In order to see the character struggling well have to introduce problems. These, your character will solve as they occur and these are going to be problems associated with your conflict.

Each of these problems will vary in intensity - some will be easier to solve than others. Some will be less important but still preventing him from reaching his desire. Others will be enormous. We vary them in intensity for a bit of variety. We dont want our stories to be dull, do we?

Lets see an example of problems escalating in a story


Basic plot: Your character has been unemployed for a while and finally receives a job offer.

Lets give this story a time limit so it might become more intense.

The character has a week to decide whether hes going to accept the job or not.


Characters goal: To find a job which suits him


Conflict: The character is contemplating whether to accept the job because it will require him to be away from home a lot (being that the job is miles away from where he lives) and away from his children where he is a sole parent.


The conflict arose: Because although the character is pleased about finally been accepted for employment, this particular job doesnt suit him.


What is character going to do to generate his goal a reality?

We might show how he desperately tries to fit in as many job interviews, hoping that something closer to home will come up before he has to build a decision about the original job offer.

Here is where well throw obstacles in his way so his wants will seem unreachable. We may introduce a variety of problems such as

1. He receives a letter from the company who accepted him for work outlining their generous salary structure (this will generate him think. But because hes serious about finding a job closer to home, this little problem will solve itself.)

2. Hes on his way to another job interview when his car breaks down. (He borrows a neighbors car and solves the problem.)

3. One of his kids comes down chicken pox. (He asks the identical neighbor for help but is informed that she hasnt had the illness herself and can not baby-sit. This problem will take a while to solve because its a more serious problem than the previous. He nurses the child for a few days then solves the problem by leaving one of his older kids in charge.)

4. He ring up for another job and they ask to interview him the next morning. Another problem arises. During the night, the rest of his kids catch the chicken pox and he misses out on this interview also. (How is he going to solve this problem? He nurses the children.)


Whats going to happen now? Ive introduced as many problems as this story will take. Now I have reached my climax where I have to resolve the conflict. Will he take the original offer? At this stage I do not bring in more problems. I concentrate solely on the conflict because all the problems have been building up to this.


Are problems escalating in your story?