The Fear Thesaurus
The Fear Thesaurus
Fear is more than a built-in reaction to danger. It’s a powerful internal force that distorts perception, shapes choices, and influences behavior. In a story, it can magnify your character’s…
Read more…Five Things I’d Go Back and Tell “New Writer Me”
Five Things I’d Go Back and Tell “New Writer Me”
Do you ever wish you could go back and have a chat with “New Writer You?” I think about that sometimes, about the things I’d tell that shiny, awkward, clueless…
Read more…Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Negative Self-Talk
Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Negative Self-Talk
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…
Read more…The Fear Thesaurus Is Coming: A New Writing Guide for What Holds Characters Back
The Fear Thesaurus Is Coming: A New Writing Guide for What Holds Characters Back
Fear is more than an emotion; it is an underlying force that runs through every story element, including character development, plot, arc, conflict, and theme. It’s what draws readers in,…
Read more…Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Managing Time
Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Managing Time
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…
Read more…The Real Story: Character Journey as Structure
The Real Story: Character Journey as Structure
Most writers think of story structure as a dry, architectural plot blueprint. Inciting incidents and pinch points and turning points map out the road as the characters stumble through their…
Read more…Emotion Thesaurus: Show Emotion with Authenticity
Emotion Thesaurus: Show Emotion with Authenticity
Body language, thoughts, and internal sensations can speak louder than words—if you know how to write them well. This thesaurus helps you go beyond smiles and frowns to show a…
Read more…The Emotion Thesaurus
The Emotion Thesaurus
The Emotion Thesaurus helps writers with one of their biggest battles: getting a character’s emotions onto the page. Part brainstorming tool, part writing guide, this resource helps you create characters…
Read more…The Negative Trait Thesaurus
The Negative Trait Thesaurus
Character flaws aren’t just personality quirks. They’re protective habits rooted in fear, insecurity, or distorted beliefs, influencing how a character thinks, reacts, and behaves. Part brainstorming tool, part writing guide,…
Read more…The Positive Trait Thesaurus
The Positive Trait Thesaurus
The Positive Trait Thesaurus helps writers understand the strengths that define a character—and how those strengths shape their behavior, choices, and morality. Part brainstorming tool, part writing guide, this book…
Read more…The Emotional Wound Thesaurus
The Emotional Wound Thesaurus
True-to-life characters carry their past with them. Emotional wounds—negative experiences that cause psychological harm—change how they view the world, other people, and themselves. Part writing guide, part brainstorming tool, The…
Read more…The Conflict Thesaurus, Vol. 1
The Conflict Thesaurus, Vol. 1
Conflict is the engine of a story. It forces characters to make choices, confront limitations, and reveal who they are under pressure. The Conflict Thesaurus helps writers create meaningful challenges…
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