We resist real-world conflict, with good reason: it’s distressing at least and harmful at most. Ironically, conflict is the author’s essential writing tool. Authors pull the pin and toss the conflict grenade into the middle of scenes; we can’t run from the blast or fallout. Yet, many stories lack conflict, hurting overall storytelling. Here, we examine conflict, why it matters, and how you can incorporate it into your next short fiction.

WHAT IS CONFLICT?

–not simply an obstacle to brush aside, but the combination of internal and external challenges a protagonist faces in their transformation process. 

The best story conflict allows characters to dig into their problems because there’s a difference between what makes characters stumble momentarily and what they grapple with to change. Internal and external conflict work to this effect, and Dana Wall’s flash fiction “The Space Between,” published by Intrepidus Ink on April 2, 2025, demonstrates this principle.

Wall’s surgeon struggles to regain his confidence after losing a patient. Her protagonist muses Thirty-six hours into the malpractice review, they finally ask the question that matters: Would I have done anything differently? He tells himself no, yet his doubts reveal otherwise: Was I too eager to proceed that morning, despite the slight elevation in her blood pressure? 

For this character, especially for flash fiction, the internal conflict of second-guessing is perfect, particularly when paired with a new, high-risk surgery (the external challenge). Few surgeons can do what he can, but his confidence drives his success, and he can’t brush off what happened. Is he compromised? The protagonist’s internal and external challenges illuminate the character’s outcome. 

WHY CONFLICT MATTERS

As a writer, a primary goal is to make readers care. Your conflict might not be well-established if they’re not emotionally invested in your story. Dana Wall’s work shines a light on this principle.

Wall’s surgeon fights to return to a place of confidence. While the opening allows readers to believe in his elite skills, it makes room for his humanity and the possibility he messed up. Should the reader trust him? Wall twists the emotional knife when a family of conjoined twins asks for help to separate them: The father of the twins sends me their complete imaging: “They say you’re the best, even with what happened. They say you’re the only one crazy enough to try.” 

This turning point is key and demonstrates multiple craft elements at work to reach readers on an emotional level. First, Wall showcases the power of the appeal; readers immediately relate to a desire for help, healing, and protection. Second is Wall’s use of subtext (implicit meaning) in the following line, I book a flight to Baltimore. The line demonstrates the surgeon’s changing headspace through curtailed language (and exemplifies flash fiction’s principles of compression and brevity). Finally, the text employs high stakes. Wall’s conflict Makes Readers Care.   

INCORPORATING CONFLICT

As discussed, character decision-making is a fantastic starting point for conflict. During a malpractice suit and against legal advice, Wall’s surgeon travels to another hospital to conduct one of the most high-risk surgeries of his career. After studying the girls’ films, the surgeon muses, One wrong move, and I destroy two brains instead of one. This is the kind of surgery that ended careers before mine even started. 

During surgery, he grapples with his choices but moves forward: Sometimes that’s all we get in this business—a space smaller than hope, and the courage to cut through it. The key piece of diction is courage. Wall’s understanding of internal and external conflict significantly affects her character’s transformation.

CONFLICT TIPS:

• Make characters work to overcome their challenges
  • Decisions reveal the process and stages of change
• One step forward/two steps back—nothing can be easy
  • Particularly applies to short stories (more word count)

IN CLOSING

Conflict is an author’s key storytelling ingredient. Armed with this knowledge, design compelling problems for your characters. What blast and fallout will YOU create? Tell us about it @intrepidusink on X and watch for our conflict challenge.