Tension & Conflict: The Writer’s Secret Weapons, Episode 60

Every novel needs fuel to keep it moving forward, and that fuel is conflict and tension. In this episode, we break down the difference between scene-level tension and story-level conflict—and show how they work together to keep readers hooked. From internal struggles to epic battles, we’ll explore techniques that create momentum and make your story impossible to put down. With practical tips and real-world examples, this episode is a must-listen for any writer looking to craft gripping fiction.

SHOW NOTES:

What Is Tension? Conflict? 

How Tension and Conflict Work Together 

Writing Tips

Examples

What Is Tension? 

• Definition: The immediate, scene-level sense of unease, anticipation, or curiosity.

• Role: Keeps readers invested moment to moment.

• Examples:

  • A character hiding a letter just before someone enters the room.

  • A dinner party where everyone is polite, but secrets are bubbling under the surface.

• Emphasize that tension doesn’t always mean explosions or shouting—it’s the emotional charge that makes a scene alive.

What Is Conflict? 

• Definition: The broader struggle—internal or external—that drives the story forward.

• Types:

  • Internal conflict: within a character (e.g., guilt, fear, desire).

  • External conflict: between characters, or against society, nature, fate, etc.

• Examples:

  • Katniss in The Hunger Games: survival against the Capitol (external) + protecting her humanity (internal).

  • Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice: her prejudices and pride (internal) vs. societal expectations of marriage (external).

• Conflict = the story’s engine; tension = the spark plugs.

How Tension and Conflict Work Together 

• Conflict creates the stakes. Tension makes the stakes felt in every scene.

• Without conflict: no story. Without tension: the story feels flat, even if the conflict is big.

• Analogy: Conflict is the mountain; tension is each slippery step the character takes on the way up.

Writing Tips: Creating Tension & Conflict 

• Raise Questions, Don’t Answer Them Too Soon → Curiosity keeps readers engaged.

• Establish a pattern of specific hints that lead to the reveal → Readers like entertain how the conflict will be resolved

• Escalate Conflict → Don’t let characters get what they want too easily.

• Mix Internal and External Struggles → Layer complexity.

• Use Subtext → What characters don’t say can be more powerful than what they do.

• End Scenes with Uncertainty → Cliffhangers aren’t just for chapters—they can exist in dialogue, choices, or gestures.

• Conflict Must Be Personal → Stakes should matter deeply to the protagonist.

• Using the Conflict Thesaurus in conjunction with the Emotion Thesaurus → Samples

Examples to Illustrate

• Gone Girl — Scene tension (Amy’s diary entries vs. Nick’s POV) + overarching conflict (marriage as a battleground).

• The Handmaid’s Tale — Scene-level dread in small interactions + larger conflict of survival vs. oppression.

• Game of Thrones — Multiple conflicts (political, personal, familial) with nearly every scene dripping with tension.

Examples from the Thesaursus Series

SOURCES & LINKS:

The Conflict Thesaurus & The Emotion Thesaurus, Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi

“Courting Conflict: The Agent of Change,” Wired for Story, Lisa Cron

“Dude with a Problem: Surviving the Ultimate Test,” Save the Cat Writes a Novel, Jessica Brody

*analysis of conflict w/in Stephen King’s Misery

G.M.C.: Goal, Motivation, and Conflict,  Debra Dixon

The Compass of Character, David Corbett

DO NOW: Look at your current project—is each scene tense? Is the conflict clear and escalating? Check out our FREE Download to see a sample of HOW to use the Thesaurus Series to Create Tension at the scene level and Conflict at the plot level.

Next Episode: An Interview with USA Today Bestselling author Barbara Conrey

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey  https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

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