CONFLICT THESAURUS

BEING EXCLUDED



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:
Losing an advantage, ego-related conflict, relationship friction, power struggles

EXAMPLES:
Not being invited to an anticipated event (a birthday party, gala, wedding, etc.) 
A best friend spending time with a new love interest instead of the character
An ex's friends taking their side and disassociating from the character
Being an outsider in a community that embraces a different lifestyle (outdoor enthusiasts, vegan, swingers, doomsday preppers, nudists, a religious sect, etc.)
A character being excommunicated from a religion they identify with  
Being denied access to a social club or community—due to economic status, ethnic background, or education level, for instance
Being denied membership to a fraternity, gang, secret society, or other organization 
Marrying into a family and being treated like an outsider
Moving to a new school or community and being excluded socially
Decisions being made by other team members or co-workers behind the character's back

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:
Being viewed as a third wheel by peers
The character going out of their way to try to fit in
Awkward conversations when the character runs into members of the excluding group
A loss of status
Having to attend events where the character knows they won't be treated as well as everyone else
Having to build a new community or event to replace the exclusionary one
Finding it hard to focus because of hurt feelings
Having no one to make special plans with
Having too much time on their hands
Time spent searching for new social groups, communities, or religions to fill the void
Unhealthy coping (eating when lonely or rejecting good people who try to include the character, for example), creating new problems
Having to suck up to the group to be included
Wasted time spent trying to find out why the exclusion is happening

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:
...