If it’s true that conflict is the engine of fiction—and I believe it is—what is the best way to inject it into your fiction?

By introducing a worthy, effective antagonist.

It’s your villain, and every good story needs one.

While some would argue that certain nonhuman elements, like the weather or some malevolent force, might also qualify (and I’ll speak briefly to those later here), I maintain that usually the opposition to your hero (your protagonist) should be personifie...