CONFLICT THESAURUS

MISSING AN IMPORTANT MEETING OR DEADLINE



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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, relationship friction, failures and mistakes, duty and responsibility, losing an advantage

EXAMPLES:
The character confusing the date or time of the important event
Falling ill or being injured and being unable to deliver on a favor
Members bailing on a group project, leaving the character to carry the bulk of the workload
Procrastinating and running out of time
Oversleeping and missing a meeting with one's social worker, lawyer, or parole officer
An emergency at home stealing the character's time and making them miss their deadline
Discovering a promising opportunity (such as a contest or job interview) but learning about it after the deadline has passed
Missing the birth of one's child because the character's phone was on silent during a golf round with business clients

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:
Disgruntled team members having to cover for the character
Experiencing minor health problems, such as insomnia or headaches
Looking unprofessional in front of colleagues or managers
Having to share incomplete work that makes the character appear incompetent to others
The character's work reputation being tarnished
Family members being frustrated by the character's lack of commitment
A friend being angry because the character didn't do what they said they would
The meeting having to be rescheduled, inconveniencing others
The deadline being pushed back, disappointing the client and angering co-workers
Getting the silent treatment from one's spouse
The character making excuses rather than taking responsibility
Avoiding the people associated with the missed appointment

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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