Every good story needs a complication. We learn this…
“Every good story needs a complication. We learn this fiction-writing fundamental in courses and workshops, by reading a lot or, most painfully, through our own abandoned story drafts. After writing twenty pages about a harmonious family picnic, say, or a well-received rock concert, we discover that a story without a complication flounders, no matter how lovely the prose. A story needs a point of departure, a place from which the character can discover something, transform himself, realize a truth, reject a truth, right a wrong, make a mistake, come to terms.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Complications drive narrative tension, prompting character change and thematic depth; without them stories feel stagnant.
In simple terms: Stories need conflict to engage readers and develop characters.
Key Takeaway
Introduce a clear obstacle to spark transformation.
Themes
storytelling
conflict
character development
structure
Mood
instructive
inspirational
Type
guidance
creative
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenplay drafting
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
narrative tension
plot device
theme exploration
Questions to Reflect On
- What simple complication could deepen your story?
- How does conflict reveal character?
A Different Perspective
Over‑complicating can distract from core message.