Conflict and Conflict, the Driving Engine of Story

According to the reporter of the Iran Book News Agency (IBNA) in Arak, this workshop was held with the presence of Alireza Mahdavi Hazaveh, a writer and instructor of fictional literature, where the topic of “conflict in stories” was examined.

Mahdavi Hazaveh emphasized the fundamental role of conflict in shaping the narrative during this educational session, stating: Conflict is the driving engine of a story, and without it, the narrative loses its life and dynamism; even in non-fictional texts, a type of conflict can be the driving force of the text.

Referring to the direct relationship between conflict and audience engagement, he added: Readers are always drawn to challenges and contradictions, and it is these conflicts that determine the suspense and appeal of the story. If everything goes smoothly in the story and the characters move without obstacles and disagreements, the work quickly becomes boring for the audience.

This instructor of fictional literature also referred to different types of conflict in stories and explained: Conflict can be internal, external, social, or mental, and the conscious writer achieves deeper characterization and a more plausible narrative by choosing the right type of conflict.

At the end of this session, participants engaged in dialogue about methods of creating and developing conflict in narrative by raising questions and presenting examples from fictional works. The “Pleasure of Literature” workshop series aims to enhance knowledge of creative writing and literary criticism and is held continuously in public libraries in Arak.