CONFLICT THESAURUS

NOT ACHIEVING A COVETED GOAL



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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:
Loss of control, power struggles, ego-related conflict, failures and mistakes, duty and responsibility

EXAMPLES:
Not making a professional sports team
The character being passed over for their dream job
Being unable to have children
The character not being accepted to their dream university
Losing an election
Failing to make a relationship work
Taking second-place in an elite competition or contest
Not being accepted into an invitation-only group
Flunking out of college before a degree could be earned
The character's business failing
Being unable to make amends

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:
Having to adjust plans and expectations
Losing the financial investment involved
Being dissatisfied with whatever comes next
Embarrassment
Having to explain the loss to others
Believing that the time spent pursuing the goal was wasted 
Shouldering the weight of other people's disappointment 
Envying others who were able to achieve the goal 
Awkwardness around friends who got what the character wanted
The character changing their habits to avoid people or events related to the pursuit
Dealing with well-meaning but unhelpful comments from others: It just wasn't meant to be, or Something better will come along

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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