Writing a Compelling Story Obstacle
By Mary Kole
Mary Kole is a former literary agent, freelance editor, writing teacher, author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit, and IP developer for major publishers, with over a decade in the publishing industry.
As writers, we all know that the plot is the backbone of our story idea. But what makes a good plot? The answer lies in crafting compelling story problems and conflicts, otherwise known as a challenge that the protagonist must overcome in order to achieve their objective. A story obstacle keeps readers invested in the plot and maintains tension throughout the narrative. In this article, I’ll discuss everything you need to know about creating a story obstacle that will captivate your readers.
What is a Story Obstacle?
A story obstacle is a challenge that the protagonist must overcome in order to achieve their objective, which is what they want, or their need, which is what they might not even know they want in order to level up in their character arc. The obstacle is the driving force behind the plot and one of the factors that keeps readers engaged. A story obstacle can be anything from a physical challenge to an emotional one, from a conflict with another character to an internal struggle within the protagonist. A good obstacle should be integral to the plot, meaningful, and challenging enough to keep the reader invested.
Ingredients of a Story Obstacle
To create a compelling obstacle, you need to consider the following ingredients:
Stakes: The higher the stakes, the more invested the reader will be in the outcome of the story obstacle or plot point that brings your character into conflict with another character. The protagonist's desire to achieve their goal should be strong enough to make the stakes high.
Conflict: The story obstacle should create conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist, between the protagonist and themselves, or the protagonist and a loved one. This conflict should be strong enough to create tension throughout the narrative. Competing objectives create conflict at the scene and dialogue level.
Consequences: The protagonist should face consequences if they fail to overcome the obstacle. This helps to create a sense of urgency and drives the plot forward, making for tight pacing and ensuring high stakes.
The Obstacle Affecting Character Wants and Needs
An obstacle intersects with the protagonist's wants and needs. The protagonist's goal is what creates the story obstacle, and their needs and wants determine how they approach the challenge. They should also be driven by their motivation, or their reason for wanting what they want. The story obstacle should be in direct opposition to the protagonist's wants and needs, forcing your character to make difficult choices that reveal their character development.
Character relationships should play a role in creating the story obstacle, too, rather than random plot points attacking the character out of left field. The antagonist or other characters in the story can create the obstacle or contribute to its intensity and stakes. The obstacle can also arise from the protagonist's own relationships, forcing them to choose between what they want and what they believe is right. Ideally, each obstacle will offer your protagonist a difficult choice. If they make an easy choice, then the obstacle wasn’t strong enough.
To execute a story obstacle for maximum emotional impact, you need to consider the following:
Emotional triggers: The story obstacle should trigger an emotional response from the reader. This can be achieved through the stakes, the consequences, and the protagonist's behavior. The character’s reactions to what has happened and how they feel about it should be rendered in interiority.
Tension: The tension should ideally be sustained throughout the narrative, keeping the reader engaged and curious about the outcome of any obstacle or conflict. Tension will also escalate in a well-crafted plot arc, as all of the action builds toward the story climax.
When creating a story obstacle, you need to consider the character and action beats. Character beats are the moments when the protagonist makes a decision or takes action, revealing their character and status as a proactive protagonist. Action beats are the physical actions that move the plot forward. Both beats should contribute to the intensity and emotion of the obstacle.
Common Story Obstacle Mistakes
Some common mistakes that writers make when creating story obstacles include:
Making the obstacle too easy to overcome, which results in a lack of tension and investment from the reader.
Focusing too much on the obstacle and not enough on the consequences and emotional impact on the protagonist.
Creating an obstacle that doesn't challenge the protagonist's beliefs or values, resulting in a lack of character development as a result of engaging with the obstacle and its resulting conflict.
Crafting a compelling story obstacle is key to creating a riveting plot. By considering the ingredients used to design a high stakes story obstacle, thinking of how it intersects with character wants and needs, and how to execute the obstacle for maximum emotional impact, you can create a plot that keeps readers invested until the very end. Just remember to avoid common mistakes and remain true to your genre expectations, and you will craft a plot that’s full of tough choices and juicy obstacles for your characters.
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