"Why do I want to create problems? I have enough problems in my life!"
Don't worry, these are problems for your character to face, not you.
Every story starts with a character with a problem--he needs a job, he's afraid of the dark, his world is in peril--that sort of thing. The subsequent events of the story are usually caused by the character's efforts to fix said problem (and yes, quite often those efforts only make the problem worse).
But it's not enough to give your character a problem and call it a day. Your character needs a problem that will resonate with readers--that will cause everyone who reads the story to really care whether or not the problem gets solved.
Don't worry, these are problems for your character to face, not you.
Every story starts with a character with a problem--he needs a job, he's afraid of the dark, his world is in peril--that sort of thing. The subsequent events of the story are usually caused by the character's efforts to fix said problem (and yes, quite often those efforts only make the problem worse).
But it's not enough to give your character a problem and call it a day. Your character needs a problem that will resonate with readers--that will cause everyone who reads the story to really care whether or not the problem gets solved.
So here's the key: your character needs, not just one problem, but two--an outer one and an inner one.
The outer problem is usually easy. It's probably the one you created for the character when you first came up with the story. It endangers not only the character himself but also his world.
It doesn't have to be a global or galactic threat, but it does need to impact the character's surroundings; anything from aliens invading earth to his aunt coming to live with him would fit the bill.
The inner problem isn't hard to create either, but it's easy to overlook. It's a problem that endangers the character's inner world--his personal well-being. In many stories it's a romantic subplot. After all, it doesn't usually affect too many people if your character's girlfriend dumps him, but it sure matters a lot to him. The inner problem can also be the character's phobia, failing, or any number of personal demons.
The outer problem is usually easy. It's probably the one you created for the character when you first came up with the story. It endangers not only the character himself but also his world.
It doesn't have to be a global or galactic threat, but it does need to impact the character's surroundings; anything from aliens invading earth to his aunt coming to live with him would fit the bill.
The inner problem isn't hard to create either, but it's easy to overlook. It's a problem that endangers the character's inner world--his personal well-being. In many stories it's a romantic subplot. After all, it doesn't usually affect too many people if your character's girlfriend dumps him, but it sure matters a lot to him. The inner problem can also be the character's phobia, failing, or any number of personal demons.
Note: Yes, you can have more than two problems in your story, but it's probably best to stick with two main ones. Keep in mind that at some point you'll have to solve all of the problems you create.
So why two? Isn't one main problem good enough?
The outer problem is usually the most important, but the inner problem makes the story personal. Suddenly, everything that happens in the story really matters, on a deep level, to your character. Yes, he wants to save his world, but he also wants to save himself. The inner problem is a window into your character, showing his values and motivations.
I've read books where the main character simply saved the world superman-style without any inner conflict or personal stakes. It's hard to get invested in these stories or characters because you don't get the intimacy that the personal problem provides.
On the other hand, stories with just a personal problem tend to turn into angsty, existential sob fests for the main character. You need a problem that affects more than just one character or, again, the story starts to feel like it doesn't matter.
The outer problem is usually the most important, but the inner problem makes the story personal. Suddenly, everything that happens in the story really matters, on a deep level, to your character. Yes, he wants to save his world, but he also wants to save himself. The inner problem is a window into your character, showing his values and motivations.
I've read books where the main character simply saved the world superman-style without any inner conflict or personal stakes. It's hard to get invested in these stories or characters because you don't get the intimacy that the personal problem provides.
On the other hand, stories with just a personal problem tend to turn into angsty, existential sob fests for the main character. You need a problem that affects more than just one character or, again, the story starts to feel like it doesn't matter.
Whenever you create a problem for your character to solve, consider whether it affects his outer or inner world and make sure to strike a good balance between the two.