Can I ask about the idea of the types of inner conflict ideas (desire, duty, self-concept, principles, fear, etc.) and explain them I guess? I’m a bit confused on them but I think they’ll be excellent to use in developing inner conflict.
Yes! So, the traits typically used to create inner conflict in a character, such as the ones you listed, are things that you should generally know about your character to make them as well-rounded and realistic as possible. “Inner conflict” happens when two of those traits clash. We can look at all of those in greater detail and look at examples of how you can pit them against each other.
Desire: Your character’s positive motivation, the thing that they want the most, the goal they are trying to achieve.
Duty: The responsibilities that they have, whether is is to their family, friends, their job, their religion, or whatever else they might be involved in.
Self Concept: The image one has of oneself. Keep in mind this is how they see themselves, not necessarily the truth of how they actually are or how others see them.
Fear: The negative motivator, the things your character most desperately wants to avoid.
Principles: A fundamental belief that your character or system of beliefs that your character holds as truth.
Once you have each of these tings established for your character, you can create inner conflict by sort of pitting them against each other. Sometimes, when you are developing these aspects, you find that some of them might naturally be at odds for each other.
Some examples- your character wants something desperately (desire) but in order to get it, they have to face down something that terrifies them (fear). Now it becomes a matter of which trait is stronger than the other- the desire or the fear.
Another example- duty vs. principles. The character has a responsibility to their job (duty), but then they are asked to do something that goes against this own personal values (principles.) They must then decide which is more important to them: completing their duty, or standing their ground on their principles.
One final example- self concept vs. desire. The character believes themselves to be of a certain type of person (self concept), but they take interest in something that is outside the sphere of what they thing is normal for that group (desire).
These are not the only combinations, or the only traits that work for inner conflict. In fact, using cornerstones and pillars can help develop your character and figure out what might be a good inner conflict for your character.
Also, you can create conflict by putting two of the same things against each other- for example, your character could have two conflicting desires, and then have to decide which one they want more.
Hope that clarifies things!
- Penemue
