Writing help

7 ways to get conflict ideas from your characters

Here are seven surefire ways to turn a character idea into an idea for conflict, which gives you the seed for a story.
You can repeat the techniques with new characters and come out with a completely different story every time!
1) What is something your character deeply desires? Imagine a situation in which your character has the chance to obtain this desire... but there is a terrible obstacle in the way. (What obstacle? You decide.)
2) What is one of your character's greatest fears? Imagine a situation which forces your character to face this fear in order to achieve an important goal.
3) Who is someone your character hates? Imagine a situation which forces your character into a major struggle with this person.
4) Who is someone your character loves? Imagine a situation which threatens to cut your character off from this person. How does your character react?
5) What is one of your character's greatest weaknesses? Imagine a situation in which your character must overcome this weakness or risk losing something s/he cares about deeply.
6) Imagine a situation in which something your character doesn't know about himself or herself is about to ruin his or her life, unless the character is capable of making drastic changes.
7) Who are the people your character cares about most? Imagine a situation in which your character must choose between two of them.