From Spark to Setup to Conflict: Building the Core of Your Story
- Story Marc
- Jan 14
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 3
Now that you’ve discovered your Story Spark and shaped it into a Story Setup, it’s time to connect everything by identifying your story’s Primary Universal Conflict. This is where your story’s emotional and narrative foundation truly comes to life. By following this process, you’ll bridge your initial inspiration to a fully realized core conflict that drives your narrative forward.
Why This Process Matters
Starting with a spark gives you a moment of inspiration. Shaping that spark into a setup provides a concrete foundation. Identifying the primary conflict ensures your story has focus, purpose, and emotional resonance. Together, these steps create a strong foundation for any story, regardless of genre or medium.
How to Go from Story Spark to Setup to Conflict
Step 1: Review Your Story Setup
Your Story Setup defines the who and what of your story:
Who is the protagonist, and what is their goal?
What is the situation, and how does it challenge or disrupt their life?
Example:
Spark: A reclusive artist.
Setup: The artist discovers their most prized painting has been stolen.
At this stage, you have a clear starting point: a protagonist (the artist) and a situation (a stolen painting). Now it’s time to uncover the deeper conflict.
Step 2: Identify the Core Problem Driving the Story
Ask yourself: What is the biggest problem the protagonist must resolve? This is the foundation of your Primary Universal Conflict. Use these questions to pinpoint it:
What is the character’s ultimate goal?
What do they need to accomplish or avoid to restore balance in their life?
What stands in their way?
Identify the external forces, antagonists, or circumstances creating the conflict.
What will bring the story to a satisfying resolution?
The resolution of this problem is likely the climax of your story.
Example:
Who: The artist values their painting above all else.
What: The theft threatens their sense of self-worth and legacy.
Core Problem: The artist must uncover who stole the painting and why.
Primary Conflict: Life Unraveling—the theft disrupts the artist’s carefully constructed life, forcing them to confront their vulnerabilities and identity.
Step 3: Match Your Setup to a Universal Conflict
Now that you’ve clarified the problem, align it with one of the Eight Universal Conflicts. Each conflict represents a core human struggle that resonates universally:
Threatened Existence: Someone or something is trying to kill me (or us).
Life Unraveling: My life as I know it is falling apart.
Epic Transformation: I have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rise up and become someone great.
Daring Rescue: I must save someone from a terrible fate.
Ultimate Quest: I’m on a journey to reach a distant, life-changing “prize.”
Defeat Evil: I must overcome a powerful force of injustice or destruction.
Desperate Escape: I need to escape a terrible situation that traps me.
Romantic Entanglement: I must win over or hold onto a desired life partner.
How to Decide:
Focus on What’s Introduced First: The conflict presented at the start of the story is often the one resolved last, making it the primary conflict.
Consider What Drives the Protagonist’s Actions: Look at what motivates your character and what stakes are tied to their journey.
Example:
In The Terminator, Sarah Connor’s story is introduced with a Threatened Existence conflict: a cyborg is hunting her. This remains the primary conflict, even as other challenges arise.
After This Step: Moving Forward
Once you’ve identified the Primary Universal Conflict, you have everything you need to start outlining your story. Your foundation is complete:
You have your spark to inspire you.
Your setup provides a clear starting point with a defined protagonist and situation.
Your conflict anchors the narrative, giving your story focus and purpose.
From here, you’re free to move in whatever direction feels right for you. However, if you’re looking for a structured approach, I recommend the following pathway:
Character: Define your protagonist in depth. Who are they, and what drives them?
Theme: Explore the deeper meaning or message behind your story.
Plot: Structure the events and turning points that will bring your story to life.
Genre: Decide on the narrative and environmental genres that shape your story’s tone and structure.
Worldbuilding: Flesh out the setting, rules, and context that make your story immersive.
Medium: Tailor your story for its intended format—novel, screenplay, game, etc.
If you want to know why this pathway works so well, check out [this article] on the logic behind crafting stories step by step.
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