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Posts by Becca Puglisi

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Practicing Gratitude

April 11, 2026

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Practicing Gratitude

April 11, 2026

When a character suffers emotional pain, the brain’s response is to stop the discomfort, and often this results in a coping mechanism being deployed. Whether it’s an automatic response or…

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Suppression

April 4, 2026

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Suppression

April 4, 2026

When a character suffers emotional pain, the brain’s response is to stop the discomfort, and often this results in a coping mechanism being deployed. Whether it’s an automatic response or…

How Does Fear Play Into Character Arc? Part One

March 31, 2026

How Does Fear Play Into Character Arc? Part One

March 31, 2026

It’s hard to overstate the importance a character’s greatest fear plays in their life. As a key motivator, it informs decision-making, spawns new habits and tendencies, and pushes them to…

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Seeking Therapy

March 28, 2026

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Seeking Therapy

March 28, 2026

When a character suffers emotional pain, the brain’s response is to stop the discomfort, and often this results in a coping mechanism being deployed. Whether it’s an automatic response or…

Differentiating Narrators in a Multiple-Viewpoint Story

March 26, 2026

Differentiating Narrators in a Multiple-Viewpoint Story

March 26, 2026

Writing in multiple viewpoints is a great way to explore a story from more than one angle, but it creates problems if readers can’t tell who’s talking. You don’t want…

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Catastrophizing

March 21, 2026

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Catastrophizing

March 21, 2026

When a character suffers emotional pain, the brain’s response is to stop the discomfort, and often this results in a coping mechanism being deployed. Whether it’s an automatic response or…

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Celebrating Small Wins

March 14, 2026

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Celebrating Small Wins

March 14, 2026

When a character suffers emotional pain, the brain’s response is to stop the discomfort, and often this results in a coping mechanism being deployed. Whether it’s an automatic response or…

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Overindulging

March 7, 2026

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Overindulging

March 7, 2026

When a character suffers emotional pain, the brain’s response is to stop the discomfort, and often this results in a coping mechanism being deployed. Whether it’s an automatic response or…

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Practicing Forgiveness

February 28, 2026

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Practicing Forgiveness

February 28, 2026

When a character suffers emotional pain, the brain’s response is to stop the discomfort, and often this results in a coping mechanism being deployed. Whether it’s an automatic response or…

8 Tips for Writing an Unreliable Narrator

February 26, 2026

8 Tips for Writing an Unreliable Narrator

February 26, 2026

We know that reader empathy is vital for maximizing their engagement and helping them identify with the protagonist, but what if that character turns out to be an unreliable narrator?…