/strong>: People\/animals\/monsters who are out to get your character, an inhospitable landscape, and events out of their control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Adding Conflict To Your Writing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no better way to move a story forward than to create conflict between characters, their environment, or their internal angst. Without anything to overcome there\u2019s no hero<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conflict can take many forms, but it can mostly be categorised into two camps: internal and external. A novel that possesses both forms of literary conflict affords readers a well-rounded view of not only the characters but also of the story world and overall theme.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are plenty of examples of novels that have both. Some that come to mind are: The House at Riverton<\/em> by Kate Morton, Fates and Furies<\/em> by Lauren Groff, The Alias Grace<\/em> by Margaret Atwood and The Corset by<\/em> Laura Purcell.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember, conflict isn\u2019t only about fistfights and weapons causing widespread destruction. Conflict can be as simple as a person applying for a job and the insecurity they might feel from the other participants.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a look at how we can add conflict to our work in more subtle ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dialogue<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Arguments between characters, not to mention those powerful one-liners, are what drive conflict. Dialogue is often considered one of the best devices for introducing immediate conflict. By applying the old adage \u2018Show Don\u2019t Tell\u2019<\/a>, instead of telling us a character is mean, it\u2019s better to show them being unkind through mannerisms<\/a>, action and dialogue<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This leads us on to\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating Characters With Opposing Views<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Novels are generally categorised as follows: <\/p>\n\n\n\n