What Is a Main Conflict?

A main conflict is the central struggle or problem that a story's main character faces, driving the plot forward. It occurs when the character’s strongest desire is blocked by an internal or external obstacle. This conflict forces the character to act and reveals their values, thoughts, and personality under pressure. Without a main conflict, a story lacks tension and interest, causing readers to lose engagement. Conflicts are broadly categorized as:

• Internal conflict: when a character struggles with themselves, such as moral dilemmas or personal issues.
• External conflict: when the character faces outside forces, such as another person, society, nature, technology, or fate.

Examples of external conflicts include character vs. character and character vs. nature. The main conflict creates stakes and makes the story compelling by challenging the protagonist to overcome opposition.