What's In Your Arsenal?

There are certain guns I bring out again and again…

If you haven't heard of this series of books by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi, you need them in your arsenal. They're time-savers you'll refer to again and again. I would definitely purchase the paperback copies rather than the Kindle version unless you don't mind repeatedly using your Kindle to look things up. I made the mistake of buying the first one for Kindle, never to repeat the error; all the rest have been the paperback version.

• The Emotional Wound Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Psychological Trauma is my favorite. This one is my go-to for identifying the backstory wound. The authors dig in, giving examples of childhood wounds, later ones, and false beliefs your character might have and what they may fear. They also provide responses to triggers and personality traits. They even give you a list of possible opportunities your character could face to overcome their wound. This is no skimpy book. It comes in at 321 pages. I'm no psychologist, and to think of all these wounds alone would never happen. It gives me loads to think about.

• The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression is the second one I use most often (and unfortunately, I purchased it in the Kindle format. I curse myself every time I have to look something up…but still, it is invaluable.) You don't want to tell readers how a character feels or have a bunch of talking heads; you want to show them, and this book will help you do that. It guides you by defining the word for the emotion but then provides the physical signs, internal sensations, mental responses, and acute or long-term responses. This book spurs me on to make me add my own physical symptoms and inner feelings.

• The Negative Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Flaws. Once you go beyond using your and your spouse's flaws, you need ideas for more. This book takes care of it. Let's face it: creating characters with depth isn't easy. Part of creating layered characters comes from flaws. This book lists defects, their causes, attitudes, and related emotions. It also uses examples from literature, film, and television.

• The Positive Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Attributes

  Information on how positive attributes play a role within a character arc and how to use positive traits to hook readers. Each entry lists possible causes for a trait's emergence in a character. Niceness might jump into your head, but what does this mean? That one isn't even in the table of contents. You're going to have to be more specific: affectionate, charming, courteous, easygoing, empathetic, friendly, happy, hospitable, kind, optimistic, playful, and tolerant are all other words that are listed.

• The Conflict Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Obstacles, Adversaries, & Inner Struggles, Volume I. Yes, it is no surprise life is full of so much conflict the authors could not confine themselves to one volume. I'm somewhat surprised it didn't balloon into three. Volume 1 focuses on "physical obstacles, adversaries, moral dilemmas, deep-seated doubts, and personal struggles."

• The Conflict Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Obstacles, Adversaries, & Inter Struggles, Volume II. This volume offers you various conflict options: power struggles, ego-related stressors, dangers and threats, advantage and control losses, and other things you would not have even considered. If you are a bit of a sadist and want to torture your character, this book might help you do just that.

The authors also have several other books that I have not used: The Rural Setting Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Personal and Natural Places, The Urban Setting Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to City Spaces, The Occupation Thesaurus: A Writers Guide to Jobs, Vocations, and Careers, and lastly, Emotion Amplifiers.

The OneStopforWriters Website

If you don't mind paying a monthly or yearly membership, this website offers the same kinds of thesaurus data online. I believe the authors above are connected with this website because it is advertised on the back page of their books. They offer a free trial membership for one week, and I found what they offered tempting. If I hadn't purchased the books above, I would probably have gone with it. The online website allows you to search on the following:

• Character motivations

• Color and patterns

• Conflicts

• Emotion Amplifiers

• Emotional Wounds

• Emotions

• Fears

• Negative Traits

• Occupations

• Physical Features

• Positive Traits

• Settings

• Shapes

• Talents and Skills

• Textures

• Themes and Symbols

• Weather and Earthly Phenomena

Besides, all the Thesaurus data, it contains storyteller roadmaps, a character builder, scene maps, world-building surveys, idea generators, and tutorials. The cost is approximately $105.00 a year or $11.00 a month. It's twenty-five percent off if you buy it now during its anniversary month. However, realize the books are a one-time purchase, while the website cost would be yearly and never-ending. At this point, there is no lifetime membership offered.

Other information:

If you still have an interest in the Inkers Con Conference from 2023, they are offering access to all the online content here for two payments of $125.00

Also, Passionate Ink is offering a Book Marketing course on November 4, 5 pm ET. 2 pm PT. $5 for members, $15.00 for non-members.

Next week, it's all about Fun and games. The term Fun and games comes from Blake Snyder's Save the Cat book. See you then! Keep plotting peeps. NaNoWriMo will come soon enough. I wrote a post last year if you are looking for tips for surviving this writing event.

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