Characters can have problems with other people, with objects, or with nature. We all know about the different types of problems people have with other people. They may fight or simply be getting to know about each other. In fiction writing, this is considered a conflict.

Your character can have trouble with a machine or with nature. Technology is a good source for this kind of conflict. Who has not had some kind of struggle with a computer? If nature is your interest, try writing a story about a character facing a wild animal or a terrible storm. Sometimes, the conflict is with something imaginary, like a vampire or a UFO.

As you can see, there are many possibilities for conflict. Think of some of your favorite stories. What is the conflict the main character faces? In a novel, there may be many conflicts as the story unfolds. For instance, Harry Potter faces new villains and forces of evil in chapter after chapter. Since we will be writing short stories, you will need to keep your conflict simpler. There is not enough time to resolve many conflicts in a short story, so you will need to choose only a main conflict and maybe one other small problem for the main character to face.

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