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 … [Read more...] about Fear Thesaurus: Being a Burden to Others
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Force Your Character to Make Hard Choices
One of the best things about conflict is that it pushes your characters to act. In every scene, your characters are making choices—big ones and small ones, and thereby steering their fate. Some decisions will be obvious and require little to no thought, but others will be muddier, with no clear … [Read more...] about Force Your Character to Make Hard Choices
Fear Thesaurus Entry: Being Physically Touched
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 … [Read more...] about Fear Thesaurus Entry: Being Physically Touched
“No, Don’t Tell Me”: How & When Should We Use Foreshadowing?
Foreshadowing is a literary technique we can use in our stories that gives a preview or hint of events that will happen later. While many might think of foreshadowing for mysteries, this literary device can be used in any genre. In fact, most stories need foreshadowing of some … [Read more...] about “No, Don’t Tell Me”: How & When Should We Use Foreshadowing?
Fear Thesaurus Entry: Being Returned to an Abusive Environment
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 … [Read more...] about Fear Thesaurus Entry: Being Returned to an Abusive Environment
3 Action-Reaction Misfires That Flatten Your Writing
Cause and effect. Stimulus and response. Action and reaction. Everything in a story depends on what the characters do about whatever the story pushes them up against. Stiff, disconnected, or missing character reactions snap the chain of cause and effect that constitutes your story. When readers … [Read more...] about 3 Action-Reaction Misfires That Flatten Your Writing
The Occupation Thesaurus: Animal Rescue Worker
Sourced from The Occupation Thesaurus OVERVIEW:There are many different jobs under the umbrella of animal rescue workers: owners and managers of shelters, veterinarians and technicians, trainers, deployment workers, animal control officers, and even wildlife rehabilitation workers, just to name … [Read more...] about The Occupation Thesaurus: Animal Rescue Worker
Fear Thesaurus Entry: Losing One’s Heritage or Cultural Identity
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 … [Read more...] about Fear Thesaurus Entry: Losing One’s Heritage or Cultural Identity
The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus: Pain
This second edition releases May 13th, 2024. DESCRIPTION: While there are different kinds of discomfort a character could suffer, this entry focuses on physical pain, which is most often associated with an injury or illness. For discomfort that continues for a prolonged period, see CHRONIC … [Read more...] about The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus: Pain
Fear Thesaurus Entry: Rejection
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 … [Read more...] about Fear Thesaurus Entry: Rejection
Fear Thesaurus Entry: Sickness
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 … [Read more...] about Fear Thesaurus Entry: Sickness
Historical Fiction: The Story Comes First
As writers of historical fiction, we might be tempted to believe our job is to teach readers about a certain event or era. While that might be part of what we’re doing, I would argue it’s not the most important part. The number one job of a fiction writer is to tell a story. A history textbook tells … [Read more...] about Historical Fiction: The Story Comes First