Chapter 1: In Which You Choose Writing-Craft!
Craft Your Core Conflict
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Protagonist: main character and what do they want
Obstacle: what stands in their way (this can be a villain, an internal flaw, or a natural disaster)
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Define main character’s desire: establish a concrete, tangible goal your protagonist is fighting for
Define their need: figure out the internal, emotional lesson your protagonist must learn
Identify the lie: what core false belief is preventing the protagonist from easily getting what they need
Create the dilemma: make achieving the external goal require them to confront and let go of their internal lie
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Person vs. person: classic clash of opposing values, where the antagonist holds an opposing goal or ideology
Person vs. nature/society: protagonist struggles against an unforgiving environment, systemic corruption, or an oppressive regime
Person versus self: internal battle of morals, grief, or deeply ingrained flaws (such as an ambitious politician who must learn to trust others)
Homework time! Check out the Conflict Thesaurus in the tab for a "vast database of problems, obstacles, dilemmas, ticking clocks, dangers, and more that will raise the stakes and challenge characters.”