Free Creative Writing Course: Mastering Character Conflicts With the 5 Conflict Management Styles

 

What if I told you that one of the fastest ways to make your fiction more gripping is not by adding explosions, love triangles, or shocking plot twists—but by understanding how your characters fight?

That’s exactly what this free creative writing course is about: learning to use the five conflict management styles as powerful tools for shaping character, relationships, and plot. Whether you write novels, screenplays, or short stories, this framework will give you practical techniques to craft tension that feels alive, layered, and authentic.

This course is inspired by the work of psychologist Kenneth W. Thomas and Ralph H. Kilmann, whose model (the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument) was designed to help people navigate disagreements in the real world. But for storytellers, these same principles become an invaluable lens for character creation.

Conflict drives the story. And how your characters handle conflict is what makes them unforgettable.

What You’ll Learn in This Free Course

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:

• Identify your characters’ dominant conflict management style.
• Use opposing styles to create natural tension between characters.
• Push characters into their weakest style to unlock growth arcs and unexpected plot turns.
• Mix styles within your ensemble cast to keep every scene dynamic.

Step One: The Five Conflict Management Styles

Every conflict boils down to one of these five approaches. Each balances two things: assertiveness (pursuing your own goals) and cooperativeness (considering others’ goals).

• Competing (High-Stakes Showdowns)
• Assertive + Uncooperative. These characters want to win at any cost. Great for villains, ambitious leaders, or heroes with destructive tunnel vision. Examples: Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada; Captain Ahab in Moby Dick.
• Collaborating (Win-Win Solutions)
• Assertive + Cooperative. They push for solutions that work for everyone, strengthening relationships in the process. Examples: Moana restoring Te Fiti’s heart; Atticus Finch defending Tom Robinson.
• Compromising (Meeting in the Middle)
• Middle ground on both scales. They seek partial solutions that ease tension but often leave loose ends. Examples: Marty McFly persuading George to confront Biff; Katniss Everdeen negotiating survival alliances.
• Accommodating (The Peacemaker’s Path)
• Unassertive + Cooperative. They sacrifice their own needs to maintain harmony—sometimes noble, sometimes self-effacing. Examples: Samwise Gamgee giving Frodo the last of their water; Beth March yielding to her sisters.
• Avoiding (Delaying the Battle)
• Unassertive + Uncooperative. They dodge conflict altogether, creating subtext, distance, or tension in silence. Examples: Christopher McCandless escaping family tensions in Into the Wild; Bruce Banner hiding in Calcutta.

Some more writing tips you might need. 

Step Two: Try the Character Conflict Style Quiz

Here’s a quick way to discover your character’s dominant style. For each statement, rate how true it is for your character (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree).

• Pushes hard for their own way.
• Seeks solutions that work for everyone.
• Willing to give up part of what they want to resolve conflict.
• Lets others win to keep the peace.
• Avoids bringing up issues unless forced.
• Enjoys creative, win-win solutions.
• Settles halfway to end arguments quickly.
• Puts others’ needs first when harmony matters most.
• Withdraws or changes subject to avoid escalation.
• Insists on their own position because they’re right.

Scoring:

• Competing = Q1 + Q10
• Collaborating = Q2 + Q6
• Compromising = Q3 + Q7
• Accommodating = Q4 + Q8
• Avoiding = Q5 + Q9

The highest score is your character’s dominant conflict style. Secondary styles are those close behind.

Step Three: Build Tension With Style Clashes

• Two Competitors → explosive showdowns with winners and losers.
• Two Accommodators → a quiet scene with no one satisfied.
• A Collaborator vs. a Competitor → sparks that can evolve into growth or downfall.
• Compromisers with anyone → balanced but tense dynamics, perfect for mid-story pivots.
• An Avoider forced into confrontation → a recipe for a turning point.

Step Four: Use Conflict Styles for Character Arcs

• Conflict styles aren’t static—they can evolve. This gives you a built-in path for character transformation.
• A ruthless Competitor might learn to Collaborate.
• A self-effacing Accommodator might find their voice.
• An Avoider might finally face what they’ve been running from.
• Each shift can serve as the emotional heart of your story.

Your Assignment

Pick one character from your current project and take them through the quiz. Identify their dominant conflict style. Then, write a short scene where they are forced to act against that style. Notice how the tension spikes—and how much more layered your character becomes.

 

Sign Up for the Free Course

This post is just Lesson One of the free creative writing course: Mastering Character Conflicts With the 5 Conflict Management Styles.

By signing up, you’ll receive:

• A full workbook with exercises and scene prompts.
• Deeper breakdowns of each style with more examples.
• Templates to map conflict styles across your ensemble cast.
• Guidance on weaving conflict styles into arcs, pacing, and theme.

Enroll for free today and transform your stories with conflict that feels real.

You can also subscribe to the Helping Writers Become Authors podcast in Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, or Spotify).

Join Worldshift: The Speculative Fiction Writers’ Summit, for a free 4-day online event packed with workshops on character, worldbuilding, plotting, publishing, and more from 30+ writing experts. For more information, visit helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com