Screenwriting : Creating conflict by Anne Marie Robinson

Have characters interact with agendas where there cannot be a win-win outcome.

Thanks Mark.

There are many aspects of conflict. First, consider internal conflict. In every scene, every character should want something. If what the main character wants goes against his/her personal values, we have an internal conflict. If there are two characters, each wanting opposing things, we have an external conflict. These are but a few examples.

Thanks all! MacGuffin?

Simple story structure: take your lead, put her in a tree, throw rocks at the lead, get the lead out of the tree

I'm with Mark. It's got to be where there is no win-win situation. However, the conflict does need some sort of resolution.

Try placing your characters into a dilemma, where there seem to be no good answers no matter what they do.

Another consideration is different points of view. A friend and I usually want the same thing. However we have such differing points of view that we argue all the time and we're both on the same side! :( POV can be a man is telling his girlfriend about a bad experience with another person that day. She instead relates to this other person and thinks her boyfriend is insensitive, perhaps because of a continuing issue she has with him. Boom all her issues get emotionally bonded to this situation, but for him they are all separate and distinct. Her: "Why are you such an insensitive jerk?" Him: "WTF is your problem?"

This is all really helpful. Thanks.

The best advice I've heard is "I came here for a fight". "Oh no you didn't"' If a scene has no conflict, make your characters ask questions.

That's a great piece of advice! Thanks for sharing.

Motivation!. The characters need to know why they want what they want. Even if character development or story development proves them wrong in the end, the character should have some reason for being and doing, which allows for real conflict when agendas collide.

The creator and writer of Mash... I forget his name, said, "Always put your characters in the last place on earth they want to be."

No Problem, If my limited skills can help you with something let me know.

Great advise! thanks all.

"The Women" is nothing BUT conflict. Have you watched it recently? I think nothing beats really sharp, deadly wit, because the other characters all react in different ways.

The 1939 version.