Conflict is the beating heart of any compelling story. Without it, your characters have no challenges, your plot has no momentum, and your readers have no reason to keep turning the page. From epic sagas to quiet character studies, every story relies on conflict to drive transformation, tension, and meaning.
What is conflict in writing?
In writing, conflict is the struggle between opposing forces. It’s what gets in the way of your protagonist’s goals and keeps them from achieving what they want, at least, not without a fight.
Conflict creates stakes. It generates suspense. It forces characters to grow, make tough choices, and reveal who they really are.
It might be a sword fight, a courtroom battle, a storm, a moral dilemma, or even a twist of fate, but whatever form it takes, conflict is what pushes the story forward. Conflict is in the heart of your story, your chapters and even your scenes.
Let’s look into the six foundational types of conflict.
Person vs Person
Person vs Person is perhaps the most recognizable type of conflict. It’s one character pitted against another, whether physically, emotionally, intellectually, or ideologically. This dynamic drives everything from action-packed rivalries to romantic dramas and courtroom thrillers.
Examples:
- Harry Potter vs. Voldemort (Harry Potter series)
- Elizabeth Bennet vs. Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice, early on)
- Katniss vs. President Snow (The Hunger Games)
This type of conflict is highly relatable, it reflects our everyday experiences of disagreement, competition, and clashing worldviews.
Person vs Society
In a Person vs Society conflict, the protagonist challenges the norms, laws, institutions, or cultural expectations of the world they live in. It’s the rebel, the outsider, the revolutionary voice trying to be heard in a world that resists change.
Examples:
- Winston Smith vs. Big Brother (1984)
- Celie vs. Racist/Sexist systems (The Color Purple)
- V vs. the totalitarian government (V for Vendetta)
These stories often carry strong themes of justice, identity, or resistance and invite readers to question societal norms and structures.
Person vs Self
Here, the conflict takes place entirely within a character’s mind or heart. Person vs Self is about internal struggles: doubt, fear, guilt, moral dilemmas, or identity crises. It’s quiet but powerful, and it often underpins other types of conflict.
Examples:
- Hamlet’s indecision (Hamlet)
- Frodo’s temptation with the Ring (The Lord of the Rings)
- Nina’s descent into obsession (Black Swan)
Internal conflict adds depth and nuance, showing how external battles are often reflections of what’s happening within.
Person vs Fate
Also known as Person vs Destiny, this conflict pits the protagonist against forces beyond their control: fate, prophecy, karma, or even luck. Characters may try to escape their fate or embrace it, but the tension lies in their relationship to the inevitable.
Examples:
- Oedipus and his doomed prophecy (Oedipus Rex)
- Neo being “The One” (The Matrix)
-
Moana being chosen by the ocean (Moana)
These stories often explore themes of purpose, freedom, and the tension between choice and destiny.
Person vs Nature
In a Person vs Nature conflict, the antagonist is the natural world: storms, animals, disease, the wilderness. Survival stories live here, but so do metaphors for the fragility of human life.
Examples:
- The man vs the Yukon wilderness (To Build a Fire)
- Pi vs the ocean and tiger (Life of Pi)
- Mark Watney vs Mars (The Martian)
This type of conflict often strips characters to their core, revealing primal instincts, resilience, and ingenuity.
Person vs Supernatural
This conflict pits characters against otherworldly forces: ghosts, monsters, gods, aliens, or the unknown. While often seen in horror or fantasy genres, it can also explore psychological and philosophical themes.
Examples:
- Dr. Frankenstein vs his creature (Frankenstein)
- The Losers Club vs Pennywise (It)
- Buffy vs. all manner of demons (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Person vs Supernatural often dramatizes the conflict between the known and unknown, faith and fear, humanity and the beyond.
The Internal vs External Conflict
All conflicts can be divided into internal and external:
-
Internal conflict occurs inside the character (Person vs Self).
-
External conflict happens between the character and an outside force (Person vs Person, Society, Nature, etc.).
The most powerful stories often blend both. A hero fighting a villain might also be grappling with self-doubt. A character defying society might also be confronting their own shame or fear. Layering conflicts creates richer, more emotionally resonant storytelling.
How to use conflict in storytelling?
If you're writing your first novel, here's how to use conflict effectively:
-
Define what your character wants and what’s stopping them.
-
Match the conflict to the theme. A story about courage might need a person vs self conflict; a story about justice might need person vs society.
-
Raise the stakes. The conflict should escalate, deepen, or twist in unexpected ways.
-
Let it transform your character. Conflict should drive change, internally or externally.
-
Use subplots and secondary characters to reflect, contrast, or intensify the main conflict.
Conflict isn’t just a plot device, it’s a mirror for character, theme, and emotion.
Other types of conflicts
While the six main types cover a lot of ground, storytelling is fluid, and other variations exist:
-
Person vs Technology (e.g., Terminator, Her)
-
Person vs The Unknown (especially in sci-fi or horror)
-
Group vs Group (wars, clans, rival factions)
-
Person vs Time (racing against the clock)
-
Ideological conflict (clash of beliefs or values)
Writers today often mix and reinvent these to reflect the complexity of modern life and imagination.
Every story is a journey through struggle. By understanding the types of conflict available to you, you can craft stories that challenge your characters and captivate your audience. Whether it’s a psychological battle, a physical confrontation, or a societal rebellion, conflict is what makes your story matter.
BUNDLE - CHARACTER WORKBOOKS
