external conflict

External conflict is the visible struggle between a character and outside forces—be it another person, society, nature, technology, fate, or the supernatural. Unlike internal conflict, which occurs within a character’s emotions or thoughts, external conflict shapes the physical action and forward momentum of a story. Understanding how different types of external conflict drive plot, define stakes, and reveal character qualities is essential for writers, storytellers, and students of narrative. This guide breaks down the key types of external conflict with definitions, real-world examples, and expert tips to craft compelling, believable narrative tension.


Definition and Characteristics of External Conflict

External conflict in storytelling refers to the struggle between a character and an outside force. This force can be another character, societal norms, nature, technology, or even fate. It is a key driver of narrative momentum, creating obstacles that the protagonist must overcome to achieve their goals. Unlike internal conflict, which occurs within a character’s mind or emotions, external conflict exists in the physical world and is observable by others in the story.

Key traits of external conflict include:

• Tangible opposition: The source of conflict is outside the character, such as an antagonist or a natural disaster.
• Clear stakes: The conflict often involves visible consequences, like life or death, freedom versus oppression, or success versus failure.
• Plot propulsion: External conflict pushes the story forward by challenging the character’s objectives and forcing them to act or adapt.

Major Types of External Conflict

Character vs. Character

This is one of the most common forms of external conflict, where the protagonist faces opposition from another character. Often, this takes the shape of a hero versus a villain dynamic, but it can also involve allies with conflicting goals.

Example: In Harry Potter, Harry’s ongoing battle against Voldemort is a classic example of character vs. character conflict.

Character vs. Nature

In this type, the protagonist struggles against natural forces such as storms, animals, or wilderness environments. The conflict typically highlights human vulnerability and resilience.

Example: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway centers around a fisherman’s grueling battle with a giant marlin and the sea itself.

Character vs. Society

Here, the character stands in opposition to societal norms, laws, institutions, or cultural expectations. This conflict often explores themes of justice, freedom, and rebellion.

Example: In The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen fights against an oppressive government system, embodying the character vs. society conflict.

Character vs. Technology

This conflict involves a struggle against machines, artificial intelligence, or any form of technological advancement that poses a threat. It is common in science fiction and often raises ethical or philosophical questions.

Example: In The Matrix, Neo battles a technologically advanced system that controls human reality.

Character vs. Supernatural

The protagonist confronts forces beyond scientific understanding, such as ghosts, gods, or mythical creatures. This conflict blends external tension with elements of fear and awe.

Example: In Stranger Things, the characters face supernatural entities from an alternate dimension, presenting a clear external threat.

Character vs. Fate or Destiny

In this form, the character struggles against a predetermined outcome or prophecy. The tension arises from the desire to assert free will against an unchangeable future.

Example: In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus tries to escape his prophesied fate, only to fulfill it, highlighting the inescapability of destiny.

The Role of External Conflict in Plot Progression

External conflict plays a critical role in shaping a story’s structure and pacing. It introduces challenges that test the protagonist, prompting action, growth, or failure. Each encounter with external conflict escalates tension and builds toward a climax, where the central conflict reaches a turning point and is ultimately resolved.

Key functions of external conflict in plot development include:

• Establishing stakes and tension: Conflict clarifies what’s at risk and why readers should care.
• Pacing the narrative: Challenges and obstacles keep the story dynamic and prevent stagnation.
• Revealing character traits: How a character responds to external pressures showcases their values, strengths, and weaknesses.
• Driving character arcs: Repeated confrontation with external forces often catalyzes internal change, leading to a more complete and compelling character journey.

By understanding and effectively utilizing external conflict, writers can craft stories that resonate with readers and maintain narrative momentum from beginning to end.

Major Types of External Conflict

External conflict occurs when a character faces opposition from an outside force. These forces can come in many forms, each presenting unique challenges that help shape the narrative and drive character development. Below are the major types of external conflict used in storytelling, along with their defining traits and examples.

Character vs. Character

This is one of the most common forms of external conflict, where the protagonist is in direct opposition with another character. These conflicts often arise from differences in goals, beliefs, or values and typically involve antagonistic relationships.

Examples:

• In Harry Potter, Harry’s ongoing battle with Voldemort is a classic character vs. character conflict.
• In The Great Gatsby, the tension between Gatsby and Tom Buchanan centers on their rivalry for Daisy’s affection.

Implementation Tips:

• Ensure both characters have believable motivations.
• Use dialogue and action to highlight the clash.
• Allow the conflict to evolve, showing how the relationship changes with the plot.

Character vs. Nature

In this type of conflict, the protagonist struggles against natural forces such as weather, animals, disease, or the environment. These conflicts often test a character's survival instincts and resilience.

Examples:

• In The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, the protagonist battles the sea and a giant marlin.
• In Into the Wild, Christopher McCandless faces the harsh Alaskan wilderness.

Implementation Tips:

• Highlight the character’s internal growth as they face natural adversity.
• Use vivid descriptions to make the setting a powerful force in the story.
• Emphasize themes of survival, isolation, and the human condition.

Character vs. Society

This conflict arises when a character stands in opposition to societal norms, laws, or cultural expectations. It often addresses themes of injustice, rebellion, or personal freedom.

Examples:

• In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch challenges the racial prejudices of his community.
• In The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen resists a totalitarian regime.

Implementation Tips:

• Clearly define the societal structures the character is challenging.
• Show the stakes of resisting the status quo.
• Use secondary characters to represent different facets of society.

Character vs. Technology

In this conflict, a character struggles against technological forces or advancements, which may threaten their way of life, identity, or humanity. This is especially prevalent in science fiction genres.

Examples:

• In The Matrix, humans battle artificial intelligence that controls their reality.
• In I, Robot, characters confront the ethical implications of advanced robotics.

Implementation Tips:

• Explore themes of control, dependence, and ethical dilemmas.
• Create realistic technological systems with consistent rules.
• Show how technology affects human relationships and choices.

Character vs. Supernatural

This involves opposition to elements that defy natural laws, such as ghosts, gods, monsters, or magical forces. This type of conflict is common in fantasy and horror genres.

Examples:

• In The Shining, Jack Torrance battles supernatural forces within the haunted Overlook Hotel.
• In Beowulf, the hero fights mythical creatures like Grendel and a dragon.

Implementation Tips:

• Establish rules for the supernatural elements to maintain internal logic.
• Use the supernatural as a metaphor for psychological or societal issues.
• Build suspense through uncertainty and fear of the unknown.

Character vs. Fate/Destiny

Here, the protagonist struggles against a predetermined future or an inescapable fate. Often, the character desires to change or escape what seems inevitable.

Examples:

• In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus attempts to avoid a prophecy, only to fulfill it.
• In Final Destination, characters try to cheat death but are ultimately unable to escape fate.

Implementation Tips:

• Create a strong internal conflict alongside the external struggle.
• Use symbolism to reflect the character’s struggle against fate.
• Explore questions of free will versus determinism.

Each type of external conflict provides a different lens through which to view the protagonist’s journey. Writers often blend multiple types to create layered and compelling narratives that resonate with readers.

Creating Effective External Conflicts

External conflict is one of the primary drivers of narrative momentum in fiction. It introduces obstacles that challenge your characters and force them to act, evolve, or fail. To craft engaging and believable external conflicts, writers must thoughtfully consider the sources, stakes, and progression of these struggles. Below are key techniques and strategies to create compelling external conflicts that resonate with readers and elevate your storytelling.

Define the Nature of the Conflict

Before developing an external conflict, clearly identify the type of opposition your character will face. External conflicts typically fall into several categories:

• Character vs. Character: Interpersonal struggles, rivalries, or antagonistic forces represented by another person.
• Character vs. Nature: Survival against elements, natural disasters, or animal attacks.
• Character vs. Society: Challenges to societal norms, laws, or institutions.
• Character vs. Technology: Clashes with machines, AI, or technological systems.
• Character vs. Supernatural: Encounters with unexplainable forces like ghosts, gods, or monsters.
• Character vs. Fate/Destiny: Struggles against predetermined outcomes or prophecies.

Clearly defining the conflict’s category helps you establish a logical framework and determine the appropriate stakes and setting.

Raise the Stakes

Effective external conflict requires consequences. What does your character stand to lose if they fail? Raising the stakes amplifies tension and keeps readers invested. Stakes can be:

• Personal: Loss of loved ones, status, or identity.
• Moral/Ethical: Forcing the character to act against their beliefs.
• Physical: Risk of injury or death.
• Societal: Impact on a larger group, community, or world.

Make the stakes visible and immediate, and escalate them as the story progresses.

Develop a Strong Antagonist or Opposing Force

In character-driven external conflicts, the antagonist should be as fully realized as the protagonist. Avoid one-dimensional villains. Instead, create antagonists with clear motivations, goals, and internal logic. Even in non-human conflicts (e.g., nature or technology), the opposing force should feel formidable and dynamic.

Tips for building a compelling antagonist:

• Give them a personal connection to the protagonist.
• Offer them a chance for redemption or a moral grey area.
• Make their goals understandable, even sympathetic.

Integrate Conflict into the Plot Structure

External conflict should not be isolated to a single scene or chapter. It must be woven through the narrative arc. Consider how external conflict drives key plot points:

• Inciting Incident: Introduce the conflict early to propel the story forward.
• Rising Action: Increase tension through escalating challenges.
• Climax: Resolve the central external conflict at the story’s turning point.
• Falling Action and Resolution: Show consequences and character growth.

Make sure the conflict evolves rather than repeating the same beat. Each confrontation should reveal something new or change the character’s trajectory.

Use Setting and Environment to Enhance Conflict

The setting can amplify external conflict or become an active part of it. A hostile environment can mirror the emotional tone of a scene, limit character options, or introduce new dangers. For example:

• A snowstorm can trap characters together, intensifying a man vs. man conflict.
• A dystopian city might symbolize a character’s struggle against societal oppression.
• An alien planet could introduce unknown threats to test survival instincts.

Use descriptive language to make the environment feel tangible and integral to the conflict.

Balance with Internal Conflict

Although external conflict is outward-facing, it should provoke internal reactions. Effective storytelling often aligns external events with internal dilemmas. For instance, a character fighting a corrupt system (external) might also struggle with fear or self-doubt (internal).

This interplay deepens character development and makes the conflict feel more personal and multidimensional. Use moments of reflection, dialogue, or decision-making to illustrate how external struggles impact the character’s inner world.

Keep the Conflict Believable and Consistent

Consistency is key to credibility. Ensure that the conflict’s progression makes sense within your story’s world and logic. Avoid introducing sudden, unearned resolutions (deus ex machina) or antagonists who act without clear motivation.

To maintain believability:

• Establish rules for your world and stick to them.
• Show cause and effect for each conflict-related action.
• Avoid overly convenient outcomes that undermine tension.

Use Dialogue and Action to Reveal Conflict

External conflict often unfolds through confrontation, pursuit, or resistance. Use dynamic dialogue, physical action, and pacing to bring these moments to life. Let your characters make difficult choices, take risks, and engage in meaningful exchanges that reflect the stakes.

For example:

• A heated courtroom debate can showcase ideological conflict.
• A chase scene through a dense forest can illustrate survival instinct and desperation.
• A rebellion scene can visually represent resistance against societal norms.

Keep these moments grounded in character motivation and plot relevance.

Monitor Pacing and Timing

Well-paced external conflict builds suspense and maintains reader engagement. Avoid front-loading or back-loading all the conflict. Instead, distribute moments of tension throughout the story. Use quieter scenes to give readers and characters time to reflect, then return to higher-stakes encounters with renewed intensity.

Vary the rhythm of your conflict scenes:

• Short, fast-paced sequences for urgency or danger.
• Longer, emotionally charged scenes for complex confrontations.

This variation prevents fatigue and helps maintain narrative momentum.

External Conflict Resolution

Resolving external conflict is a critical aspect of storytelling that offers closure, reveals character growth, and reinforces the story’s underlying themes. While internal conflict often resolves through personal transformation, external conflict is settled through action, confrontation, or compromise. This section explores how external conflict is typically resolved in narrative fiction and how writers can craft satisfying conclusions for these storylines.

Types of External Conflict Resolutions

The way an external conflict is resolved often depends on the type of conflict involved. Each type presents unique opportunities for resolution strategies.

Character vs. Character

This is one of the most common external conflicts, where two characters have opposing goals or values. Resolution can come through:

• Victory or defeat: One character triumphs over the other, either morally, emotionally, or physically.
• Compromise or reconciliation: Both parties come to an agreement or understanding, often leading to character development.
• Separation: The conflict ends with the characters parting ways, sometimes unresolved but providing narrative closure.

Famous examples include the duel between Harry Potter and Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows or the ideological clash between Captain America and Iron Man in Captain America: Civil War.

Character vs. Nature

In this conflict, the protagonist faces natural forces such as weather, animals, or survival challenges. Resolutions typically involve:

• Survival or escape: The character overcomes the challenge and survives.
• Acceptance of fate: The character may not win but comes to terms with nature’s power.
• Tragic loss: Sometimes, the resolution is bittersweet or tragic, emphasizing the unpredictability of nature.

For example, in The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, the protagonist gains personal victory and insight despite physical loss.

Character vs. Society

This conflict pits a character against societal norms or institutions. Resolutions often reflect larger themes of justice, freedom, or individuality:

• Reform: The character influences change in the system.
• Rebellion or escape: The character defies or removes themselves from the system.
• Tragic failure: The character may fail, highlighting the power of systemic oppression.

Examples include The Hunger Games series and To Kill a Mockingbird, where protagonists confront societal injustices.

Character vs. Technology

When a character struggles against technological advancement or artificial intelligence, resolution can include:

• Destruction or control of the technology: The protagonist overcomes the technological threat.
• Coexistence or integration: The character finds a way to live with the technology.
• Moral questioning: The resolution may be ambiguous, leaving readers to question the cost of progress.

A compelling example is The Matrix, where resistance against a dominant AI system frames the entire narrative.

Character vs. Supernatural

Supernatural conflicts involve forces beyond the natural realm, such as ghosts, gods, or mythical creatures. Resolutions might involve:

• Defeating the supernatural entity: Through courage or knowledge.
• Understanding or appeasement: The character learns to coexist with the supernatural.
• Transformation: The character changes due to their encounter with the supernatural.

Stories like The Sixth Sense or The Exorcist resolve supernatural threats while revealing deeper emotional truths.

Character vs. Fate/Destiny

This type of conflict explores whether a character can overcome their predetermined path. Resolutions often involve:

• Acceptance of fate: The character finds peace in inevitability.
• Defiance and change: The character alters their destiny through choices.
• Tragic inevitability: The character’s fate unfolds despite efforts to change it.

In Oedipus Rex, the resolution is a profound example of fate’s inescapable power, while The Matrix presents a protagonist who redefines his destiny.

Techniques for Crafting Effective Resolutions

To write a satisfying resolution for external conflict, consider the following techniques:

• Ensure alignment with the story’s themes: The resolution should reinforce the message or emotional journey of the story.
• Show character growth: Even in external conflicts, the resolution should reflect some level of internal change.
• Avoid deus ex machina: The resolution should logically follow from the story’s events and choices made by the characters.
• Create consequences: Even in victory, show what the character has sacrificed or learned.

The Role of Resolution in Plot Structure

External conflict resolution typically occurs during the story’s climax or falling action. It provides a turning point where tension is released and the outcome becomes clear. Effective resolution ties up loose ends, clarifies motivations, and points toward new beginnings or transformations, making it an essential component of story structure.

By understanding and skillfully applying conflict resolution techniques, writers can deliver narratives that not only entertain but leave a lasting emotional impact.

Common External Conflict Mistakes

Identifying and avoiding common mistakes in writing external conflict is crucial to crafting a compelling and believable narrative. Poorly executed external conflicts can make a story feel flat, forced, or disconnected from the character's emotional journey. Below are some of the most frequent pitfalls writers encounter when developing external conflicts, along with insights into how to avoid them.

Over-Simplified or One-Dimensional Antagonists

One of the most common issues in external conflict is creating an antagonist or opposing force that lacks depth. Whether it's a villain in a "man vs. man" scenario or a faceless institution in "man vs. society," reducing the opposition to a cliché or stereotype undermines the complexity of the conflict.

A well-crafted external conflict should involve an antagonist with their own motivations, beliefs, and goals. This adds nuance and realism, making the conflict more engaging for readers. For example, a rival character who believes they are the hero of their own story creates a richer dynamic than a purely evil adversary.

Ignoring Internal Conflict

External conflict becomes significantly more meaningful when it intersects with a character’s internal struggle. A common mistake is treating external and internal conflicts as separate or unrelated. When a character faces an external challenge, their internal response—fear, doubt, guilt, pride—should influence how they react.

For instance, in a "man vs. nature" scenario like a survival story, the character’s internal fear of failure or unresolved trauma can heighten the stakes. Ignoring this interplay can result in a story that feels emotionally hollow or overly plot-driven.

Inconsistent Stakes

Another frequent misstep is failing to establish or maintain consistent stakes within the conflict. If the consequences of failure aren’t clearly defined or if they change arbitrarily, readers can lose interest or become confused.

Writers should ensure that the external conflict presents clear and escalating stakes. Whether it’s survival, justice, freedom, or reputation, the character must have something meaningful to lose. Continuously raising the stakes helps maintain tension and drives the narrative forward.

Lack of Escalation

Effective external conflict typically follows a rising action structure, where tension builds progressively toward a climax. A common error is presenting the main conflict too early or resolving it too quickly, which can flatten the story’s arc.

To avoid this, writers should structure their conflict to evolve. Introduce complications, setbacks, and reversals that challenge the protagonist in new ways. This not only keeps readers engaged but also allows for character growth and thematic development.

Unbelievable or Forced Conflict

Sometimes conflict feels shoehorned into a story without a natural or believable catalyst. Forced conflict often arises when writers prioritize drama over logic, creating scenarios that don’t align with character behavior or the story’s established world.

Strong external conflict must arise organically from the story’s context. For example, a conflict between a character and society should stem from their beliefs, actions, or background—not just for the sake of confrontation. Realistic conflict respects the internal consistency of the narrative.

Resolution Without Consequence

A mistake many writers make is resolving external conflict without meaningful consequences. Whether the protagonist wins or loses, the outcome should have a lasting impact on the character, the world, or both. A resolution that resets the status quo can make the entire conflict feel pointless.

To create satisfying resolution, ensure that the outcome of the external conflict leads to transformation—whether that’s in the protagonist’s worldview, relationships, or circumstances. This reinforces the importance of the conflict and gives it emotional weight.

Underdeveloped World-Building

In external conflicts like "man vs. society," "man vs. technology," or "man vs. supernatural," weak world-building can derail the reader’s immersion. If the rules of the world are unclear or inconsistent, the conflict lacks credibility.

Writers must invest in building a believable setting with defined rules, especially when the external conflict depends on societal structures, technological systems, or supernatural elements. This clarity allows the reader to understand the stakes and logic of the conflict.

Repetition Without Progression

Repetitive conflict scenes that don’t advance the story or reveal new dimensions of the protagonist can lead to reader fatigue. Writers sometimes fall into the trap of repeating the same type of confrontation without progression or consequence.

To avoid this, each conflict scene should serve a narrative purpose—whether it’s raising the stakes, revealing character flaws, or introducing a new obstacle. This keeps the conflict dynamic and ensures that every encounter pushes the story forward.

By recognizing and addressing these common mistakes, writers can harness the full power of external conflict to create engaging, emotionally resonant, and structurally sound stories.

External conflict is a fundamental pillar of compelling storytelling, adding tension, structure, and purpose to every scene. Whether characters battle nature, society, supernatural forces, or each other, these oppositions reveal who they are and shape what they become. By mastering the use of external conflict—and avoiding common writing pitfalls—you can build narratives with lasting emotional and dramatic impact. Now that you understand the different types and how to use them effectively, it’s time to examine your own stories: What external forces are your characters up against—and how will they change because of it?

▶️ Start building richer stories today by refining your central conflicts!