Crafting Compelling Conflict in Microfiction

Writing Prompt 2/4 for May Course: Naked Characters

A menacing cyberpunk bouncer by Wong Kar-wai

As a microfiction writer, you might often find yourself struggling to fit all the necessary elements of a story within a strict word limit. 

One secret to mastering this art lies in creating conflict-driven narratives. 

By focusing on a character’s goals, obstacles, and the choices they make, you can create engaging stories that pack a punch. 

Here’s an exercise to hone your skills in conflict-driven microfiction:

• Step 1: Identify a character’s goal and an obstacle they must overcome to achieve it. The obstacle can be a thing (e.g. a ragged mountain), a force (e.g. a level 5 tornado) or a person (e.g. their narcissistic gaslighting father). This will be the foundation of your story’s conflict.

• Step 2: Make the character face this obstacle and make a difficult choice. Don’t make it easy. Conflict is struggle and struggle is core to stories. 

• Step 3: Show the character’s internal and external conflict through dialogue and actions. To convey the struggle and tension in a relatable manner.

• Step 4: Illustrate the consequences of the character’s decision, whether positive or negative. This will give your microfiction a sense of resolution and closure.

Example: 

If a character wants to save their relationship but must confront their own pride, show their hesitation in admitting fault and the potential outcome of their choice.

The key to crafting engaging microfiction lies in the way you present conflict. 

• By focusing on a character’s goals, obstacles, and choices, you can create powerful, concise stories that leave a lasting impact on your readers. 

• Showing what choices a person makes, what they consider an obstacle and what causes them to struggle reveals who they are at their core.

• As you practice this exercise, you’ll strengthen your intuitive understanding of how to create conflict-driven narratives, and you’ll be well on your way to mastering the art of microfiction.

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Prompt

Write a 300-word microfiction piece about a character who wants to achieve a goal but must overcome a major obstacle. 

Show their internal and external conflict through dialogue and actions, and illustrate the consequences of their decision.

Now get writing!

300 words for the story bits.

1. Tag your story as you like, e.g. Fiction or Flash Fiction
   But don’t use Writing Prompts please.

2. 🙏 link back to the prompt so others can find it too.

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