In arts that have a story (novels, theater productions, and films) complication refers to the part of the story that develops the story lines. More specifically it refers to those moments in the middle of the story when the main plot or a sub-plot changes direction. All stories have complications. If they did not then the story would be uneventful and not hold the participant's attention. What would have happened had Cinderella not met her Fairy God Mother? What would have happened had she not lost a glass slipper? Complications can be conflicts, but do not need to be. The important aspect of the complication is that the direction of the story has been changed.