A

• A BREAK-IN
• A CHILD GETTING SICK
• A CHILD WANTING TO LIVE WITH ONE'S EX
• A COMPETITOR SHOWING UP
• A DEADLINE BEING MOVED UP
• A DELAY THAT MAKES ONE LATE
• A DIVORCE OR BREAKUP
• A FAMILY MEMBER DYING
• A LIE IMPACTING SOMEONE ELSE
• A LOVE INTEREST TAKING UP WITH SOMEONE ELSE
• A PARTNER BEING UNWILLING TO COMMIT
• A PRANK GOING WRONG
• A PROBLEM AT A CHILD'S SCHOOL
• A REPRESSED MEMORY RESURFACING
• A ROMANCE BEING STYMIED
• A ROMANTIC COMPETITOR ENTERING THE SCENE
• AN ELDERLY PARENT REQUIRING CARE
• AN ESTRANGED RELATIVE SHOWING UP
• AN EX INTERFERING IN ONE'S LIFE
• AN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF PRESTIGE OR WEALTH
• AN UNEXPECTED PREGNANCY
• AN UNWANTED ROMANTIC ADVANCE

B

• BAD WEATHER
• BEING ASSIGNED AN UNDESIRABLE PARTNER
• BEING ASSIGNED AN UNPLEASANT TASK
• BEING BETRAYED OR ABANDONED BY A TRUSTED ALLY OR FRIEND
• BEING BLACKMAILED
• BEING CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE
• BEING CHEATED ON
• BEING EVICTED
• BEING FALSELY ACCUSED
• BEING FORCED TO MARRY
• BEING GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHEAT
• BEING GIVEN AN ULTIMATUM
• BEING GIVEN BAD NEWS
• BEING HUNTED
• BEING IGNORED OR BLOWN OFF
• BEING IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME
• BEING INSULTED
• BEING MADE TO WAIT
• BEING MANIPULATED
• BEING MISTAKEN FOR SOMEONE ELSE
• BEING OFFERED AN EASY WAY OUT
• BEING OFFERED DIRTY MONEY
• BEING PHYSICALLY ATTACKED BY A STRANGER
• BEING PRESSURED TO COVER FOR A FRIEND
• BEING REJECTED BY A POTENTIAL LOVE INTEREST
• BEING SABOTAGED
• BEING SADDLED WITH UNEXPECTED RESPONSIBILITY
• BEING SET UP TO FAIL
• BEING STRANDED
• BEING TAKEN FOR GRANTED
• BEING TAKEN IN FOR QUESTIONING
• BEING THE BEARER OF BAD NEWS
• BEING THRUST INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
• BEING UNABLE TO FORGIVE SOMEONE
• BEING UNABLE TO SAVE EVERYONE
• BEING UNPREPARED
• BREAKING OR DESTROYING AN IMPORTANT ITEM
• BREAKING THE LAW FOR A GOOD REASON
• BUREAUCRACY TYING ONE'S HANDS

C

• CAUSING A CAR ACCIDENT
• CAUSING A WORKPLACE HAZARD
• CHAFING UNDER POOR LEADERSHIP
• CHILDCARE FALLING THROUGH
• CONFIDING IN THE WRONG PERSON
• CONFLICTING INTERNAL NEEDS OR DESIRES

D

• DISAPPOINTING SOMEONE
• DISCOVERING A SPOUSE'S SECRET
• DISCOVERING AN OUTCOME HAS BEEN FIXED
• DOING SOMETHING STUPID WHILE IMPAIRED
• DOMESTIC ABUSE
• DROPPING THE BALL

E

• EXPERIENCING A CRISIS OF SELF-DOUBT

F

• FACING A CHALLENGE BEYOND ONE'S SKILL OR KNOWLEDGE
• FACING A DIFFICULT DECISION WITH NO EASY SOLUTION
• FAILING AT SOMETHING
• FAMILY SECRETS BEING REVEALED

G

• GETTING CAUGHT DOING SOMETHING WRONG
• GETTING CAUGHT IN A LIE
• GETTING IN A CAR ACCIDENT
• GETTING LOST

H

• HAVING A ONE-NIGHT STAND WITH A CO-WORKER
• HAVING FEELINGS FOR SOMEONE ONE SHOULDN'T
• HAVING POOR JUDGMENT
• HAVING TO BEAT THE CLOCK
• HAVING TO BETRAY A FRIEND OR LOVED ONE
• HAVING TO BREAK A PROMISE
• HAVING TO BREAK SOMEONE'S HEART
• HAVING TO DECIDE TO HELP OR DO NOTHING
• HAVING TO HURT SOMEONE TO SAVE THEM FROM A WORSE FATE
• HAVING TO MOVE
• HAVING TO PICK THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS
• HAVING TO PROVE ONE'S INNOCENCE
• HAVING TO PUNISH SOMEONE
• HAVING TO STEAL TO OBTAIN SOMETHING VITAL
• HAVING TO WORK WITH AN ENEMY

I

• INCURRING AN UNEXPECTED EXPENSE
• INDULGING WHEN ONE SHOULD NOT

L

• LEAVING SOMEONE TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTIONS
• LOSING A BET
• LOSING A JOB
• LOSING A PHONE
• LOSING A SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION
• LOSING ONE'S TEMPER

M

• MAKING A BAD INVESTMENT
• MAKING A DISCOVERY THAT THREATENS THE BOND OF FRIENDSHIP
• MISALIGNED GOALS
• MISSING AN IMPORTANT MEETING OR DEADLINE

N

• NEEDING TO DISOBEY AN ORDER
• NEEDING TO SABOTAGE SOMEONE TO WIN
• NEEDING TO SACRIFICE ONE FOR THE GOOD OF THE MANY
• NEPOTISM OR FAVORITISM

O

• ONE'S INFIDELITY BEING DISCOVERED
• ONE'S RENT BEING RAISED

P

• PEER PRESSURE
• PHYSICAL EXHAUSTION
• PUBLIC HUMILIATION
• PULLING THE PLUG ON SOMEONE

R

• REALIZING ONE IS AT A DISADVANTAGE
• RECEIVING A BAD PERFORMANCE REVIEW
• RUNNING OUT OF CRITICAL SUPPLIES

S

• SACRIFICING ETHICS OR MORALS FOR THE GREATER GOOD
• SEEING AN EX WITH SOMEONE NEW
• SENDING A PRIVATE MESSAGE TO THE WRONG PERSON
• SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION
• SOMEONE WITNESSING ONE'S MISBEHAVIOR

T

• TAKING ADVICE FROM THE WRONG PERSON
• THE DEATH OF A PET

U

• UNDERESTIMATING DANGER
• UNKNOWINGLY SHARING INCORRECT INFORMATION
• UNWANTED SCRUTINY

W

• WITNESSING ABUSE
• WITNESSING CORRUPTION
• WITNESSING DISCRIMINATION
• WORK-LIFE BALANCE BEING THREATENED

The conflict scenarios you build into your story will provide vital tension, allow opportunities for your character's growth (or failure), and keep the pace from dragging. Use this thesaurus to find the right conflicts—from minor to catastrophic—that will take your characters and story where you need them to go.