What's the Problem? The Four Classic Conflict Types

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

This week's Refresher Friday takes another look at the different types of conflict--something I received a lot of questions about at the California Dreamin' Writers Conference I spoke at last weekend.  

Conflict is vital to any story, but it isn't always between people, which can be a bit confusing for writers looking for their antagonist. Some stories pit the protagonist against society, or a natural disaster. Others have the traditional hero vs. villain setup.

No matter the genre though, there will be conflict in the story, and understanding what's at the heart of yours will make it easier to write. For example, if you have a person vs. self conflict, you'll know your protagonist will act in ways that are personally harmful, and the plot will show how he or she overcomes that trait or flaw causing trouble in his or her life.

Let's look at the four classic story conflict types and how they define the basic conflict structure.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com