CONFLICT THESAURUS

NOT KNOWING WHAT ONE WANTS



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:
Miscellaneous challenges, failures and mistakes, increased pressure and ticking clocks

EXAMPLES:
The character frequently changing their college major because they can't decide on a career
A character feeling unfulfilled in a romantic relationship but not knowing why
A CEO requiring an employee to submit new ideas repeatedly, saying they'll know what they want when they see it
A character always breaking things off with romantic partners because they can't commit 
A pregnant character debating whether or not to terminate their pregnancy
The character taking their business in too many directions because they can't settle on a specialty
A character waffling over a major life choice 

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:
Pressure to make a decision (due to a looming time limit, a pushy loved one, competition, etc.)
Having to make decisions with partial information
Wasted time pursuing paths that don't pan out 
Restless sleep or uneasy dreams
High expenses associated with frequently changing pursuits 
Becoming a jack-of-all-trades, master of none
Having to continually retrain to learn new skills or information
Well-meaning relatives constantly asking the character about their future plans
Frustration from loved ones who have their own clear vision of the character's future
Saying yes to any opportunity
Shallow distractions and diversions dominating the character's days
The character lying to employers about their interest in a project to protect their livelihood
The character hating their job
Having to attend therapy to sort out their mixed feelings
Frustrating conversations with focused and decisive people who know their own path

POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS RESULTS:
...

RESULTING EMOTIONS:
...

POSSIBLE INTERNAL STRUGGLES:
...

PEOPLE WHO COULD BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED:
...

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:
...