CONFLICT THESAURUS

AN UNEXPECTED PREGNANCY



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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:
Increased pressure and ticking clocks, failures and mistakes, loss of control 

NOTES:
Becoming a parent is a huge responsibility that profoundly changes a person's life. It's even more of a disruption when the pregnancy isn't planned or wanted, causing all kinds of trouble for the mother, the father, grandparents—realistically, for many different members of your cast. If you're thinking of adding this kind of conflict to your story, consider an unexpected pregnancy for one of the following:

EXAMPLES:
A teenager
An empty-nester
A rape victim
The parent of an already-large family
A family living in poverty
A business woman who has just gotten her dream job
A woman whose husband has just been laid off
A woman who doesn't know who the father is (due to an affair, being a prostitute, etc.)

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:
Uncomfortable symptoms
Having to put postpone important plans (graduating from high school, traveling, etc.)
The character having to move back in with their parents
Giving up a promotion so the character can stay near family
Being judged or criticized by friends and acquaintances

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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