How could I forget the dilemmas? Dilemmas are what makes stories interesting. Choices between good and bad are not interesting. Should I fight the terrorists or be deafeated? No dilemma, boring decision (however, there might be interesting choices on the path to fighting the terrorists). But choosing between fighting the terrorists and saving my wife (like in the Die Hard-movies) is an interesting dilemma, and it tells us something about character and about the world of the story: which choices are possible, and what can they result in? Is the decision good or bad? What are the costs?
It is in the dilemmas the characters face and the choices they make, that the world view of the story is created, it is here that the story creates meaning. So, if you’re stuck with a story and can’t make head or tail of it or its conflict (as I’ve tried on numerous occasions), take a step back and ask yourself: what is the central dilemma facing the leading character? If you can’t find the dilemma and the resolution, your story is in serious trouble – and so are you.