Plot Fuels
Notice: Plot evolves through conflict to exposition, that provides background information needed to make sense of the action, describes the setting, and introduces the major characters; these plots develop a series of complications or intensifications of the conflict that lead to a crisis or moment of great tension. The conflict may reach a climax or turning point, a moment of greatest tension that fixes the outcome; then, the action falls off as the plot’s complications are sorted out and resolved (the resolution or dénouement).

Be aware, however, that much of twentieth-century fiction does not exhibit such strict formality of design.
The conflict, goal, problem, or what the main character wants should be set up in the first sentence, paragraph, page, or chapter, depending upon a story’s length, If not stated outright, it should at least be hinted at very strongly.
So, you need to create tension in order to keep your readers interested. Make your readers wonder, “What happens next?”
And to get that effect, you can use these plot fuels:

Time pressure – The character has a limited amount of time in which to accomplish a goal or solve a problem.
Ex.: Rumpelstiltskin, Hansel and Gretel Other time pressures include:

Forces of nature – Rain coming in. impending storm, etc.
Deadline dates – preparations, contest entry deadlines, athletic training for a specific contest, mortgage payment, bomb set to go off, harvest before the rain frost, onset of winter, etc. Arrival of holiday – birthday of Christmas gifts to make, etc.
Setbacks – The most important part of the plot is the series of setbacks the main character faces in trying to resolve the conflict or attain the goal. In well-developed fiction, there are often 3 or more of them. The series of setbacks make up the middle of the story. The main character overcomes each successively more difficult setback – the last one in a grand way to a satisfactory close.
Events or setbacks that might temporarily prevent the characters from solving their problems are:
injuries
weather
losses
mistakes
misunderstandings
mishaps or accidents
Reader Is In On a Secret the Character Doesn’t Know – Tension rises when the reader learns something through the narration that the character doesn’t know. The reader becomes anxious for the character.
Ex. The bed is frayed and about to break.
A villain is hiding in the house. A trap has been laid.
Anticipation of a Major Scene – Characters set up the tension through their dialogue about the Big Event or their warnings. They anticipate another character’s arrival or action(s).

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