Debilitating fears are a problem for everyone, an unfortunate part of the human experience. Whether they’re a result of learned behavior as a child, are related to a mental health condition, or stem from a past wounding event, these fears influence a character’s behaviors, habits, beliefs, and personality traits. The compulsion to avoid what they fear will drive characters away from certain people, events, and situations and hold them back in life.
In your story, this primary fear (or group of fears) will constantly challenge the goal the character is pursuing, tempting them to retreat, settle, and give up on what they want most. Because this fear must be addressed for them to achieve success, balance, and fulfillment, it plays a pivotal part in both character arc and the overall story.
This thesaurus explores the various fears that might be plaguing your character. Use it to understand and utilize fears to fully develop your characters and steer them through their story arc. Please note that this isn’t a self-diagnosis tool. Fears are common in the real world, and while we may at times share similar tendencies as characters, the entry below is for fiction writing purposes only.
Being Watched
Notes
A certain amount of positive attention is usually welcomed—but not by everyone. A character with a sensitivity in this area may develop an aversion to being stared at, scrutinized, or actively watched by someone else. Characters with this fear can maintain meaningful relationships with others, but their personal boundaries and what they’re comfortable with will differ greatly from most people’s, putting them at odds with others and making it more difficult for them to connect.
What It Looks Like
Not making eye contact
Being combative to stop someone from staring (glaring back at them, calling them out, starting a fight, etc.)
Scanning the room to make sure no one is staring…
Common Internal Struggles
Being confused when the character believes that others are rudely scrutinized him or her and a trusted friend claims this isn’t the case
Struggling with paranoia
The character wanting to attend a party or social event but not feeling like they can…
Hindrances and Disruptions to the Character’s Life
Frequent friction with friends and loved ones when they give the character too much direct attention
Clashing with law enforcement personnel, who see the character as cagey or evasive
Living an isolated life…
Scenarios That Might Awaken This Fear
Losing a supportive family member or friend who understood and accepted the character
Facing a situation where scrutiny can’t be avoided (a meeting with Human Resources about a work infraction, being pulled over by a police officer, etc.)
A family member being thrust into the public eye, resulting in less privacy for the character…
Other Fear Thesaurus entries can be found here.
Fear is a Crucial Piece of Your Character’s Arc
Because fear plays such a pivotal role in storytelling and character growth, we’ve expanded this collection and published it as a book that you can easily use as you write. The Fear Thesaurus helps authors understand the psychology behind 80 common fears and use them to create believable struggles, meaningful conflict, and powerful arcs.
For more information on this book and where it can be found, please visit our bookstore. You can also view the book at Goodreads to see what other authors are saying about it.
