The most important element in storytelling is conflict. Without it the story will fall victim to the “sagging middle.” Conflict creates tension and drama while it focuses on the action and suspense to follow. Your story must begin with a problem and a goal. You build up the tension by preventing your characters from reaching their goals and making the problem more difficult. The drama begins from the difficulties they face. By ending a chapter in the middle of a conflict, you will intrigue the reader to turn the page.
Conflict is found in the difference between their personalities, actions to obtain their goals, and the effect their actions have on each other. Most beginning writers have a tendency to make their characters too perfect. Don’t fall into this trap because a perfect character has no story to tell. Arguing constantly is not conflict. Your characters need specific traits showing what they will and won’t do to solve their problem. That means you’ll need to flesh out your characters in detail with a profile chart. If your character decides to act on a situation, then something specific happens. On the other hand, if the character decides not to act, then something entirely different should happen. Due to the consequences of their actions, suspense builds. For every action, there should be a greater reaction from the forces against your character. This is the cause-and-effect strategy. By solving each problem that comes their way, your hero and heroine will show character growth.
There are two types of conflict, internal and external. The internal conflict occurs within the character and keeps the couple from committing. The external conflict is the situation that brought the characters together and what happens to them during the journey to reach their goals. Remember, in romance it’s the internal conflict between the hero and heroine that is the driving point of your book. It’s not easy keeping internal and external separated because the internal conflict leads to more external conflict. The tension builds upon the other until your story is wound so tight that something has to break. This is the crisis of the story. The black moment occurs right after along with the resolution and the end of the book. Be sure that all loose ends are tied up during the resolution.
People read for the entertainment. One sure way to keep your reader turning the pages is to leave her in the midst of a conflict.