🔥 Rule #4: Create Conflict in Every Scene

Conflict is the fuel that keeps your story engine running. Without it, your narrative stalls, and your readers’ attention drifts. It doesn’t always have to be a life-or-death struggle—sometimes the most gripping conflicts are subtle, internal, and emotional—but there must always be friction.

In film, every scene either moves the story forward or raises the stakes through conflict. As a novelist writing with a cinematic mindset, you need to think the same way.

Why Conflict Matters in Every Scene

• Drives the Plot – Conflict gives characters goals, obstacles, and reasons to act.

• Reveals Character – How someone handles challenges tells us more than pages of description.

• Keeps Readers Engaged – Without tension, readers lose interest—fast.

Types of Conflict to Use

1. External Conflict – A physical challenge, a direct confrontation, or an urgent problem in the world.

2. Internal Conflict – Emotional struggles, moral dilemmas, or fears that influence decisions.

3. Interpersonal Conflict – Tension between characters—arguments, rivalries, or unspoken resentments.

4. Situational Conflict – Circumstances that force characters into uncomfortable or risky situations.

How to Infuse Conflict into Every Scene

• Give Every Character an Agenda – Even in casual scenes, each person should want something that may not align with others.

• Raise the Stakes – Even small conflicts should feel important in the moment.

• Layer Conflicts – Combine external and internal tensions for richer storytelling.

• Avoid “Flat” Scenes – If everyone is agreeing and nothing is at risk, rewrite until tension emerges.

The Payoff

When you create conflict in every scene, your story maintains momentum, your characters feel dynamic, and your readers stay hooked. The best stories don’t give their characters a break—they keep the pressure on until the very end.

💡 Pro Tip: Before moving to your next chapter, ask: What’s the conflict here, and how does it make the reader want to keep going?