Conflict is probably the most crucial element in fiction writing. It keeps the reader reading. It propels the plot forward. It’s something all fiction writers must keep in the forefront of their minds whether they are writing a short story or a novel. In this craft talk, I’ll discuss how to employ conflict in fiction—both at the start of your piece and all through the writing process. It begins with your story set up and continues on through to the final page. We will look at how other writers use tension and conflict in their writing by examining short fiction and novels. Throughout the talk, I’m happy to answer any of your questions. Conflict is the key to unlocking the way to your best fiction writing. Understanding how it works is paramount to your success as a writer.

Charles G. Thompson, a Pushcart Prize nominee, lives in Los Angeles, California where he writes fiction, nonfiction, plays, and memoir. His work has appeared in Business Insider, Advocate.com, The Los Angeles, Times, The Washington Post, The Independent (UK), Kelp Journal, The Maine Review, STORGY Magazine, Writers Resist, Five:2:One, Cowboy Jamboree, Full Grown People, The Offbeat, The Chicago Tribune/Printers Row Journal, Reunion: The Dallas Review. His work also appears in the anthologies Made in L.A., Vol. 2 and Writers Resist: The Anthology 2018. Four of his short stories were included in the 2017 New Short Fiction Series. He was named a finalist in the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival’s 2015 Fiction Contest. His short play “Cherry” won two playwriting awards. He earned an MFA in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts at the University of California, Riverside/Palm Desert. He is the founder of Pen & Paper Writing Workshops. Follow him on Twitter @cgregthompson and Instagram @cgregorythompson.