internal conflict | Writers In The Storm

Why Readers Love Flawed Characters

Jenn Windrow — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 08:39:00 +0000

Jenn Windrow talks about how your hero's flaws may be the key to winning readers' hearts. Click in for more

The post Why Readers Love Flawed Characters first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

How Conflict Enhances Your Story

Ellen Buikema — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 08:07:00 +0000

If we make our characters' lives too easy the story is dull. Here's how to create tension using conflict and make our stories hard to set down.

The post How Conflict Enhances Your Story first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

One Amazing Perspective Shift to Make Scene Writing Easier

Guest Blogger — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 18:28:30 +0000

If you love feeling immersed in the lives and emotional dramas of fictional characters, then shifting focus from external to internal builds plot organically.

The post One Amazing Perspective Shift to Make Scene Writing Easier first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

How to Focus on Your Story's DNA

Jenny Hansen — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 11:01:47 +0000

Though we are a very cohesive group here at Writers in the Storm, we are split down the middle in writing style. Laura and Fae write their stories in a linear fashion while Julie and I quilt ours together scene by scene. The linear approach kills my stories, but story quilting lets me focus on my […]

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Using Internal Conflict to Create Plot

Guest Blogger — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 11:02:07 +0000

Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy A lot of focus gets put on the core conflict of a novel--the main problem the protagonist has to solve to win. It's no wonder since that's the whole point of the book, but sometimes, when we look too hard at the external problems, we miss out on opportunities to let the […]

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Escalate Story Tension with Dirty Fighting

Jenny Hansen — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 12:01:36 +0000

Today we’re talking about Dirty Fighting. What is it, and why do you want your characters to do it? The main reason: It escalates tension in your story by deepening both your external and internal conflict. Dirty Fighting isn’t about some how-to guide on Jujitsu or Street Fighting. Nope, it’s actually a list of twenty-three items given […]

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