CONFLICT THESAURUS

BEING TAKEN IN FOR QUESTIONING



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:
Loss of control, ego-related conflict, power struggles, failures and mistakes, moral dilemmas and temptations, increased pressure and ticking clocks

EXAMPLES:
The character witnessing an accident and having to make a report
Being questioned about the final days of a close friend or relative who was murdered
The character being found at or near the scene of a crime and being questioned about it
A routine traffic stop giving police officers probable cause to question the character 
The character being brought in a second time to clarify information they provided in a former round of questioning
Being questioned about a crime that was committed by close friends, a co-worker, or a business partner

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:
Being late for work
Having to arrange and pay for childcare during the questioning
Missing an appointment or scheduled outing with a friend
Having to provide incriminating evidence about a friend or loved one
The character losing trust in law enforcement
The character having to explain to others that they're involved in a criminal investigation
Friends or co-workers making judgments about the character's guilt or innocence
Nervousness making the character look guilty or uncertain about their testimony
Transportation issues that cause the character to miss their appointment

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:
...