CONFLICT THESAURUS

A LIE IMPACTING SOMEONE ELSE



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HELPFUL TIP:

Conflict is your story’s secret sauce, supplying tension, relationship 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:
Failures and mistakes, relationship friction, moral dilemmas and temptations

EXAMPLES:
The character concealing (or falsely claiming to have) a medical condition 
Misleading others about the status of a romantic relationship 
Falsely accusing someone of a crime
Being selective about which details to share about a crime they witnessed
The character concealing their true identity
Falsifying credentials, such as legal documents, licenses, or certificates
Concealing an addiction
Faking a pregnancy or the loss of a pregnancy
Lying to corroborate someone else's alibi
Spreading a rumor about someone else
The character not being honest with their details on a dating website
The character faking their own death
The character concealing parentage from their child
A student lying about grades or their academic standing
Hiding a second family
Concealing involvement in an illegal activity
The character hiding their political or religious beliefs
A character concealing their true feelings toward someone else
Lying on a résumé
Stretching the truth about one's skills or abilities

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:
Uncomfortable conversations when the character is confronted about their lies
Stress and exhaustion from keeping up a façade
Having to keep lies straight with different people
Being asked for proof about the claims
Having to take measures to prevent others from digging up the truth
Other people being inconvenienced when the truth becomes known—e.g., them having to take over a project because the character lacks the experience they claimed to have

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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