The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Stress and Volatility (Paperback)

The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Stress and Volatility takes writers through the disruptive world of amplifiers—specific states or conditions that make it difficult for a character to emotionally self-regulate, setting them up for poor judgment and (hopefully) colossal mistakes they’ll have to fix and learn from.

Part how-to, part brainstorming tool, this expanded edition explores 52 unique amplifiers, such as pain, hunger, competition, arousal, and more.

This guide will help you:

• Showcase a Character's Hidden Emotions. Emotion amplifiers are designed to strip away your character's self-control so they have difficulty repressing what they feel. As internal strain builds, their true emotions rise up, even when it's not wise or safe to reveal them.
  
• Write Realistic Responses. Each amplifier comes with a list of cues for body language, internal sensations, thoughts, vocal indicators, and more so you can show the character's heightened emotional reactions in a way that fits who they are and the situation they're in. 
• Add Tension and Conflict. With over 50 unique amplifiers to choose from (including stress, scrutiny, and mortal peril), it's easy to get a character to take foolhardy risks and make mistakes that will complicate the plot.
  
• Show Character Arc Growth. Amplifiers can push your character beyond their limits while also triggering self-awareness and personal development, enabling you to show inner growth as they respond to the mental, physical, or psychological weight of an amplifier. 
  
• Brainstorm High-Stakes Moments. Get practical advice on using each amplifier to complicate scenes, increase pressure, and bring out a character's raw emotions. 
  

Read a sample
View the list of emotion amplifiers in this book
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Looking for the digital version? This book is also available as a PDF and ebook.