What are some good conflict ideas for short stories?

One idea could be a character vs. society conflict. For example, in a small town where everyone follows old - fashioned traditions, a young artist wants to introduce modern art forms. The society, including the town council and conservative residents, opposes this change. They try to stop the artist from holding exhibitions or teaching new techniques, creating a strong conflict as the artist battles against the norms of the whole town.

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.

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.

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.

Look at real - life situations. For instance, conflicts at work, like colleagues competing for a limited number of promotions. You can take this and fictionalize it for your short story.

In literature, the conflict between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth in 'Pride and Prejudice' is a great example. Mr. Darcy's pride and Elizabeth's prejudice initially create a rift between them. Their different social standings and personalities lead to misunderstandings and arguments. However, as the story progresses, they gradually overcome these obstacles and come to understand each other, which makes it a wonderful story of how conflict can be resolved through growth and self - discovery.

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 story about a lost key that unlocks a mysterious door in an old attic. The protagonist discovers the key while cleaning out their deceased grandmother's house. As they search for the door it might belong to, they encounter strange events and people who seem to be guarding a secret related to the key.