Publisher: Writers Helping Writers

ISBN: 978-1-7361523-1-7

Less than a year after the release of their ambitious guide The Conflict Thesaurus: Volume 1, writing experts Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi have returned with the sequel in the silver-toned The Conflict Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Obstacles, Adversaries, and Inner Struggles, Volume 2. For writers wanting to deepen their understanding of how conflict operates within storytelling, this second book is just as essential as the first.

Right from the opening pages, it’s clear the follow-up will do its predecessor justice. Ackerman and Puglisi give writers nearly 50 pages of thoughtful writing instruction full of practical, actionable advice while keeping the tone light and accessible. The first volume dug into the essentials of conflict, notably how psychology affects people and the way they behave. The second volume builds on these foundational ideas, introducing writers to concepts like the “golden thread” that weaves plot and character arc into a tight chain of story.

One of the biggest advantages is how the two volumes deal with conflict in the broader realm of writing. Volume 1 digs into mostly outer conflicts: those arising due to life responsibilities, for example, or the ticking clock phenomenon in which a character comes under the pressure of some sort of deadline. Volume 2 touches on inner conflicts: ego issues and power struggles, among others. While there is definitely overlap between the two—Volume 1 digs into the inner psyche with its section on moral dilemmas; Volume 2 tackles conflicts from physical dangers and threats—this concentration of each thesaurus mirrors the way writers should approach conflict in their work.

The most well-developed stories deal with outer conflicts as well as inner ones and intertwine both to show a character’s dilemmas and solutions. In some genres, the focus is on either the outer conflict or the inner. Taken together, readers come away with a richer experience. Likewise, writers will find a richer sense of writing instruction by using both Volume 1 and Volume 2 together.  

This volume of The Conflict Thesaurus also offers writers the opportunity to see both positive and negative effects a particular conflict might have on a character. Starting with the conflict listing, the resource delves into inner and outer markers of that conflict and then those positive and negative effects. Armed with both, it’s easy to thumb through Volume 2 and build a character arc as well as a plot progression that will keep readers glued to the pages or their devices.

A follow-up to be heralded by writers everywhere, I recommend writers Binge The Conflict Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Obstacles, Adversaries, and Inner Struggles: Volume 2 by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi.