on Jami Gold:

Foreword by Jami:

As storytellers, we often hear about adding conflict to our story. However, our first instincts for adding conflict typically rely on external conflict, the obvious plot-driven obstacles and events that feel tangible: car chases, arguments, betrayals, kidnappings, etc.

That’s understandable, as their tangible nature makes them seem like easy fixes for improving pacing or other story issues. But many times, internal conflict can also fix those same issues, and in addition, add depth to our story and our characters.

In other words, our story will be better off if we can broaden our instincts to also rely on inner conflict, yet adding internal conflict can be tricky, simply due to its intangible nature. So let’s get more practice with internal conflict today and learn how to add layers, create hard choices, and force our characters to take actions with tension and stakes as they try to resolve their issues.