Sight Crates, garbage, garbage bins, empty liquor bottles, broken glass, plastic, oil spills, puddles, dirt, grime, grease, ratty blankets, cardboard, homeless people, rats, cockroaches, spiders, ants, bird that eat refuse (magpies, pigeons, etc), street cats or dogs, mice, employees on smoke … [Read more...] about Setting Thesaurus Entry: Alley
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Emotion Thesaurus Entry: Defensive
When it comes to emotion, sometimes we need a brainstorming nudge. After all, each character will express their feelings differently depending on their personality, emotional range, and comfort zone. We hope this short, sample list of expressions will help you better imagine how your character might … [Read more...] about Emotion Thesaurus Entry: Defensive
Setting Thesaurus Entry: Cave
Sight stone walls, dirt/stone floor, tree roots, dead leaves, twigs, trash, campfire remains, animal scat, fur, old bones, bears, mountain lions, raccoons, bats, rats, spiders, webs, insects, earthworms, stalactites hanging from ceiling, stalagmites protruding from floor, pools … [Read more...] about Setting Thesaurus Entry: Cave
Emotion Thesaurus Addendum: Energetic
When it comes to emotion, sometimes we need a brainstorming nudge. After all, each character will express their feelings differently depending on their personality, emotional range, and comfort zone. We hope this short, sample list of expressions will help you better imagine how your character might … [Read more...] about Emotion Thesaurus Addendum: Energetic
Setting Thesaurus Entry: Graveyard
Sight Wrought iron fence & grave bordering, gates, a church, stone angels, headstones (marble, concrete, granite, in hues of white, black and greys) raised tombs, mausoleum, cordoned off family burial plots, grass, flower beds, flake flower arrangements, dried flowers... Sounds People … [Read more...] about Setting Thesaurus Entry: Graveyard
Emotion Thesaurus Entry: Desire
When it comes to emotion, sometimes we need a brainstorming nudge. After all, each character will express their feelings differently depending on their personality, emotional range, and comfort zone. We hope this short, sample list of expressions will help you better imagine how your character might … [Read more...] about Emotion Thesaurus Entry: Desire
Expressing Cardinal Emotions: Masculine vs. Feminine
We thought since we've profiled 130 different emotions and their physical and mental cues in The Emotion Thesaurus, (now an expanded 2nd edition) we'd take a look at some of the Cardinal Emotions, and some generalized differences you may see between how males and females (or those who identify with … [Read more...] about Expressing Cardinal Emotions: Masculine vs. Feminine
Setting Thesaurus Entry: High School Hallway
SightLockers, scuffed floors, trophy case, fire extinguishers, doors, lockers, plaques, student art work or sculptures, school pictures, school colors, framed school jacket or flag, garbage cans, discarded gum wrappers, broken pencils, forgotten erasers, crumpled papers ringing... SoundsShoes … [Read more...] about Setting Thesaurus Entry: High School Hallway
Emotion Thesaurus Addendum: Pain (Physical)
If you want to add tension and complication, an Emotional Amplifier might be just the ticket. This companion to The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression is a body language tool for describing your character’s pain, stress, illness, hunger, dehydration, attraction, … [Read more...] about Emotion Thesaurus Addendum: Pain (Physical)
Setting Thesaurus: Jungle/Rainforest
Sight Vines, ferns, lush foliage, tall trees (traveller's fan, Heliconia, trumpet trees, cahoon), dense undergrowth, fronds, lagoons, cliffs, rocky outcropping, downed trees, canopy blocking the sun, mosses, creepers, water vines, brown dead fall, mud, lizards, snakes... Sounds bird calls, … [Read more...] about Setting Thesaurus: Jungle/Rainforest
Emotion Thesaurus Addendum: Hunger
If you want to add tension and complication, an Emotional Amplifier might be just the ticket. This companion to The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression is a body language tool for describing your character’s pain, stress, illness, hunger, dehydration, attraction, … [Read more...] about Emotion Thesaurus Addendum: Hunger
Setting Description Entry: Urban Street
Sights cars, trucks, SUVs, bicycles, delivery trucks, pedestrians, homeless people, stray dogs, pavement, reflectors, sidewalks, cigarette butts on the ground, litter, broken glass, concrete medians, street lights, small trees with fences around them, street signs... Sounds honking, tires … [Read more...] about Setting Description Entry: Urban Street