Conflict: HAVING TO BREAK SOMEONE'S HEART

HAVING TO BREAK SOMEONE'S HEART

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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.

A college-aged character growing apart from their high school sweetheart and seeking to end the relationship
A character realizing they're engaged to someone for the wrong reasons and canceling their upcoming wedding
Having to be blunt with a persistent admirer to convey that the character is never going to be interested in a romantic relationship
The character breaking up with someone to save them from harm, possibly because an abusive ex is making threats against the love interest or the character is terminally ill and doesn't want to put the loved one through that
The character ending the relationship because they believe they're not capable of love (due to a wounding event, perhaps) and the other person deserves better
The character relocating to a place where the other person can't follow, such as an off-the-grid compound, prison, or a witness protection program and deciding it's kinder to break things off
Having to push someone away to keep them from discovering an important secret

Dealing with the uncomfortable and painful conversation when the news is delivered
Losing the support of friends or family who disapprove of the character's actions
Inconveniencing friends or family members who have invested financially in the wedding
A breakup dragging on for an extended period of time
The logistics and frustrations arising from having to move out of a shared home
Having to cancel scheduled plans with the other person
Complications arising from the character procrastinating giving the bad news
Losing valued friendships with ancillary people who take the other person's side

HAVING TO BREAK SOMEONE'S HEART

HELPFUL TIP:

NOTES:

EXAMPLES:

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:

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: