What are some good conflict ideas for a short story?

One conflict idea could be a character vs. society. For example, a young artist in a conservative town where art is not seen as a legitimate career. The town's values and expectations conflict with the artist's dreams.

A conflict within a character can be very interesting too. A person who has always been taught to be honest but is suddenly faced with a situation where lying could save a loved one from a great harm. The internal struggle between their moral values and the love for their family member is a powerful source of conflict.

One idea could be a conflict between two friends over a borrowed item that gets damaged. For example, one friend lends the other a precious book and it comes back with coffee stains. This can lead to a series of emotional exchanges like anger, disappointment, and attempts at reconciliation.

A simple yet effective conflict could be jealousy. For instance, if one friend gets a great job opportunity while the other is still struggling. The less fortunate friend might start to feel jealous, which could strain their relationship.

A character vs. technology conflict could be interesting. For instance, a writer who has always written with pen and paper suddenly has to switch to a new high - tech writing device for a project. The device keeps malfunctioning and has a complex interface. The writer, who is used to the simplicity of pen and paper, is frustrated and has to struggle with the technology to meet the project deadline.

One idea could be a character's internal conflict between following their dreams or fulfilling family expectations. For example, a young artist who wants to study art in Paris but their parents expect them to take over the family business. This creates a strong conflict as the character has to decide between their passion and their sense of family duty.

Person vs. society conflict. For instance, a character in a dystopian society who rebels against the strict laws and rules that suppress individuality. The character might start a small act of resistance like writing subversive graffiti, which then escalates as the authorities try to hunt them down.

In a fantasy story, a great conflict idea is the clash between the old magic and the new magic. The old magic users, who follow traditional and perhaps more ethical ways, see the new magic as a threat to the balance of the world. It could also be a conflict where a hero has to choose between saving his true love or saving the world from an ancient evil. And there's the conflict of a young wizard who discovers that his family's magic has been cursed and he has to find a way to break the curse against the will of an evil sorcerer who placed it.

One idea could be a conflict between a character's ambition and their moral code. For example, a young scientist is desperate to make a groundbreaking discovery but the only way to do so involves unethical experimentation on animals. This creates an internal struggle as the character has to decide between achieving their life - long ambition and staying true to their principles.

A good conflict could be a character's internal struggle, like fighting against their own fears or doubts. It makes the story more relatable and engaging.