99+ Conflict Ideas To Help You Write Your Next Story
Have you ever found yourself wrestling with the beast of bland storytelling? What ignites the spark in a narrative that keeps readers, viewers, and listeners utterly captivated? The answer lies in the heart of a character conflict.
Whether penning a short story, crafting a script for the next big blockbuster, or weaving an intricate tale for a novel, understanding and effectively utilizing conflict ideas can transform your writing journey.
This blog post dives into a list of potential story conflict ideas, encompassing everything from internal conflicts and the main character's growth to love triangles and societal battles, providing you with a gold mine of writing conflict inspiration to create conflicts that resonate with your audience and elevate your story.
A long list of conflicting ideas
1. A musician discovers they are losing their hearing, threatening their career and identity.
2. An astronaut on a solo mission starts receiving mysterious messages from an unknown source.
3. A world-class chef develops a severe allergy to a common ingredient.
4. A time traveler accidentally changes a small event, drastically altering the present.
5. A detective develops amnesia, forgetting crucial details of a significant case they were solving.
6. A painter becomes colorblind, challenging their artistic expression.
7. Teenagers discover they can read minds but struggle to control this ability.
8. A writer's fictional characters start appearing in their real life.
9. An archaeologist unearths an artifact that ages them a year each day they possess it.
10. A linguist starts hearing everyone's speech in an alien language.
11. A successful businessperson must work undercover in their own company.
12. A botanist finds a rare plant that has consciousness and communicates with them.
13. A professional gamer starts seeing the game's monsters in the real world.
14. A mathematician discovers a formula that predicts future events.
15. A journalist becomes the news story after inadvertently becoming involved in a scandal.
16. An athlete is mysteriously transported back to the day of their biggest failure.
17. A teacher discovers one of their students is a younger version of themselves.
18. A pilot finds themselves on an endless flight, unable to land at any airport.
19. A lawyer is forced to defend a client they know is guilty of a heinous crime.
20. A historian discovers they can interact with ghosts from the past.
21. An environmentalist turns into a tree every night, experiencing the world differently.
22. A child's imaginary friend turns out to be authentic and not so friendly.
23. A scientist's invention to remove bad memories starts erasing good ones, too.
24. A celebrity wakes up one day completely unknown to the world.
25. A ghost hunter becomes haunted by their spirit.
26. An explorer finds an underground city but can't find their way back to it.
27. A weather forecaster starts experiencing the weather conditions they predict.
28. A movie star gets trapped in their most famous role, unable to break character.
29. A photographer captures images that predict future tragedies.
30. A diver discovers an ancient civilization underwater but is cursed upon entering.
31. A bodyguard develops feelings for the person they are assigned to protect.
32. An inventor creates a device that lets them swap lives with others.
33. A politician can suddenly only tell the truth, regardless of the consequences.
34. A spy falls in love with their target.
35. An artist finds their paintings come to life, but they depict future disasters.
36. A librarian finds a book that writes the future, but altering it comes at a cost.
37. A mountaineer gets stranded in a time loop on the mountain.
38. A gardener's plants start giving her advice, good and bad.
39. A fashion designer can only create invisible clothes.
40. A reality show contestant discovers the show is for an alien audience.
41. A fortune teller starts seeing their future, which they desperately want to change.
42. A baker's creations come to life, each with personality.
43. A retired superhero struggles to live an everyday life.
44. A geneticist accidentally clones themselves, and the clone wants to take over their life.
45. An antique dealer sells a cursed object and has to retrieve it.
46. A detective can only solve crimes in their dreams.
47. A filmmaker finds out their life is actually a movie being watched by others.
48. A zookeeper discovers they can talk to animals but don't like what they hear.
49. A hacker gets trapped inside the internet.
50. A sleepwalker wakes up in a different historical era every morning.
51. A perfumer develops a fragrance that makes the wearer invisible.
52. An architect discovers their buildings influence people's emotions.
53. A florist's flowers bloom with messages in an unknown language.
54. A composer hears every sound as music, making ordinary life challenging.
55. A therapist starts taking on the emotions of their patients.
56. A professional diver finds a portal to an alternate universe underwater.
57. A pilot can only navigate using stars, even during the day.
58. An actor finds themselves stuck in the era of their most recent period film.
59. A reality TV star realizes their entire life is scripted and seeks to break free.
60. A linguist speaks every language but can't understand their own.
61. A historian is sent back in time to witness the events in which they specialize.
62. A meteorologist controls the weather but can't predict the consequences.
63. A cartographer's maps alter reality to match their drawings.
64. A chef can taste emotions, making every meal emotional.
65. A physicist accidentally creates a black hole in their lab.
66. A librarian discovers a book that ages them whenever they read it.
67. A pilot is cursed to always fly in storms.
68. An artist's sculptures come to life but only in moonlight.
69. A detective finds evidence that they might be the criminal they're chasing.
70. A fashion designer sews magical properties into their clothes.
71. A composer's music influences the behavior of those who hear it.
72. A journalist finds their articles alter the events they write about.
73. A biologist discovers a plant that feeds on secrets.
74. A coder writes software that starts rewriting itself.
75. A sculptor finds their creations are slowly turning into flesh and bone.
76. A novelist's book characters start communicating with them.
77. A magician accidentally makes their audience disappear for real.
78. A barista brews coffees that make drinkers live their wildest dreams.
79. A graffiti artist's works cause the walls they're on to come alive.
80. A psychologist can see their patient's thoughts.
81. A watchmaker creates a watch that can stop time, but it ages them rapidly.
82. A sommelier tastes wine and gets visions of its history.
83. A jeweler makes a ring that grants wishes but at a high price.
84. A tattoo artist's designs give their wearers superpowers.
85. A mechanic can fix anything, but each repair shortens their life.
86. A baker's pastries make people relive their happiest memories.
87. A dancer can control people's movements when they perform.
88. A surgeon discovers they can transplant talent along with organs.
89. A teacher's lessons come to life in the classroom.
90. A photographer's camera captures not just images but souls.
91. A voice coach can mimic any voice, losing a bit of their identity each time.
92. A stylist's makeovers drastically change people's personalities.
93. A vintner's wine cellar is a gateway to the past.
94. A watchmaker's creations manipulate the age of whoever wears them.
95. A glassblower's creations reflect the future.
96. An ice sculptor's works never melt but hold frozen secrets.
97. A puppeteer discovers their puppets have a life of their own.
98. A chocolatier makes chocolates that affect people's emotions.
99. A muralist's paintings influence the mood of the city.
100. A crossword puzzle designer's puzzles start affecting real-world events.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the art of crafting compelling stories is an intricate dance with conflict. Whether it's a subtle inner struggle or a dramatic clash against external forces, each conflict you weave into your narrative adds depth, tension, and relatability.
Let these conflicting ideas be your guiding stars as you embark on your writing journey. They will help you create a rich tapestry of experiences, emotions, and transformations that captivate your readers and reflect the essence of life itself.
So, embrace these conflicts, let them fuel your creativity, and watch as your stories take flight, soaring on the wings of compelling, dynamic, and unforgettable conflicts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Conflict Ideas (FAQs)
What is Conflict in Storytelling?
Conflict is the driving force of a good story. It's the struggle between two opposing forces, which can be internal, external conflict, or both. Conflict is what makes your characters and your story come alive. It's essential in creating a compelling narrative that keeps the reader engaged.
What are the different Types of Conflict in storytelling?
Internal Conflict (vs. Self):
Examples: Inner struggle, self-doubt, and internal struggles.
Character Traits: It reveals the character's mind, showcasing their inner conflict and emotions.
Story Impact: Leads to character growth as they overcome obstacles.
External Conflict:
Types: Character vs. character (e.g., love triangle, sports team rivalry), character vs. nature (e.g., natural disasters), character vs. society (e.g., "The Handmaid's Tale").
Story Role: External conflicts are the major ones that move the plot forward.
Secondary and Minor Conflicts:
Role: They add depth, such as conflicts with a family member, best friend, or secondary characters' struggles.
How To Create Conflict in Your Story?
Start with the Central Conflict: Identify the main conflict that will be your story's driving force.
Add Layers: Introduce internal and external conflicts to create a sense of tension.
Character Development: Use conflicts to reveal and test character traits.
Plot Progression: Ensure that every conflict moves the plot forward or develops characters.
Resolution: Every conflict should have a payoff or contribute to the story's resolution.
What are some Examples of Conflict in Literature?
Internal:
"The Hunger Games": Katniss's internal conflicts and struggles for survival.
Ernest Hemingway's Stories: Often explore inner conflict and the human condition.
External:
"War of the Worlds" (Science Fiction): Human vs. alien invasion.
"The Old Man and the Sea": Man vs. nature, battling the elements and a giant marlin.
How do you use conflict effectively in your story?
Understanding Your Characters: Know their desires, fears, and weaknesses.
Balancing Conflicts: Mix internal and external conflicts for dynamic storytelling.
Conflict and Theme: Let your conflicts reflect the more prominent themes of your story.
Evolution: Allow conflicts to evolve as the story progresses.
Resolution: Ensure conflicts are resolved satisfactorily in a way that makes sense for your story.
