Building Conflict from Character with Stephen Fishbach
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Stephen Fishbach
4-5:15pm ET
$25
The next lecture in our 2026 Lecture Series takes place Saturday, October 24, from 4-5:15pm ET with Stephen Fishbach, author of OS #273, “To Sharks.”
Building Conflict from Character
What do we do when our drafts feel quiet — when our characters are being careful with each other and the story won’t catch fire? We’re often told that conflict is the root of drama. But where does it come from?
This craft talk will help you activate the conflict within your work, so it grows from your characters instead of being imposed on them. We’ll focus on Lord of the Flies and dip into Ben Lerner’s Transcription to distill practical tips that can help authors across genres and styles. Includes a generative exercise and Q&A.
This is part of our 2026 Lecture Series. You can purchase the entire series by going here.
About Stephen Fishbach:
Stephen Fishbach is a Pushcart Prize–winning writer and author of the novel Escape! A two-time Survivor contestant (voted onto the show the second time by more than ten million fans), he’s also worked on the network side as a vice president at MTV and freelanced for a reality producers’ trade group. He cohosts a weekly Survivor podcast as well as the literary podcast Paraphrase.
Stephen graduated with honors from Yale and received an MFA in fiction from NYU. He lives in Washington, DC, with his wife and two daughters.
How It Works
When you register, you’ll be enrolled in a portal on Thinkific, our online learning platform, which will give you access to the Zoom link for the lecture along with any reading you’ll need to complete in advance of the class. This is also where the videos will be uploaded after the lectures take place.
FAQ
When can I register for this class?
Registration is open now and will remain open throughout the year.
Will I be able to interact with the lecturers?
Yes. Students will be able to ask questions and chat with lecturers during the live lectures. There will be no instructor engagement once the lecture concludes.
How much time will the class take?
Each lecture runs between one hour to one hour and fifteen minutes.
Can I take the class on my phone?
Yes, the class can be taken on a phone.
Do you offer financial aid or scholarships for this class?
If the cost of the class is a significant burden, please email edu.support@one-story.com
Will the lecture be recorded?
Yes. Visit the Thinkific portal to watch a recording of the lecture once it concludes. Students will have access to the portal with the recording for one year after the purchase date.
Discounts & Policies
Our online classes are designed to be safe spaces for all who participate. One Story will not tolerate hate speech, bullying, or harassment directed toward instructors or fellow students, and reserves the right to remove participants who engage in such behavior from our classes.
Refund Policy: One Story class payment is non-refundable after the class’s start date. For this class, refunds are no longer available after October 22, 2026. For questions about the refund policy, or if you are unable to take the class after you have registered, please contact maribeth@one-story.com.
If you have any questions, please contact edu.support@one-story.com.
