February 27, 2025

Uncovering the Source of Conflict: The Form-Field-Facet-Force Approach

Identify conflict through author's intent

When crafting compelling narratives, pinpointing exactly what drives conflict is essential. But how can we truly uncover the heart of tension in a story? Introducing Form, Field, Facet, and Force—a structured yet dynamic way of identifying the source of conflict rather than simply categorizing it.

Moving Beyond Labels

Original Dramatica theory introduced concepts like Domain, Concern, Issue, and Problem to classify conflicts. Although groundbreaking, these labels can sometimes constrain our understanding of a narrative's deeper dynamics. The Form-Field-Facet-Force framework, part of the Universal Narrative Model, emerges organically from the very shape of conflict itself, making structure a tool for discovery rather than mere classification.

Let's explore how this approach unfolds step-by-step.

Step 1: Define the Perspective

Before we dive deeper, we first identify from whose viewpoint the conflict is being understood—not from traditional audience-oriented perspectives like third-person narration, but as intended by the author:

I: Personal, internal experience of conflict.
You: Observing conflict externally, interacting directly or indirectly.
We: Shared experience, exploring tensions within relationships.
They: Detached observation of conflict from a distance.

This step is crucial because the framework revolves entirely around the artist's intent—what the author wants to convey, even if they are not yet fully aware or able to articulate it.

Step 2: Find the Form

Next, we determine the Form through which the conflict is appreciated. Think of these Forms as the "engines of conflict," actively shaping the source of tension from each perspective:

External Framing: Static, external conflicts like societal structures, environmental conditions, or rigid external constraints.
External Processing: Dynamic, external conflicts involving observable actions, ongoing activities, or visible processes.
Internal Process: Dynamic, internal conflicts involving emotional and psychological evolution, personal growth, or internal decision-making.
Internal Framing: Static, internal conflicts such as entrenched beliefs, fixed mindsets, or ingrained psychological states.

Collectively, these Forms generate the rich, perceptive depth that makes narratives meaningful.

Step 3: Narrow the Field

After establishing the Form, we narrow down the Field, defining the scale or magnitude of conflict appreciation. Unlike previous steps, here all Perspectives align around one of these Fields, effectively creating a focused "playing field" for conflict:

Foundational: Deeply rooted conflicts around knowledge, desires, self-awareness, and perception, forming the fundamental landscape of meaning.
Functional: Conflicts arising from tangible results, operational processes, expectations, and determinations—what is enabled or obstructed through active execution.
Latent: Hidden conflicts driven by underlying forces such as faith and disbelief, logic, and emotion—subtle motivations and emerging potentials beneath the surface.
Deliberative: Active conflicts involving strategic thinking, analysis, or decision-making (e.g., political debate or careful consideration).

Focusing on a Field clarifies exactly where the conflict resides within the narrative landscape.

Step 4: Explore a Facet

Drill deeper into the specifics by choosing a Facet—a dimension that exists along a range of possibilities, revealing multiple angles or 'facets' through which the conflict is clearly visible:

Skill vs. Experience: Conflict between proficiency, training, and mastery versus tension arising from past events, accumulated wisdom, or prior learning.
Self Interest vs. Altruism: Conflict driven by personal gain, selfish motivations, or self-serving interests against the impulse or necessity to consider others first.
Sense of Self vs. State of Being: Tension between one's constructed identity, ego, or self-perception and their authentic essence or true nature.

Exploring these facets reveals exactly how and where tension is made manifest.

Step 5: Identify the Force

At the deepest level lies the Force—the genuine driver of narrative imbalance. Unlike earlier stages, this force can't neatly be reduced to a single cause without losing the complexity of the conflict.

Instead, the Force splits into sub-forces, offering various perspectives on the same inequity:

Problem, Solution, Focus, and Direction
Condition, Adjustment, Resistance, and Flow

These sub-forces enable us to grasp the elusive nature of conflict without oversimplification.

Why Stop Here?

Attempting further reduction risks losing sight of the original Form—the initial shape and essence of conflict—as we dive deeper into excessive detail. To truly assess the source of conflict and inequity that propels a narrative forward, we need a balanced appreciation: clear enough to approximate the Force closely, yet broad enough to maintain our understanding of the original Form.

A Fresh Take on Structural Categories

Instead of simply categorizing conflict through seemingly separate labels, this approach towards finding the source of conflict encourages deeper questions:

From what perspective is the conflict observed? (Perspective)
How is it shaped? (Form)
What is its breadth? (Field)
Where does it manifest? (Facet)
What ultimately drives this imbalance? (Force)

Following this layered approach leads us beyond mere classification to a profound understanding of narrative conflicts, enriching storytelling for both AI-driven narrative generation and human-authored narratives alike.

By embracing the Form-Field-Facet-Force framework, you empower your storytelling—capturing the essence of conflict clearly, richly, and authentically. This method not only reveals deeper narrative truths but also unlocks your full potential to craft stories that resonate profoundly with your audience.