CONFLICT THESAURUS

BEING GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHEAT



Never struggle with Show-and-Tell again. Activate your free trial or subscribe to view the Conflict Thesaurus in its entirety, or visit the Table of Contents to explore unlocked entries.

CHOOSE MY PLAN

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:
Moral dilemmas and temptations, duty and responsibility

EXAMPLES:
The character being given a fake ID by a friend
An instructor offering a passing grade if the character does them a favor in return
A friend offering the character a copy of the exam to study
Being tempted to claim the credit for someone else's work
An athlete taking steroids to unfairly increase their advantage
A contest entrant being provided access to information the other contestants don't have
Receiving intel that a judge or city official will rule a certain way if they're financially incentivized 
Receiving insider information that could be used to make an investment
A company or program offering to waive certain requirements because the character is connected
Having friends or family who have no issue with (or may even encourage) cheating to get ahead

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:
Being a terrible liar and worrying about getting caught
Embarrassment over being caught
Having to hide (from parents or a spouse) where the bribery money is going
Friction with friends who find out about the cheating and don't like it
Watchful security guards, organizers, referees, or others tasked with upholding fairness for all  
A rival suspecting the character might be cheating
Choosing not to cheat and having to accept the result (a failing grade, not winning a race, not being viewed as the best, being denied entry into a friendship group, etc.)
Taking the high road and having to watch other people cheat and get away with it

POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS RESULTS:
...

RESULTING EMOTIONS:
...

POSSIBLE INTERNAL STRUGGLES:
...

NEGATIVE TRAITS THAT COULD MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE:
...

IMPACT ON BASIC NEEDS:
...

WOUNDS THIS COULD LEAD TO:
...

POSITIVE TRAITS TO HELP THE CHARACTER COPE:
...

POSITIVE OUTCOMES:
...