All good points, Jerold. And lots of good information.

Thanks for the comment!

Whether it's the long story (main plot) or the short stories (sub-plots), conflict and tension go hand-in-hand to draw readers into exploring every nook and cranny. In my novels, with ensemble casts and personalized sub-plots, I try to infuse individual scenes with unexpected elements, from choice of characters to small twists, to keep readers engaged. You can elevate any scene's conflict and tension just by the choices you make.

You might to try giving him harder and harder obstacles to overcome. Tension is like climbing a mountain, with steps getting harder. But don't forget the rest periods between. They give the character -- and the audience-- a chance to breathe and think.
That way, you can have Paul conquer some challenges and fail at others as he goes.

Thanks!

And, they are engaging! Honestly, I think wrapping our head around tension is one of the hardest parts of writing.
Thanks, Lynette!

Writing should be fun, Jennifer! And you're so right -- understanding how life works through our writing is such a blessing!

Thanks!

I'm so glad it is helping you, Beth. I know how it helped me in the last story I wrote -- it's almost like magic to raise the bar.

Thanks for the comment!

Although my main characters in World Beyond the Song (WBTS) ride their own arcs of tension stemming from motivations and wounds, they all are neatly/messily(?) wrapped around external conflicts of alien first contact, government secrets, new world habitation, and yadda yadda.

It's weaving the internal and external conflicts among internal and external tensions that makes writing so doggone fun for me ... among other things, of course.

Thank you for a great explanation!

Jennifer