Intention and Obstacle: The Engine of Every Great Story
Intro
Every great story begins with a spark—something that sets the wheels in motion and demands our attention. That spark is almost always rooted in a character’s intention: something they want, need, or crave. But desire alone isn’t enough. What truly drives a story forward, keeps readers hooked, and gives the plot its pulse is the obstacle—the thing standing in the way.
Without intention, there’s no direction. Without obstacle, there’s no tension. Together, they form the engine of storytelling—fueling conflict, shaping character, and giving every scene a reason to exist. Whether you're writing a novel, a screenplay, or a short story, understanding this dynamic is essential. Let’s break down why this simple yet powerful duo lies at the heart of every unforgettable tale.
If you strip story down to its bones, you’re left with two muscles flexing against each other:
Intention: What the character wants.
Obstacle: What gets in their way.
This tension between desire and resistance is what makes a story move. Without it, you don’t have a story — you have a summary.
🔥 Why Intention Matters
Intention is the fuel. It gives your character a direction, a reason to act, and something for the audience to root for.
No intention = no momentum.
If a character doesn’t want something — even something small — there’s nothing for us to follow. Intention makes us ask:
“Will they get it?”
And that question keeps us hooked.
Good intentions are:
Specific ("She wants to win the spelling bee.")
Emotional ("He wants his father to finally say he’s proud.")
Urgent ("She needs to make rent by Friday or she’s homeless.")
The clearer the intention, the stronger the emotional investment.
⚔️ Why Obstacle Matters
Obstacle is the resistance. It’s what forces your character to struggle, adapt, and change. Obstacles create friction — and friction is where growth, drama, and meaning happen.
A story with no obstacle is a wish list.
Obstacles can be:
External: A rival, a storm, a war, a ticking clock.
Internal: Fear, pride, guilt, shame, trauma.
Systemic: Injustice, culture, tradition, bureaucracy.
What’s key is that the obstacle challenges the core of the character. It tests how far they’ll go to get what they want — and whether they’ll become someone new in the process.
🎯 Real Power Comes From the Clash
Here’s the key insight:
The story lives in the collision between Intention and Obstacle.
When a character’s intention runs into an obstacle, we watch to see:
Will they overcome it?
Will they give up?
Will they change?
That struggle is where all narrative tension comes from. It’s the pressure that forces characters to reveal who they really are.
Great Stories Escalate the Struggle
In the beginning, the obstacle might be small — a misunderstanding, a bad day.
But as the story progresses, the stakes rise and the obstacles intensify. Why? Because we want to see what the character is really made of.
In the final act, the obstacle should feel insurmountable — and the intention should be all or nothing.
That’s when stories hit us the hardest: when we feel like we’re watching someone fight for something that matters deeply, with everything on the line.
🧠 Bonus: Intention and Obstacle in Different Contexts
Marketing & Branding:
Intention: What your customer wants (not what you sell).
Obstacle: What's standing in their way (confusion, fear, risk).
Your product becomes the bridge between the two.
“You want to get stronger. The gym is confusing and intimidating. Our app gives you step-by-step plans with zero guesswork.”
Public Speaking:
Intention: What the speaker wanted to change/achieve.
Obstacle: What made it hard, messy, painful, or complicated.
That gap builds connection and credibility.
“I thought I had to be perfect to succeed. But I almost burned out trying. Here’s what I learned instead…”
Comedy:
Intention: The “normal” thing the comedian wants (respect, love, a normal date).
Obstacle: Reality getting in the way in absurd or painfully relatable ways.
Laughter comes from the tension — and the release.
🧩 Quick Exercise
If your story feels flat, ask:
Does my character clearly want something?
Is there a real obstacle stopping them from getting it?
Do the two forces escalate as the story moves forward?
Is there a moment where the intention and obstacle collide head-on?
If not — the story isn’t moving. You’re describing events, not telling a story.
🎬 Final Thought
Great storytelling doesn’t start with fancy language or clever structure. It starts with a simple, human truth:
We all want something — and something always gets in the way.
That tension is universal. It’s emotional. It’s primal.
Master intention and obstacle, and you can tell any story, anywhere, to anyone.
Would you like this formatted into a mini eBook, slide deck, or paired with story examples from pop culture or business?
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