Final answer:
Characters in a story face conflicts that propel the narrative forward; these conflicts can be internal or external and represent the central struggles that the characters must overcome.
Step-by-step explanation:
As characters interact with one another and struggle to overcome problems, their conflicts move the story along. The conflict is the main problem in a story, creating tension between characters, groups, things, or events. In pursuit of their goals, the characters will confront obstacles, which are the things that stand in the way of what they want. These obstacles contribute to rising action, which is a part of the story where events start to happen and the characters encounter conflict, journey, meet people, and face challenges that drive the narrative forward.
Conflict can be internal, taking place within a character, such as a struggle between personal beliefs and duties, or external, occurring between a character and other individuals or forces. Examples of external conflict include a character's fight against nature, society, or another character. No matter its form, conflict is essential in storytelling, as it is synonymous with the reason for telling your story - it is the driving force that keeps readers engaged and the narrative compelling.