Want readers hanging on every word? This is how
She didn’t think anyone was watching.
I was standing just outside the room, in a hidden corner of the hallway, when I heard the sound of a door opening.
One of my teammates slipped out, worksheet in hand, slowly creeping towards the other team’s room.
I froze, tryna make myself invisible so she wouldn’t sense I was there.
Was she spying on them? Had she been sent by them to spy on us? And why was she tiptoeing like the Pink Panther on his way to some great caper? QTNA.
She turned the handle to the other team’s door and leaned in, looking back one last time to make sure no one was watching - and then disappeared inside.
Ummmmmmm…what you gonna do now Tia?!?!?
Follow her in? Confront her when she comes back out? Tell the captain?
Part of me wanted to be nosy and go see for myself. Part of me didn’t want to get involved.
I went with the latter, going back in the room to finish the exercise with my team, waiting to see how it all played out.
A little time passes and miss lady resurfaces, shaking her head. “They’re just as confused as we are,” handing the worksheet back to the captain.
All of this happens in minutes, but for the rest of the hour, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. What was going on in the other room? Were they ahead? Were they behind?
The 30 seconds of what I perceived as ‘sneaking’ created a conflict in me that totally distracted me for the rest of the exercise.
It didn’t matter that we were stuck, how strange the objects in the box were (looking at you, ping pong ball) or that our worksheet didn’t match them. None of it.
All I cared about from that point on was what my teammate saw in the other room.
And THAT’S the power of conflict in storytelling.
Did you know that stories with subtle conflict are 30% more likely to keep an audience engaged compared to purely informational narratives?
Conflict is the unsung hero of every great story.
But here’s the trick: conflict doesn’t have to be explosive. The smallest moments - a sideways glance, a missing clue, a door creaking open - can create just enough conflict to keep your audience hooked.
The key is to plant the right backpacks - hints of a character’s hopes, fears, or unresolved questions - early in your story - and pay them off in a way that feels inevitable, but surprising.
Here’s how to weave conflict into your storytelling using my S.T.I.R. Framework:
S - Start With Subtlety
• Introduce a small but intriguing detail (a creaking door, a forgotten object) that hints at conflict.
T - Tease the Stakes
• Build on the conflict. What’s at risk? Why does it matter? Let the audience feel the weight of the moment.
I - Introduce the Backpack
• Plant a key detail or question early on that will pay off later (e.g., the worksheet or the box of tools).
R - Resolve the Conflict
• Deliver a satisfying payoff that ties the conflict to a larger insight or transformation.
Why This Works
Conflict is what makes stories human.
We’ve all experienced moments of doubt, suspicion, or setbacks. When you include these elements in your storytelling, your audience connects with you on a deeper level.
And when you resolve the conflict in a meaningful way, it creates a sense of closure and satisfaction that keeps your audience coming back.
Here’s What You’ll Get Out of It
• Engaged Audiences: Subtle tension keeps people invested in your story.
• Memorable Messages: Conflict makes your insights stick.
• Emotional Connection: Relatable struggles deepen your bond with your audience.
“Conflict isn’t just a tool for drama - it’s a bridge to connecting with your audience.”
Your Turn
Think about a story you wanna tell your audience in order to illustrate 1 of your content pillars. Ask yourself:
1. What’s the subtle conflict? Identify a small moment of conflict, curiosity, or doubt.
2. What’s the backpack? Plant a detail early that pays off later in the story.
3. How does it resolve? Tie the conflict back to a lesson or insight your audience can connect with.
Remember: it’s not the size of the conflict that matters. It’s how you make your audience feel it.