The Conflict Thesaurus

A Writer's Guide to Obstacles, Adversaries, and Inner Struggles (Volume 1)

Becca Puglisi, Angela Ackerman

• Publisher: PublishDrive
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9780999296394
• eBook ISBN: 9781736152300
• Topic: Personal Development
• Subtopic: Writing & Presentation Skills

Physical obstacles, adversaries, moral dilemmas, deep-seated doubts and personal struggles…conflict keeps the plot fresh, challenges characters as they traverse their arc, builds tension and high stakes, and most importantly, keeps readers emotionally invested from beginning to end. Volume One of The Conflict Thesaurus is the guide you need to write intense and satisfying fiction readers won't forget.

Table of contents

• Title Page
• THE CONFLICT THESAURUS: A WRITER’S GUIDE TO OBSTACLES, ADVERSARIES, AND INNER STRUGGLES. VOLUME 1.
• THE WRITERS HELPING WRITERS® DESCRIPTIVE THESAURUS SERIES
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• CONFLICT’S ROLE IN STORYTELLING: SHAPING CHARACTERS
• THE PLOT-CONFLICT COMBO
• INTERNAL CONFLICT: A DEEPER LOOK
• LESSONS IN FAILURE: POINTING THE CHARACTER TOWARD GROWTH
• CONFLICT, CHOICES, AND CONSEQUENCES
• ADVERSARIES IN FICTION: WHO IS STANDING IN YOUR CHARACTER’S WAY?
• SOURCING CONFLICT FOR YOUR STORY OR SCENE
• FINAL WORDS FROM THE AUTHORS
• THE CONFLICT THESAURUS
• Relationship Friction
• A DIVORCE OR BREAKUP
• A CHILD WANTING TO LIVE WITH ONE’S EX
• A LOVE INTEREST TAKING UP WITH SOMEONE ELSE
• A PARTNER BEING UNWILLING TO COMMIT
• A ROMANCE BEING STYMIED
• A ROMANTIC COMPETITOR ENTERING THE SCENE
• AN EX INTERFERING IN ONE’S LIFE
• AN UNWANTED ROMANTIC ADVANCE
• BEING BETRAYED OR ABANDONED BY A TRUSTED ALLY OR FRIEND
• BEING CHEATED ON
• BEING FORCED TO MARRY
• BEING IGNORED OR BLOWN OFF
• BEING INSULTED
• BEING MANIPULATED
• BEING REJECTED BY A POTENTIAL LOVE INTEREST
• BEING TAKEN FOR GRANTED
• BEING UNABLE TO FORGIVE SOMEONE
• DISAPPOINTING SOMEONE
• DISCOVERING A SPOUSE’S SECRET
• DOMESTIC ABUSE
• FAMILY SECRETS BEING REVEALED
• HAVING TO BETRAY A FRIEND OR LOVED ONE
• HAVING TO BREAK SOMEONE’S HEART
• LOSING ONE’S TEMPER
• ONE’S INFIDELITY BEING DISCOVERED
• PEER PRESSURE
• SEEING AN EX WITH SOMEONE NEW
• SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION
• THE REAPPEARANCE OF AN ESTRANGED RELATIVE
• Failures and Mistakes
• A LIE IMPACTING SOMEONE ELSE
• A PRANK GOING WRONG
• BEING UNPREPARED
• BREAKING OR DESTROYING AN IMPORTANT ITEM
• CAUSING A CAR ACCIDENT
• CAUSING A WORKPLACE HAZARD
• CONFIDING IN THE WRONG PERSON
• DOING SOMETHING STUPID WHILE IMPAIRED
• DROPPING THE BALL
• FAILING AT SOMETHING
• GETTING CAUGHT DOING SOMETHING WRONG
• GETTING CAUGHT IN A LIE
• HAVING A ONE-NIGHT STAND WITH A CO-WORKER
• HAVING POOR JUDGMENT
• LOSING A BET
• LOSING A PHONE
• MAKING A BAD INVESTMENT
• MAKING A CRUCIAL MISTAKE AT WORK
• SENDING A PRIVATE MESSAGE TO THE WRONG PERSON
• TAKING ADVICE FROM THE WRONG PERSON
• UNDERESTIMATING DANGER
• UNKNOWINGLY SHARING INCORRECT INFORMATION
• Moral Dilemmas and Temptations
• BEING GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHEAT
• BEING OFFERED AN EASY WAY OUT
• BEING OFFERED DIRTY MONEY
• BEING PRESSURED TO COVER FOR A FRIEND
• BREAKING THE LAW FOR A GOOD REASON
• DISCOVERING AN OUTCOME HAS BEEN FIXED
• FACING A DIFFICULT DECISION WITH NO EASY SOLUTION
• HAVING FEELINGS FOR SOMEONE ONE SHOULDN’T
• HAVING TO DECIDE TO HELP OR DO NOTHING
• HAVING TO STEAL TO OBTAIN SOMETHING VITAL
• INDULGING WHEN ONE SHOULD NOT
• LEAVING SOMEONE TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTIONS
• MAKING A DISCOVERY THAT THREATENS THE BOND OF FRIENDSHIP
• NEEDING TO SABOTAGE SOMEONE TO WIN
• PULLING THE PLUG ON SOMEONE
• SACRIFICING ETHICS OR MORALS FOR THE GREATER GOOD
• SOMEONE WITNESSING ONE’S MISBEHAVIOR
• WITNESSING ABUSE
• WITNESSING CORRUPTION
• WITNESSING DISCRIMINATION
• Duty and Responsibility
• A CHILD GETTING SICK
• A PROBLEM AT A CHILD’S SCHOOL
• AN ELDERLY LOVED ONE REQUIRING CARE
• BEING ASSIGNED AN UNDESIRABLE PARTNER
• BEING ASSIGNED AN UNPLEASANT TASK
• BEING THE BEARER OF BAD NEWS
• BUREAUCRACY TYING ONE’S HANDS
• CHAFING UNDER POOR LEADERSHIP
• CHILDCARE FALLING THROUGH
• HAVING TO BREAK A PROMISE
• HAVING TO PUNISH SOMEONE
• HAVING TO WORK WITH AN ENEMY
• LOSING A JOB
• LOSING A SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION
• NEEDING TO DISOBEY AN ORDER
• RECEIVING A BAD PERFORMANCE REVIEW
• WORK-LIFE BALANCE BEING THREATENED
• Increased Pressure and Ticking Clocks
• A DEADLINE BEING MOVED UP
• A DELAY THAT MAKES ONE LATE
• BEING BLACKMAILED
• BEING GIVEN AN ULTIMATUM
• BEING HUNTED
• BEING MADE TO WAIT
• BEING SADDLED WITH UNEXPECTED RESPONSIBILITY
• BEING THRUST INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
• GETTING LOST
• HAVING TO BEAT THE CLOCK
• HAVING TO PROVE ONE’S INNOCENCE
• INCURRING AN UNEXPECTED EXPENSE
• MISSING AN IMPORTANT MEETING OR DEADLINE
• REALIZING ONE IS AT A DISADVANTAGE
• UNWANTED SCRUTINY
• No-Win Scenarios
• BEING CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE
• BEING SET UP TO FAIL
• BEING UNABLE TO SAVE EVERYONE
• CONFLICTING INTERNAL NEEDS OR DESIRES
• HAVING TO HURT SOMEONE TO SAVE THEM FROM A WORSE FATE
• HAVING TO PICK THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS
• NEEDING TO SACRIFICE ONE FOR THE GOOD OF MANY
• APPENDIX A: HOW WILL YOUR CHARACTER RESPOND TO CONFLICT?
• APPENDIX B: IDENTIFYING YOUR CHARACTER'S INTERNAL CONFLICT
• APPENDIX B: IDENTIFYING YOUR CHARACTER'S INTERNAL CONFLICT
• THE CONFLICT THESAURUS, VOLUME 2
• RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
• PRAISE FOR THESE WRITERS HELPING WRITERS RESOURCES
• ELEVATE YOUR STORYTELLING WITH A ONE-OF-A-KIND RESOURCE