When I began writing, one word intimidated me more than any other. That word was "conflict". I didn't quite know how to create it in my fiction. I didn't want a fight or even a disagreement between the characters in my story, especially when I was writing for children. I even wondered why characters had to have such a negative thing as conflict in their lives in the first place!

But now I know.

Conflict is a good thing - the force that pushes your characters and your stories forward. You need to become comfortable creating it and using it because without it, your characters cannot grow and change. Without conflict there is really no story at all, only a series of possibly entertaining but meaningless events.

In fiction, conflict can come from external or internal sources.

External conflict is a struggle with a force outside one's self. This might mean problems between the character and his or her siblings, boyfriend or girlfriend, peers, or other people. It could be a struggle with circumstances not of the character's making - nature, as in a severe storm or natural disaster, or some kind of potential physical danger, such as an encounter with criminals or wild animals, or even war.

Internal conflict goes on inside your character's mind or heart. This could mean deciding how to act or not act in a given situation; having to face up to fear, grief, or other unwanted or unbidden emotions; accepting who he or she is; dealing with physical limitations; or choosing between "right" or "wrong".

The conflicts your character faces will depend on several things. His or her age, life situation, gender, special interests and surroundings will dictate possible conflicts. The type and length of your story will also be a factor. In stories for young readers and most short stories, the main character will only have time to face one major problem. In a novel, you should be able to work in a couple of major conflicts and several minor ones, not always between the same characters.

Situations you might use to create conflict for younger characters include:

• meeting a big dog, or some other frightening animal
• going to a new school
• being teased about a physical disability or other difference (language, religion, colour or nationality)
• confronting a bully at school
• getting lost
• a storm; thunder and lightening; a blackout
• being "dared" to do something he or she doesn't want to do
• finding there is an unknown something under the bed covers or the bed
• going through his or her parents' divorce
• losing a pet
• being approached by a stranger while playing in the park

For teenagers and young adults, conflict might spring from:

• peer pressure to do something (drink, do drugs, shoplift, cheat on exams)
• boyfriend / girlfriend problems
• confrontations with parents over rules, independence, taking the car, etc.
• job or school responsibilities, or career choices
• dealing with a physical disability or other difference
• moving to a new town or city or even another country
• confronting the neighbourhood gang
• facing adverse weather conditions like a flood or ice storm
• becoming lost in the wilderness
• keeping spiritual values in the materialistic, everyday world
• getting through a traumatic event, like an accident or losing a parent or other loved one

• facing a career change, or losing one's job
• financial problems
• disagreements with family members, or with people at work
• substance abuse
• health problems or an accident
• marital problems
• encountering or participating in criminal activity
• losing a loved one
• experiencing a paranormal event, or other unexplained event
• facing a natural disaster
• loss of or questioning one's faith

In many cases, conflict won't be clear cut. Your characters may face a combination of problems, one leading to another, until their conflicts are solved. External conflicts may cause inner turmoil. Internal conflicts may compel a character to act out, creating confrontations with people around her, or even a situation in which he might face physical danger. I love using internal conflict to create depth in a character. The most complicated conflicts, of course, are those involving both external and internal elements. In any event, conflict will produce action, producing emotion, producing action - all propelling your characters forward in the story. So make things difficult for your characters. Have him argue with his parents over how best to protect the family during a hurricane; make her learn that her father is gravely ill just after he forbids her seeing her rebellious boyfriend.

Once you have found the conflicts you want your characters to face, you must allow them to learn and grow through their experiences and ultimately, to resolve their problems. It is of utmost importance that your characters do this alone or with minimal help. It's no good if Dad, big sister, the boss or a knight in shining armour saves the day while your main characters hide under the bed covers or behind a bush, or simply watch helplessly as events unfold around them!

Whatever the situation, there must be something at stake. It may or may not be a big thing, but it must be important to your main characters, and to the outcome of your story. Your characters must see that there are consequences to their actions and their decisions, and they must be changed in some way. In fact, they may be almost unrecognizable by the end of your story!

Conflict will draw your readers into your story and make them care, so don't be afraid! Create some conflict and force your characters to cope with it, taking the reader along for the ride!