Story Building Blocks: The Four Layers of Conflict

"Every scene in a story should contain conflict." This advice led me on a journey to answer the question, “How do you come up with conflict for every scene?” The result is the Four Layer of Conflict method which takes writers from “I have an idea” to the actual nuts and bolts of “I have the required scenes that all pull their weight.” This method can help new writers complete their first novel and offers experienced writers another way of looking at structure. There is a difference between reading a story that is seamless and one full of plot holes. Tight structure can be the difference between taking your reader on a safe but forgettable ride and taking them on a journey they will never forget. Story lovers, no matter the genre or premise, prefer a well-constructed story. One thing this story addict knows for certain: Life is too short for bad fiction.