Conflict and Character Development in Fiction

Jerry Jenkins discusses the critical role of conflict in fiction writing, emphasizing that both external and internal conflicts are essential for engaging storytelling. He provides examples from well-known works and explains how conflict drives character development and plot progression. Jenkins advises writers to create relatable characters with flaws and challenges, ensuring they grow and change throughout the story. He concludes with tips for writers, encouraging them to embrace conflict as the engine of fiction.

What is considered the driving force of fiction according to the video?

• Character development

• Conflict

• Setting

• Dialogue

Why does the speaker believe a story about a harmonious marriage would be uninteresting?

• It is too complex

• It lacks conflict

• It is too predictable

• It is too short

Which of the following is an example of external conflict?

• A character's secret

• A character's self-doubt

• A traffic jam

• A character's fear of failure

What makes internal conflict crucial for character development?

• It adds length to the story

• It reduces tension

• It makes characters relatable

• It simplifies the plot

How can a writer make a character more compelling?

• By removing all obstacles

• By making them perfect

• By giving them everything they need

• By challenging them with conflicts

Why are character flaws important in storytelling?

• They make the plot simpler

• They make the story longer

• They make characters more relatable

• They make characters less interesting

What is the main takeaway about conflict in fiction from the video?

• Conflict is not necessary

• Conflict is the engine of fiction

• Conflict should be avoided

• Conflict is only for action stories