And Here’s Some Dialogue Prompts: 

—Prompt List <3

angst

"It would be better if you stayed away from me."

"Do you really want me? Or is this your way of getting back at my father?"

"You have given me enough memories to last a lifetime."

"If I ask you to kiss me in front of all these people, will you do it?"

"I am here to tell you that I cannot meet you anymore."

“you always push people away. i just thought you’d never do it to me”

“i know i have a heart because i can feel it breaking”

“i hate the way that i don’t hate you.”

“i didn’t realise i was such an inconvenience.”

“how many times am i supposed to forgive you?”

“all my friends told me you’d break my heart.”

“how could you let them say that about me?”

“i’d take our relationship back in a heartbeat.”

“i don’t see the same person i loved when i look at you anymore.”

“promise me you’ll still be here when i wake up.”

“you look happier”

“you still live in the silences between my thoughts.”

“i am in love with a moment we never had.”

“you didn’t just break promises, you broke me.”

"Don't go on that date." "Why?" "You know why." "Say it."

fluff

“if you cry, i’ll cry ─ and that won’t be fun for anyone.”

“my lipgloss is all over your lips.”

“that’s the first time i’ve ever seen you smile.”

“you cancelled plans for me?”

“quick, kiss me!”

“that’s the sixth time you’ve complimented me today.”

“how mad would you be if i kissed you?”

“it’s hard to sit here and be close to you and not kiss you.”

“ i never planned to have you on my mind this often”

“ i never want to stop making memories with you”

“a sky full of stars, and i’d still watch you.”

“my heart is so full of you i can hardly call it my own.”

“ i think i might be in some kind of love with you.”

“your lips look cold, want me to warm them up for you? “

"don't lie, your dimple usually shows when you're actually smiling. what's wrong?"

"i heard what you said...no one's ever talked about me that way before.."

“here’s a spare key so you don’t have to keep coming in through the window.”

“Oh my god you never told me you could cook”

“I know it’s 2 in the morning but do you want to...” 

"Can I wear your sweater? It smells like you, I can't promise to give it back though."

smut

“shh. there’s people in the other room.”

"I need you to be quiet for me, okay?"

“say you want me, and i’m yours.”

“my boyfriend/girlfriend would kill us.”

“there’s so many things i wanna do to you.”

“i didn’t like the way they were looking at you.”

“ i shouldn’t allow myself to get this close to you.”

“i’m going to ruin you.”

“want me to model these for you?”

“no ones here. we can be as loud as we want.”

“do you think of me when you touch yourself?”

“if you called just to get off on my voice, i’m hanging up.”

"what's the matter, love? you get nervous when i look at you like this?"

"what pretty noises you're making for me… am i making you feel good?"

Car sex in the rain

“against the window? are you insane?”

“leave the heels on.”

"I swear I'm gonna fuck the next person that walks through that door."

"Oh princess, I thought we learn from the last time you decided to make me jealous."

"I thought we agreed to share her?"

---

6 Tricks to Layer on Stakes

Every great story has stakes–things that are at risk throughout the plot. It might be that the protagonist’s life is at risk, or perhaps a romantic relationship, or maybe the opportunity to go on a long-awaited trip. Years ago, I had a hard time understanding stakes, and I think it was in part because they were often defined vaguely. Everything clicked when I realized that they are really potential consequences, which is how I prefer to define them now.

Stakes are significant events that could happen, and they include a sense of cause and effect. Typically, you can fit stakes into an “if … then … ” statement (even if it’s not literally written as one in the text):

“If I don’t defeat [the antagonist], then he’ll hurt my family.”“If you become a vampire, then the only thing you’ll love is blood.”“If we don’t fight back, then he’ll take all our land, our homes, our lives we built.” “If we don’t keep moving, then dehydration will kill us.”

Great stakes are closely related to tension, suspense, and hooks. All three get the audience to look forward and anticipate what could happen, usually by getting the audience to hope or fear a potential consequence. The audience then has to keep reading to discover the actual outcome.

All easier said than done. For many writers, stakes can be difficult to get on the page specifically because they require the writer to brainstorm possible, future outcomes–some of which may not actually happen.

For example, say your characters are stranded in a desert. They decide if they don’t keep moving, they could die of dehydration. But perhaps, in reality, it turns out if they had stayed put, they would have been rescued. Stakes aren’t always about what actually happens. Remember, they are about risk.

In a page-turner of a story, you’ll want to brainstorm and put in much more stakes, or potential consequences, in the text than what actually happens. For some of us, it’s hard to brainstorm enough of those, so here are some tricks.

1. Look at both positive and negative potential consequences.

When it comes to stakes, we often focus on the negative … because that is what is at risk.

“If [the protagonist] doesn’t defeat [the antagonist], [the antagonist] will take over the world.”

But putting positive outcomes on the page can sometimes be just as effective.

“If Samantha can nail this audition, then she can finally star in a movie.”

In this example, a positive potential consequence is what is at risk. Sure, we could change it to a negative–if she doesn’t nail the audition, she can’t star in a movie.

But the exercise of looking at both positive and negative potential consequences can help you brainstorm new ones. After all, if we were only looking at the negative, we may not have come up with “starring in a movie.”

2. Add to the cause-and-effect trajectory

Once you have one stake on the page, you can often add more to it, by taking the cause-and-effect trajectory out further. Suzanne Collins does this well in the opening of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

If the protagonist can’t eat cabbage soup, then he can’t get his stomach to stop growling (consequence #1), which means people will realize he’s poor, not rich (consequence #2), which means his reputation will be ruined (consequence #3), which means he’ll lose his opportunity to be a mentor through his school program (consequence #4), which means he’ll unlikely be able to meet the credentials needed for college (consequence #5), which means his family won’t be taken care of (consequence #6), which means his cousin might have to succumb to prostitution (consequence #7).

Whew, that’s a lot that hinges on making cabbage soup. Suddenly finding out whether or not the cabbage soup is going to work feels way more important!

You don’t have to take it out that far, but hopefully you get the idea.

3. Consider broad potential consequences

Another helpful approach is to look at how a potential consequence can have broader ramifications.

This works even with personal matters.

“If Jasper doesn’t return Emily’s love with a proposal, her descendants may be doomed to live in poverty.”

Here, something personal, love, has been broadened to include a family line–all of Emily’s children.

“If George doesn’t get to water, he could die of dehydration, which means his evil uncle could take the throne.”

In this example, the protagonist’s possible death affects a whole kingdom.

4. Consider personal potential consequences

A reverse of the previous is to look at ways to make potential outcomes more personal.

“If I don’t defeat the antagonist, he’ll take over the world–my mom, dad, Frankie, my entire hometown won’t survive.”

Here we move from a broad problem to a personal risk.

5. Pull in other cause-and-effect trajectories

In most stories, there are multiple cause-and-effect trajectories at work–this is what makes up the plot. There might be a primary plot, a secondary plot, tertiary plot, etc. There might be cause-and-effect trajectories that only last for several chapters or less.

One way to brainstorm more stakes, is to try to connect the current situation to an indirect stake.

For example, say in one plotline, the protagonist is concerned about training her dog. In another plotline, she’s concerned about getting her love interest to take notice of her. They may seem pretty unrelated, but you can look for ways to make them connect. If she can’t get her dog trained, then Fido might decide to try to chase after the love interest’s car–earning her the wrong kind of attention.

6. Look at perceived threats

Sometimes a perceived risk can also work well. Meaning, the character thinks something is at risk, when it actually isn’t. Multiple times in the Harry Potter series, Harry is at risk of being killed or expelled, but since we know there are more books in the series, we can surmise that he won’t be … at least not until near the end, probably.

Or perhaps you are writing about a child who thinks if she lies to her teacher, she’ll go to jail. This is obviously not true, but to her, it’s a possibility.

When perceived threats are written well, it can often feel as if they are real, even when the audience knows they aren’t. This can be effective to layer on (and is better than nothing), but needs to be mixed up with the others, as its often not as powerful.

With these six approaches, you should be armed to brainstorm more, significant stakes. To learn more about stakes, you can read my other article on them here: How to Write Stakes in Storytelling.

---

150 Random Writing Prompts

There’s some fluff, some smut, some angst, and some funny prompts all mashed up from a bunch of prompt lists I’ve found. Absolutely none of these prompts came from me, I just threw a bunch of ones I liked together. 

“Come over here and make me.”

“Wait a minute. Are you jealous?”

“I almost lost you.”

“Wanna bet?”

“Don’t you ever do that again!”

“Kiss me.”

“It could be worse.”

“Looks like we’ll be trapped for a while…”

“You need to wake up because I can’t do this without you.”

“I’ve seen the way you look at me when you think I don’t notice.”

“Just once.”

“I think I’m in love with you and I’m terrified.”

“If you keep looking at me like that we won’t make it to a bed.”

“You heard me. Take. It. Off.”

“Wanna dance?”

“You fainted…straight into my arms. You know, if you wanted my attention you didn’t have to go to such extremes.”

“You did all of this for me?”

“I swear it was an accident.”

“YOU DID WHAT?!”

“If you die, I’m gonna kill you.”

“I fucking hate you”

“He’s dead, again.”

“It’s hard to get used to…” “what is?” “Being someone that someone cares for…”

“The first time you smiled it felt like the universe aligned.”

“It hurts…” “what?” “Loving someone who doesn’t love you…”

“Let me do this, please.”

you’re not as funny as you think you are

i’m just getting comfy

just because you can doesn’t mean you should

how don’t you know the difference between your left and right?

thank you for being in my life

text me when you’re home

you are such a nerd

why are you so cold?

stop laughing at me

you were put on this earth to give me a headache

you’re ticklish

can we go home yet?

you are a terrible influence

one of us is clearly smarter than the other

you need some sleep

how have you survived this long by yourself?

are you just quoting song lyrics?

i’m only here for the dog

sleep is for the weak

that was you?

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“What? I have never-”

“I do not have an answer for you.”

“In my defense, I really wanted to.”

“At least I didn’t break any laws.”

“What did you do this time?”

“How do we get out?”

“I don’t hate you.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Just marry me already.”

“Did I stutter?”

“Did I just say that out loud?”

“H-How long have you been standing there?”

“I’ve never felt this way before and I’m terrified to be honest.”

“Is that what you call an apology?”

“Is there anything you want to tell me?”

“Somebody’s in love!”

“Can I hold your hand?”

“There is no way this much stupid can fit inside one person.”

“I’m never leaving…I promise.”

“Uh, am I interrupting?”

“I like you, like like you like you.”

“Be my Valentine?”

“Can I kiss you?”

“God, I love you.”

“You’re so fucking cute.”

“Stop being a fucking prick.”

“Do you want me to stay?”

“You’re my everything.”

“I love seeing you smile.”

“i’ve been thinking about you all day.”

“ i can’t get enough of you.”

“i like being close to you. you’re warm.”

“i’m not wearing any underwear. thought you’d like to know.”

“is this okay?”

“this is a one time thing.”

“you know where to find me.”

“you’re really good at that.”

“here’s my hotel room number.”

“don’t be shy now, sit on my face.”

“Wanna join?”

“Stop doing that”

“YOU SENT ME PICTURES OF YOU NAKED WHILE I WAS IN A WORK MEETING!”

“If I ask you to kiss me in front of all these people, will you do it?”

“Don’t go on that date.” “Why?” “You know why.” “Say it.”

“ i think i might be in some kind of love with you.”

“say you want me, and i’m yours.”

“you need a place to stay for the night”

“i want to taste you”

“i love it when you talk dirty

“if you interrupt me one more time— so help me god”

“if we weren’t in public right now i’d have my head between your legs”

“i don’t know what to do” “then let me teach you”

“i forgot my towel”

“this feels dirty” “that’s because it is”

“don’t cover you’re face, i want to see you”

“are you sure about this?”

“ive never wanted to fuck someone as badly as i want to fuck you rn”

“do you want help with that?”

“im going to fuck you until you forget that assholes name”

“bend over the desk love”

“is that my shirt?”

“my mother adores you.”

“is that a drawing of me?”

“i didn’t mean to say that but yeah, i love you.”

“i’ve never seen anyone look so cute and ridiculous at the same time.”

“stop looking at me like that!”

“i didn’t know you could sing.”

“you weren’t supposed to hear that!”

“you wrote me a song?”

“i’m not scared but if you are, you can hold my hand.”

“this isn’t adrenaline, i want to spend my life with you.”

“do you think of me when you touch yourself?”

“Take my jacket, it’s cold”

“My friends get annoyed by how much I talk about you sometimes”

“I’m not going anywhere”

“fuck you.” - “when?”

“no one’s ever made me feel like this.”

“here, let me help you.”

“we’re quite literally fugitives of the state.” - “so no pizza?”

“you’re insane.” - “people keep telling me that.”

“you’re pretty.” - “you’re drunk.”

“i told you i’d come home to you.”

“i’ll keep you safe.”

“i’ll spend a thousand lifetimes coming back to you.”

“i didn’t think it was possible to love someone this much.”

“please never stop smiling.”

“Touch yourself for me.”

“Shut up and take your pants off.”

“Wanna see what I’m wearing underneath all this?”

“Do you know how beautiful you are? It’s truly distracting.”

“How are you this perfect?”

“I’ve waited so long for this.”

“Would you just shut up and kiss me already?”

“Tell me what you want.”

“Could he make you feel as good as i do?”

“Are you trying to turn me on or are you really just that oblivious?”

“Just let me finish this/this level and I swear ill go down on you until you cum at least three times.”

“I haven’t even touched you and you’re already this wet.”

“Were you just masturbating?” “U-uh..no, I was just..” “Want some help?”

“Tell me again.”

“I really want to kiss you right now.” “Then do it.”

“I don’t care what you do just fuck me.”

“Stop distracting me.”

---

Writing prompt.

During career day a child announces that he would like to grow up to be a supervillain, shocking everyone.

He is from the family of the most powerful super heroes.

---

death prompts that tore my heart apart:

(feel free to use<3 tw/mentions of blood! @urfriendlywriter yall.. 18th to 25th ones</3 tag me when yall write, i wanna read!!)

cradling them into your arms, blood smearing all over you

^ they try to smile, followed by an immediate hiss

"it hurts, huh."

"shh, it's gonna be fine. please keep talking." "i can't.. t-talk-"

their blood smudged hand reach for your cheek. eyes trying to focus on you

"i.. love you."

"this is not your fault."

"i can't.. *tearing up* i can't feel your touch."

eyes tearing up, not knowing what to tell you

"it hurts so much, it's so.." frustrated tears flow because there's nothing they can do now

"please don't leave me.." "i want to rest, my love."

hugging them, saying something to them and then panicking, when they don't respond. (bonus points if one said i love you and the other died right after hearing it!!)

wincing between every word.

"I'm- so...so sorry."

"You're my heaven o-on earth, did you k-know that? :)" followed my an attempt at a smile that shreds you apart.

constant shortness of breath.

they take your hand and kiss it, griping it tight. it's when their grip loosens, you know...

"You've to live your life, [name]. You need to survive, and move on, and-and be.. happy. The happiest. just like i am now."

^ "why are you happy--now?" "because i get to die in your arms. the safest place.."

noticing a tear rush down their cheek after they've closed their eyes.

"no, no-no, fuck, [name], don't give up on me like that, please-please.. stay.."

"I'm gonna get you--" "no, no, no.. no don't. don't l-leave me alone, [name]. I can't br-breathe..."

"let go of me, love, I'm gonna sleep now."

lying near their cold unmoving body.

^ holding their limb hand, praying that this is all a nightmare and then you can wake up to their cheerful self. stupid hope.

medic x always getting sick married couple au

feel free to use btw love u guys if ur reading this i’m so grateful for the support (i’m putting this here bc no one reads my regular posts) anyways i’m so grateful take care and plz enjoy my prompts :)

one character calling the other like “… babe.” and they’re like “if you’re sick….. i swear—“

character a doing their best to hide their coughs and sneezes/make them as quiet as possible but character b takes one look at them and says “you’re sick😐.”

“taking care of you is a full time job for me.” “…… i love u.” “love you, too.”

OKOK LISTEN… the medic is the one who doesn’t really show emotion and the sick one is a bubbly one who never shuts up but the medic doesn’t play when it comes to them

^ “where were you???? i’ve been looking for you everywhere!” and the other one is like covered in sticks and mud just like “hehe i fell down a hill” and the medic is plotting how to murder a hill

“i’m glad i married a medic.”

“i cant believe you pretended to be sick so i would come home early.”

then a response of “i can’t believe it worked.”

the medic is at work and their colleague just gives them this look and they just KNOW their spouse is in the lobby with a broken arm or something

the medic character bundling the other up with a million layers before they even step foot outside

and the other one is just like “babe it’s 24 degrees”

someone telling them “you need to go to the hospital” and they’re like “no, i need to see my spouse”

character b walks in, takes one look at the uneaten medicine and turns off the tv. character a is like “do you MIND??” and b is like “do YOU mind taking medicine?”

“i think i have a fever.” and a sigh like “i’ll get the meds.”

“i’m glad you’re a super handsome pretty beautiful amazing doctor. what would i do when i get sick if i didn’t have you?” “you’d be rubbing ointment on your forehead thinking it would lower your fever, probably.” “…. low but true.”

---

𝙵𝙾𝚁𝙴𝙷𝙴𝙰𝙳 𝚃𝙾𝚄𝙲𝙷 𝙿𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙿𝚃𝚂.

i saw a post. i got excited. i got soft. i got inspired. bon appetit! ( P.S. as always, please do not add more content to this list!!! tell me and i will gladly add more and credit you for them!! )

[ KISS ]:     after having kissed the receiver, the sender gently rests their forehead against theirs, still holding them as they do so.

[ HUG ]:     having just hugged the receiver after some time apart, the sender touches their foreheads together as a sign of affection.

[ LOVE ]:     overcome with their love for the receiver, the sender touches their foreheads together.

[ GREETING ]:     the sender brings their forehead to rest against the receivers in a gesture of greeting.

[ GOODBYE ]:     as they’re bidding each other farewell for the foreseeable future, the sender gently touches their forehead against the receivers.

[ LISTEN ]:     in a bid to get the receiver to pay attention to them, the sender brings them close and presses their forehead against theirs.

[ RELIEF ]:     having lost sight of the receiver in an intense moment of danger, the sender spots them in the distance, and rushes to them, embracing them and resting their foreheads together out of sheer relief.

[ SAFE ]:     in an effort to prove to the receiver that they’re safe after a particularly traumatic incident, the sender gently rests their foreheads together in a gesture designed to be soothing and reassuring.

[ REAL ]:     after believing the receiver to be dead, the sender reunites with them, reaching out in disbelief, then touching their foreheads together to make sure that they’re real, and not a figment of their grief-stricken imagination.

[ ANCHOR ]:     in a moment where stress and anxiety are running high, the sender tries to ground the receiver by gently guiding them into a hug, resting their foreheads together to steady them.

[ COMFORT ]:     in a gesture designed to comfort the receiver after an emotional blow, the sender gently closes the distance between them, and touches their forehead against the receivers.

[ STUBBORN ]:     thoroughly exasperated by the receiver’s stubbornness, the sender exasperatedly, but fondly, pulls them in for a good old forehead touch.

[ AFFECTION ]:     as a fondly affectionate gesture, the sender brings the receiver forward and rests their foreheads together.

[ INTENSE ]:     in a moment where romantic tensions are running high, the sender leans forward to kiss the receiver for the first time, then changes their mind, and rests their foreheads together to disguise their original intentions.

[ EXHAUSTION ]:     having just overcome a massive obstacle (e.g. using a massive display of their powers, fighting through a sizable army, embarking on a perilous journey, writing up a PhD thesis etc.) the sender and receiver reunite, and the sender drops their head forward to rest against the receivers, thoroughly exhausted but glad to be reunited at last.

---

“say you won’t let go” - some touch starved scenarios

prompt list by @novelbear

heart pounding whenever the other does so much as to hold onto their wrist while guiding them through a crowd

one just casually sitting down on the other's lap and they start internally freaking the hell out

hesitantly tugging the other's fabric of their shirt or sleeve, testing the waters

^^ the other notices so they pull them into a hug, smiling as they just watch them melt

"wait, don't go, please.."

"is this okay?" "it's more than okay."

already barely holding it together as they're getting their hand held but then they feel that reassuring squeeze and they just can't

wearing the others' clothes so that it can at least feel like they're hugging them, even for just a moment

feeling so lonely that they have to call their lover/friend, just to get a sense and reminder that they're still there

^ trying and failing to hold back their tears as they do so

"can i have one more hug?" "aw, babe you don't have to ask, c'mere..."

when the other holds onto their waist briefly as they're passing by and it just send chills down their spine

breaking down mid-hug because they just needed this so much

their breath hitching whenever the other gets a little closer

^ feeling crushed when that action is taken as a sign of discomfort, and they watch them slowly back off

holding onto a stuffed animal/pillow, imagining that it's their lover in their embrace instead

one leaning their head onto the other's shoulder suddenly and they just freeze

"i wasn't sure how much longer i could have taken this..."

35 angst prompts

1) “Why are you doing this to me?”

2) “You promised me, promised that you would stop this.”

3) “They are all dead, they are died because of you.”

4) “Just leave it and go.. dont you hear? I said go out!”

5) “I will always love you.”

6) “Why are you like that?”

7) “You made me hate you.”

8) “I regret it every fucking day.”

9) “I dont want to see you.”

10) “No, dont close your eyes, look at me, you cant leave me.”

11) “Return your fucking words back.”

12) “You broke my heart.”

14) “I have to go.”

15) “Dont leave me.”

16) “I gave myself away and never asked for anything in return.”

17) “Let me help.”

18) “Then there you’re dead to me.”

19) “Did not I deserve better treatment ?”

20) “Why are you lying to me? I know the truth.”

21) “I miss you so much, I miss every fucking day.”

22) “You did it on purpose.”

23) “Why we have so little time?”

24) “Just trust me for the last time.”

25) “I congratulate you did it, but at what price?”

26) “Just tell me where are you? I will come at once.”

27) “Why did not you give us a chance?”

28) “Please, you must do it. You swore!”

29) “I hope you will be happy”

30) “Your wedding is beautiful, I’m happy for you.”

31) “I hope it was really worth it.”

32) “Dear, what have I done to you?”

33) “Not me! Him, save him first!”

34) “I promise you will get out of here and you will have an amazing life ahead of you.”

35) “I will forever remember you this way.”

97 character motivations

Need a masterlist of character motivation ideas?

Here’s 97 different character motivations you can use for anything from your hero, side-characters, villain, or even to craft smaller subplots. Save this post for later!

Saving a family member from capture

Saving a sibling from disease

Saving a pet from danger

Saving the world from ruin

Saving a friend from heartbreak

Saving the town from financial ruin

Saving friends from dangerous deadly situations

Saving a love interest from dying

Saving themselves in a dangerous world

Saving a community from falling apart

Saving a child from a potentially dangerous circumstance

Saving a place or location from evil forces

Saving a ghost from limbo

Overcoming a phobia

Overcoming an addiction

Overcoming marital struggles

Moving on from loss

Finding a significant other

Finding a new family (not blood-related)

Finding true biological family

Finding out an old secret

Finding a way home

Reconnecting with long-lost friends

Getting out of a dark state of mind

Finding peace in life

Beating a disease

Beating an arch nemesis

Forming a peaceful community

Transforming a location

Bringing someone back to life

Winning a competition

Going on an adventure

Getting a dream job

Keeping a secret

Escaping a location of capture

Proving a moral point

Proving a political point

Winning a political campaign

Betray someone

Ruin someone’s life

Find a suspect or killer

Find the answer to a mystery

Discover ancient sites & secret histories

Perform a successful ritual

Summon the dead

Save a country from dictatorship

Become the most powerful in a community

Outshine a family member in business success

Prove someone wrong

Win prize money to help someone in need

Get revenge on someone who wronged them

Find the person who wronged them

Develop significant scientific progress

Gain respect from family

Get over an ex-lover

Move on from a painful death

Keep their community alive

Lead their community

Heal people in need

Preserve a species (animal, alien, plant…)

Discover new world

Get recognition for hard work

Become famous

Get rich to prove themselves to people who doubted them

Break a long tradition

Challenge the status quo of a community

Defeat a magical nemesis

Take over a location to rule

Find out truth behind old legends

Help someone get over their struggles

Prove their moral values

Prove their worth to an external party

Become a supernatural creature

Keep something from falling into the wrong hands

Protect the only person they care about

Start a revolution

Invent new technology

Invent a new weapon

Win a war

Fit in with a community

Atone for past sins

Give top-secret information to an enemy as revenge

Kill an ex-lovers current partner

Reinvent themselves

Raise a strong child

Make it to a location in a strict time period

Find faith

Find enlightenment

Find out more about the afterlife

Confess love to a friend

Solve a moral dilemma

Have a child of their own

Avoid being alone

Run away from past struggles

Reinvent themselves as a new person

Impress a colleague or boss

Avoid a fight or war breaking out