Crafting Compelling Character Internal Conflict
By Mary Kole
Mary Kole is a former literary agent, freelance editor, writing teacher, author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit, and IP developer for major publishers, with over a decade in the publishing industry.
In this article, I’m excited to share my insights into the art of crafting character internal conflict within your novels and memoirs. Writing compelling stories is about more than just great plot and engaging characters—it’s about immersing your readers in the emotions and internal struggles of your protagonist. Here, I'll provide a comprehensive guide on how to create character internal conflict that captures the heart and minds of your readers.
What Is Internal Conflict?
Internal conflict is a crucial element of any well-executed protagonist. It is a struggle that occurs within the character, often resulting from a clash of values, beliefs, or desires. A prominent example is a character who chases their objectives but is neglecting their true needs. This struggle is what generates tension and conflict, keeping the reader invested in the character's growth arc. In essence, internal conflict adds depth and complexity to your protagonist and drives the story forward.
Ingredients of Compelling Internal Conflict
To create believable and engaging internal conflict, you must understand the key ingredients that seed this kind of internal tension. First and foremost, you should work to create a well-defined character with unique values, fears, desires, and a backstory that informs their actions and decision-making in the present narrative. Some examples of internal conflict could include a character struggling between loyalty to their family or pursuing their passion, a character fighting against their own self-doubt, or a protagonist grappling with their moral beliefs in the face of a society that doesn’t have the same value system.
How to Execute Internal Conflict for Maximum Emotional Impact
The key to executing internal conflict is to make it feel both relatable and specific to readers. To do this, you need to delve deep into your character's psyche and explore what’s driving their internal struggle (their character wound is a good starting place). You can execute internal conflict by using dialogue, misbeliefs and flaws, interiority, and self-defeating action to show how your character's internal battle is impacting their behavior and decisions. Crucially, be sure to make your protagonist's internal conflict “active” by having it play out in the plot and with secondary characters.
Weaving Internal Conflict and External Conflict
External conflict, such as a challenging situation or obstacle in the plot, is the perfect complement to internal conflict. By weaving the two types of tension together, you heighten the tension and emotional stakes of both conflicts, creating a more nuanced and complex story. Ensure your character reacts to their internal conflict in a way that is logical and consistent with who they are, and where possible, let their inner struggle inform their actions in the external world. This might bring friction with secondary characters and the antagonist, if you have one, and that might only fuel more inner struggle.
Common Mistakes Writers Make with Internal Conflict
One of the most common mistakes new writers make when it comes to crafting internal conflict is not making it active and linking it with the external conflict. Another mistake is making internal conflict too obvious or using clichéd, internal struggles that lack depth and specificity. You also don’t want your character to outright explain their stance to readers. Make your audience work to uncover what the internal conflict is and put the pieces together about what might’ve generated it. As a writer, try to challenge yourself to go deeper into your character's internal struggles and learn to balance those struggles with whatever is happening in your plot and character relationships.
Understanding how to create compelling character internal conflicts is essential to fleshing out your storytelling toolkit. Remember to keep your internal conflict relatable, character-specific, and intertwined with the external plot. By doing so, you can create a story that not only engages your readers but also leaves a lasting impression on them after they finish reading your work.
Click here to purchase Writing Interiority: Crafting Irresistible Characters, my book on interiority and character creation. Explore your protagonist’s thoughts, feelings, reactions and interpretations, expectations, and inner struggles to create a rich, immersive experience. This guide will empower you to create characters who live and breathe on the page, fostering an unbreakable bond with your audience.