No Conflict, No Story: Why Tension Is Everything in Fiction
Every great story needs conflict. Learn how to add tension, raise stakes, and keep readers hooked from the first scene to the last. Hey again! Reginaldo Osnildo here, and this time we’re diving into one of the most powerful forces in storytelling : conflict. Let’s get one thing straight: If there’s no conflict, there’s no story. Even if you’ve got beautiful characters and poetic prose, readers won’t care unless something goes wrong . Because what makes people turn the page is one thing: Tension. So let’s talk about what conflict is, how to create it, and how to use it to make your stories totally addictive. What Is Conflict, Exactly? In fiction, conflict means a struggle —something standing between the character and what they want. It can be: A person A situation An internal fear or belief A force of nature Even time running out Without conflict, your character just floats through life… and that’s not a story. That’s...