CONFLICT THESAURUS

A COMPETITOR SHOWING UP



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HELPFUL TIP:

Conflict is your story’s secret sauce, supplying tension, friction, and complications to a character’s journey. It comes in a million different forms, so identify the obstacles and problems that will hit your character the hardest by using the Character Builder to uncover their primary insecurities, fears , and desires. Don’t forget to include everyday conflict scenarios that will frustrate them and keep the pressure high.
CATEGORY:
Power struggles, increased pressure and ticking clocks, relationship friction, losing an advantage, ego-related conflict

NOTES:
While rivalry abounds in every aspect of life, romantic competition is a bit more specialized. For help in this area, reference A ROMANTIC COMPETITOR ENTERING THE SCENE.

EXAMPLES:
A superstar co-worker joining the team
A business opening nearby with the potential to compete with the character's
Someone new hanging out with the character's group of friends
Someone competing for resources (a gold panner who sets up a claim close by, a factory that draws large amounts of water from the river, an influx of hunters that make game scarce, etc.)
Being upstaged by someone (a spouse's estranged, deadbeat son or a successful cousin who loves attention) who shows up and steals the family's time, energy, and focus
A political competitor joining the race (for mayor, vying for a job, to head a committee, etc.) 
A talented upstart competing with the character for a cherished role (as the lead in a play, the team captain position, for a promotion, etc.)
Another candidate putting their name in for tenure at a university
Another group or organization vying for government funding
Student hopefuls seeking to gain spots at an elite university that the character wishes to attend
A superstar entering the character's field and threatening their position or status
The character ending up in a bidding war (for a house, property, someone's business or their goodwill, etc.)

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:
Being ignored or forgotten temporarily while the focus is on the new person
Having to jump through new hoops to accommodate the competition
Being thrown off one's game due to emotional turmoil caused by the threat
People or resources (that maybe the character took for granted) becoming less available
Having to call in a favor for help or to gain an advantage
Being forced to explain things, go over the rules, show someone around, etc. when the character doesn't want to
Being caught off guard and having to scramble to catch up 
Having to put on an act when the character doesn't want to
Having to hide anger, frustration or hurt that would cast the character in a bad light

POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS RESULTS:
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RESULTING EMOTIONS:
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POSSIBLE INTERNAL STRUGGLES:
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PEOPLE WHO COULD BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED:
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NEGATIVE TRAITS THAT COULD MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE:
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IMPACT ON BASIC NEEDS:
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WOUNDS THIS COULD LEAD TO:
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POSITIVE TRAITS TO HELP THE CHARACTER COPE:
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POSITIVE OUTCOMES:
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