8 Chapter 8: Conflict, Obstacles and Rising Stakes

Chapter 8: Conflict, Obstacles and Rising Stakes

Conflict is what drives the story and keeps the energy high. Your story starts once a problem appears (Inciting Incident/Catalyst), and in order to keep it moving, you have to have conflict in every scene. We enjoy watching characters overcome obstacles with stakes that keep rising at every turn. The greater the conflict, the more energy is generated in your screenplay, and this is what gets the audience hooked.

The antagonist is the opposing force preventing (or trying to prevent) your Hero from getting what they want. Sometimes this is an external enemy, family member, co-worker, authority figure or downright villain, who challenges the main character and sets obstacles in their way. Sometimes the antagonist is internal – your Hero is their own worst enemy. The internal conflict gets displayed outward in more and more complex and difficult ways – until your Hero has no choice but to “do or die” so to speak.

Developing conflict and “upping the stakes” is a skill that you can master. Ask yourself, “What if?” Followed by, “And then what happened?” Go beyond the most logical next steps your character might take or circumstances your character might encounter. Dig deep and challenge your Hero – don’t let them off easy!