CONFLICT THESAURUS

BEING THRUST INTO THE SPOTLIGHT



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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, loss of control, relationship friction

EXAMPLES:
A reluctant understudy suddenly having to play the leading role
A video or social post going viral and turning the character into a phenomenon
The character's product (a book, movie, song, etc.) becoming an instant hit
The character's spouse achieving fame overnight
Winning a high-profile competition or contest
The character's superpowers or magical abilities being revealed
Making news headlines for doing something heroic or inspirational
Witnessing an infamous crime and becoming a star witness in the trial
Being discovered by a talent scout while doing something mundane
The character discovering they're closely related to a celebrity or government leader
Dating someone famous
Being accused of a high-profile or particularly heinous crime
Saving someone's life in an unusual circumstance

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:
Dealing with the loss of anonymity and privacy
The character always having to think about how they look, what they say, etc.
Receiving hate mail or being trolled on social media
Conflict with friends who are jealous of the character's sudden fame
Existing relationships shifting because of increased scrutiny for the character and everyone around them
Arguments with family or roommates about a lack of privacy
The character fearing that incriminating moments from their past will be discovered
Having to keep working and innovating to stay on top
Being overwhelmed with new opportunities that must be examined and sorted through
Hobbies and interests shifting for the character, causing them to drift away from old friends

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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