Here are some juicy fears to drive or torment your characters because I know how much you guys love to do that. I’m onto you! 🫵🏽
Fear of Success
This character has a paradoxical fear of achieving their goals. If they succeed, who knows what kind of responsibilities that would bring!
Their head is full of ‘maybe’s: Maybe they’re not up for it. Maybe it’ll change them. Maybe they’ll only end up disappointed. Maybe they don’t even deserve success. (And so on, so forth).
The spotlight that comes with success can be terrifying. The character might fear public judgment, criticism, or even envy from others.
Critical parents might have instilled a belief that success will lead to arrogance or alienation. Or maybe low self-worth makes them feel undeserving of success.
Fear of Obsolescence
This character is terrified of being outdated or forgotten, particularly relevant in fast-paced fields. This could be a scientist who pushes ethics to remain relevant, or an actor who does wild stunts to stay relevant, or a king who wastes his country’s money building monuments of himself.
Fear of Stagnation
This character dreads being stuck in a predictable routine. They’d hate a life without growth, and they crave constant novelty. They might be perpetually on the move, seeking out new jobs, hobbies, and relationships. This might make them a commitment-phobe.
Perhaps they witnessed a talented person waste their abilities (e.g. a talented parent who felt unfulfilled in a carer role). Or maybe they believe staying still makes them vulnerable.
Fear of Change
Unlike the last one, this character craves stability and predictability. They resist anything that disrupts their comfort zone. They might be someone with a high need for control. They might meticulously plan everything or avoid situations with unpredictable elements.
They might strongly associate their sense of self with their current life structure. Change feels like a threat to their identity and who they are. Maybe they grew up in an unstable or chaotic environment, so now they value security more than most people.
Fear of Mortality
Usually for a pretty significant reason, this character is preoccupied with thoughts about death. They might be driven to leave a lasting mark on the world, chasing achievements or experiences that’ll ensure they're not forgotten.
They might also live in seclusion, avoiding all forms of danger, refusing to live life to the fullest just because they’re afraid to die. Or maybe they go out of their way to prolong their lifespan. This is classic villain behaviour, but it’d be pretty cool to see in a hero.
Turkeys
Their neck thing freaks me out :(
