Emotional Beats

by Nicholas C. Rossis

  Recklessness: Though recklessness may appear as a death wish, it might actually be angry defiance, a wager that death can be beaten at its game. Characters may also put themselves at risk to make up for a failure to protect others or guilt at their own survival.

  Anxiety, insecurity, and panic: Unlike recklessness, anxiety can be paralyzing. A shattered world can leave a character with a heightened sense of mortality, a fear of surviving on their own, or an aversion to taking risks.

  Relief: Characters may feel relief after the death, particularly if the deceased suffered. Relief and a sense of liberation may also occur at the end of conflicted relationship, the battle finally over. Guilt frequently accompanies the sense of relief.

  Guilt: Guilt is very common and often completely illogical. All the “I should have’s” and “if only’s” roll through the character’s brain, especially in cases of suicide.

  Anger: Anger generally has four sources:

  Justified anger at perpetrators and the failures of individuals and institutions. This is fertile ground for thoughts of revenge.

  Lashing out at others in response to feelings of helplessness and loss of control.

  Anger at one’s self for an inability to prevent the death.

  Anger at the deceased for dying, for not fighting harder, not making better choices, or abandoning the survivors (like guilt, this anger isn’t always logical).

  Unexpected Death: Death out of the natural sequence of life is generally more tragic than death after a long life. Sudden death is frequently harder to deal with than a loss that’s expected. Death by a purposeful or negligent hand is often more difficult than one by accident or illness.

  Previous Experience: Previous experience with death can prepare a character for new losses and soften the sharp edges. At the same time, if previous deaths weren’t fully processed, new losses can trigger unresolved emotions and complicate healing.

  Delaying grief: Death and grief make characters feel vulnerable. In dangerous situations, it’s common for grief responses to be suppressed or delayed. Then, once safe, the emotional blockade opens. If that safe haven for grief is a long time coming, consider that feelings may bottleneck, turn in on the character, or explode.

  Children’s Grief: Don’t forget that babies, children, and teens grieve too.

  Babies experience a sense of absence in their lives. They also respond to the stress of the adults around them.

  Little children and teens experience the SAME feelings as adults including guilt – believing that they somehow could have prevented the death.

  Children also dip in and out of grief, cry and whine one minute, then play and laugh the next.

  Children and teens tend to regress to younger behaviors.

  Children will frequently delay their own grief until they see that the adults are handling it well and it’s safe to grieve.

  In an attempt to fit in, teenagers will frequently hide their grief. Teens may not talk about their feelings with their parents, but will talk to another trusted adult and among each other.

  List of Common Synonyms

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  Author Lara Eakins has painstakingly compiled and shared an excellent list of synonyms for some of the most common words we use in our writing:

  Amazing — incredible, unbelievable, improbable, fabulous, wonderful, fantastic, astonishing, astounding, extraordinary.

  Anger — enrage, infuriate, arouse, nettle, exasperate, inflame, madden.

  Angry — mad, furious, enraged, excited, wrathful, indignant, exasperated, aroused, inflamed.

  Answer — reply, respond, retort, acknowledge.

  Ask- — question, inquire of, seek information from, put a question to, demand, request, expect, inquire, query, interrogate, examine, quiz.

  Awful — dreadful, terrible, abominable, bad, poor, unpleasant.

  Bad — evil, immoral, wicked, corrupt, sinful, depraved, rotten, contaminated, spoiled, tainted, harmful, injurious, unfavorable, defective, inferior, imperfect, substandard, faulty, improper, inappropriate, unsuitable, disagreeable, unpleasant, cross, nasty, unfriendly, irascible, horrible, atrocious, outrageous, scandalous, infamous, wrong, noxious, sinister, putrid, snide, deplorable, dismal, gross, heinous, nefarious, base, obnoxious, detestable, despicable, contemptible, foul, rank, ghastly, execrable.

  Beautiful — pretty, lovely, handsome, attractive, gorgeous, dazzling, splendid, magnificent, comely, fair, ravishing, graceful, elegant, fine, exquisite, aesthetic, pleasing, shapely, delicate, stunning, glorious, heavenly, resplendent, radiant, glowing, blooming, sparkling.

  Begin — start, open, launch, initiate, commence, inaugurate, originate.

  Big — enormous, huge, immense, gigantic, vast, colossal, gargantuan, large, sizable, grand, great, tall, substantial, mammoth, astronomical, ample, broad, expansive, spacious, stout, tremendous, titanic, mountainous.

  Brave — courageous, fearless, dauntless, intrepid, plucky, daring, heroic, valorous, audacious, bold, gallant, valiant, doughty, mettlesome.

  Break — fracture, rupture, shatter, smash, wreck, crash, demolish, atomize.

  Bright — shining, shiny, gleaming, brilliant, sparkling, shimmering, radiant, vivid, colorful, lustrous, luminous, incandescent, intelligent, knowing, quick-witted, smart, intellectual.

  Calm — quiet, peaceful, still, tranquil, mild, serene, smooth, composed, collected, unruffled, level-headed, unexcited, detached, aloof.

  Come — approach, advance, near, arrive, reach.

  Cool — chilly, cold, frosty, wintry, icy, frigid.

  Crooked — bent, twisted, curved, hooked, zigzag.

  Cry — shout, yell, yowl, scream, roar, bellow, weep, wail, sob, bawl

  Cut — gash, slash, prick, nick, sever, slice, carve, cleave, slit, chop, crop, lop, reduce.

  Dangerous — perilous, hazardous, risky, uncertain, unsafe.

  Dark — shadowy, unlit, murky, gloomy, dim, dusky, shaded, sunless, black, dismal, sad.

  Decide — determine, settle, choose, resolve.

  Definite — certain, sure, positive, determined, clear, distinct, obvious.

  Delicious — savory, delectable, appetizing, luscious, scrumptious, palatable, delightful, enjoyable, toothsome, exquisite.

  Describe — portray, characterize, picture, narrate, relate, recount, represent, report, record.

  Destroy — ruin, demolish, raze, waste, kill, slay, end, extinguish.

  Difference — disagreement, inequity, contrast, dissimilarity, incompatibility.

  Do — execute, enact, carry out, finish, conclude, effect, accomplish, achieve, attain.

  Dull — boring, tiring, tiresome, uninteresting, slow, dumb, stupid, unimaginative, lifeless, dead, insensible, tedious, wearisome, listless, expressionless, plain, monotonous, humdrum, dreary.

  Eager — keen, fervent, enthusiastic, involved, interested, alive to.

  End — stop, finish, terminate, conclude, close, halt, cessation, discontinuance.

  Enjoy — appreciate, delight in, be pleased, indulge in, luxuriate in, bask in, relish, devour, savor, like.

  Explain — elaborate, clarify, define, interpret, justify, account for.

  Fair — just, impartial, unbiased, objective, unprejudiced, honest.

  Fall — drop, descend, plunge, topple, tumble.

  False — fake, fraudulent, counterfeit, spurious, untrue, unfounded, erroneous, deceptive, groundless, fallacious.

  Famous — well-known, renowned, celebrated, famed, eminent, illustrious, distinguished, noted, notorious.

  Fast — quick, rapid, speedy, fleet, hasty, snappy, mercurial, swiftly, rapidly, quickly, snappily, speedily, lickety-split, posthaste, hastily, expeditiously, like a flash.

  Fat — stout, corpulent, fleshy, beefy, paunchy, plump, full, rotund, tubby, pudgy, chubby, chunky, burly, bulky, elephantine.

  Fear — fright, dread, terror, alarm, dismay, anxiety, scare, awe, horror, panic, apprehension.

  Fly — soar, hover, flit, wing, flee, waft, glid
e, coast, skim, sail, cruise.

  Funny — humorous, amusing, droll, comic, comical, laughable, silly.

  Get — acquire, obtain, secure, procure, gain, fetch, find, score, accumulate, win, earn, rep, catch, net, bag, derive, collect, gather, glean, pick up, accept, come by, regain, salvage.

  Go — recede, depart, fade, disappear, move, travel, proceed.

  Good — excellent, fine, superior, wonderful, marvelous, qualified, suited, suitable, apt, proper, capable, generous, kindly, friendly, gracious, obliging, pleasant, agreeable, pleasurable, satisfactory, well-behaved, obedient, honorable, reliable, trustworthy, safe, favorable, profitable, advantageous, righteous, expedient, helpful, valid, genuine, ample, salubrious, estimable, beneficial, splendid, great, noble, worthy, first-rate, top-notch, grand, sterling, superb, respectable, edifying.

  Great — noteworthy, worthy, distinguished, remarkable, grand, considerable, powerful, much, mighty.

  Gross — improper, rude, coarse, indecent, crude, vulgar, outrageous, extreme, grievous, shameful, uncouth, obscene, low.

  Happy — pleased, contented, satisfied, delighted, elated, joyful, cheerful, ecstatic, jubilant, gay, tickled, gratified, glad, blissful, overjoyed.

  Hate — despise, loathe, detest, abhor, disfavor, dislike, disapprove, abominate.

  Have — hold, possess, own, contain, acquire, gain, maintain, believe, bear, beget, occupy, absorb, fill, enjoy.

  Help — aid, assist, support, encourage, back, wait on, attend, serve, relieve, succor, benefit, befriend, abet.

  Hide — conceal, cover, mask, cloak, camouflage, screen, shroud, veil.

  Hurry — rush, run, speed, race, hasten, urge, accelerate, bustle.

  Hurt — damage, harm, injure, wound, distress, afflict, pain.

  Idea — thought, concept, conception, notion, understanding, opinion, plan, view, belief.

  Important — necessary, vital, critical, indispensable, valuable, essential, significant, primary, principal, considerable, famous, distinguished, notable, well-known.

  Interesting — fascinating, engaging, sharp, keen, bright, intelligent, animated, spirited, attractive, inviting, intriguing, provocative, though-provoking, challenging, inspiring, involving, moving, titillating, tantalizing, exciting, entertaining, piquant, lively, racy, spicy, engrossing, absorbing, consuming, gripping, arresting, enthralling, spellbinding, curious, captivating, enchanting, bewitching, appealing.

  Keep — hold, retain, withhold, preserve, maintain, sustain, support.

  Kill — slay, execute, assassinate, murder, destroy, cancel, abolish.

  Lazy — indolent, slothful, idle, inactive, sluggish.

  Little — tiny, small, diminutive, shrimp, runt, miniature, puny, exiguous, dinky, cramped, limited, itsy-bitsy, microscopic, slight, petite, minute.

  Look — gaze, see, glance, watch, survey, study, seek, search for, peek, peep, glimpse, stare, contemplate, examine, gape, ogle, scrutinize, inspect, leer, behold, observe, view, witness, perceive, spy, sight, discover, notice, recognize, peer, eye, gawk, peruse, explore.

  Love — like, admire, esteem, fancy, care for, cherish, adore, treasure, worship, appreciate, savor.

  Make — create, originate, invent, beget, form, construct, design, fabricate, manufacture, produce, build, develop, do, effect, execute, compose, perform, accomplish, earn, gain, obtain, acquire, get.

  Mark — label, tag, price, ticket, impress, effect, trace, imprint, stamp, brand, sign, note, heed, notice, designate.

  Mischievous — prankish, playful, naughty, roguish, waggish, impish, sportive.

  Move — plod, go, creep, crawl, inch, poke, drag, toddle, shuffle, trot, dawdle, walk, traipse, mosey, jog, plug, trudge, slump, lumber, trail, lag, run, sprint, trip, bound, hotfoot, high-tail, streak, stride, tear, breeze, whisk, rush, dash, dart, bolt, fling, scamper, scurry, skedaddle, scoot, scuttle, scramble, race, chase, hasten, hurry, hump, gallop, lope, accelerate, stir, budge, travel, wander, roam, journey, trek, ride, spin, slip, glide, slide, slither, coast, flow, sail, saunter, hobble, amble, stagger, paddle, slouch, prance, straggle, meander, perambulate, waddle, wobble, pace, swagger, promenade, lunge.

  Moody — temperamental, changeable, short-tempered, glum, morose, sullen, mopish, irritable, testy, peevish, fretful, spiteful, sulky, touchy.

  Neat — clean, orderly, tidy, trim, dapper, natty, smart, elegant, well-organized, super, desirable, spruce, shipshape, well-kept, shapely.

  New — fresh, unique, original, unusual, novel, modern, current, recent.

  Old — feeble, frail, ancient, weak, aged, used, worn, dilapidated, ragged, faded, broken-down, former, old-fashioned, outmoded, passé, veteran, mature, venerable, primitive, traditional, archaic, conventional, customary, stale, musty, obsolete, extinct.

  Part — portion, share, piece, allotment, section, fraction, fragment.

  Place — space, area, spot, plot, region, location, situation, position, residence, dwelling, set, site, station, status, state.

  Plan — plot, scheme, design, draw, map, diagram, procedure, arrangement, intention, device, contrivance, method, way, blueprint.

  Popular — well-liked, approved, accepted, favorite, celebrated, common, current.

  Predicament — quandary, dilemma, pickle, problem, plight, spot, scrape, jam.

  Put — place, set, attach, establish, assign, keep, save, set aside, effect, achieve, do, build.

  Quiet — silent, still, soundless, mute, tranquil, peaceful, calm, restful.

  Right — correct, accurate, factual, true, good, just, honest, upright, lawful, moral, proper, suitable, apt, legal, fair.

  Run — race, speed, hurry, hasten, sprint, dash, rush, escape, elope, flee.

  Say/Tell — inform, notify, advise, relate, recount, narrate, explain, reveal, disclose, divulge, declare, command, order, bid, enlighten, instruct, insist, teach, train, direct, issue, remark, converse, speak, affirm, suppose, utter, negate, express, verbalize, voice, articulate, pronounce, deliver, convey, impart, assert, state, allege, mutter, mumble, whisper, sigh, exclaim, yell, sing, yelp, snarl, hiss, grunt, snort, roar, bellow, thunder, boom, scream, shriek, screech, squawk, whine, philosophize, stammer, stutter, lisp, drawl, jabber, protest, announce, swear, vow, content, assure, deny, dispute.

  Scared — afraid, frightened, alarmed, terrified, panicked, fearful, unnerved, insecure, timid, shy, skittish, jumpy, disquieted, worried, vexed, troubled, disturbed, horrified, terrorized, shocked, petrified, haunted, timorous, shrinking, tremulous, stupefied, paralyzed, stunned, apprehensive.

  Show — display, exhibit, present, note, point to, indicate, explain, reveal, prove, demonstrate, expose.

  Slow — unhurried, gradual, leisurely, late, behind, tedious, slack.

  Stop — cease, halt, stay, pause, discontinue, conclude, end, finish, quit.

  Story — tale, myth, legend, fable, yarn, account, narrative, chronicle, epic, sage, anecdote, record, memoir.

  Strange — odd, peculiar, unusual, unfamiliar, uncommon, queer, weird, outlandish, curious, unique, exclusive, irregular.

  Take — hold, catch, seize, grasp, win, capture, acquire, pick, choose, select, prefer, remove, steal, lift, rob, engage, bewitch, purchase, buy, retract, recall, assume, occupy, consume.

  Tell — disclose, reveal, show, expose, uncover, relate, narrate, inform, advise, explain, divulge, declare, command, order, bid, recount, repeat.

  Think — judge, deem, assume, believe, consider, contemplate, reflect, mediate.

  Trouble — distress, anguish, anxiety, worry, wretchedness, pain, danger, peril, disaster, grief, misfortune, difficulty, concern, pains, inconvenience, exertion, effort.

  True — accurate, right, proper, precise, exact, valid, genuine, real, actual, trusty, steady, loyal, dependable, sincere, staunch.

  Ugly — hideous, frightful, frightening, shocking, horrible, unpleasant, monstrous, terrifying, gross, grisly, ghastly, horrid, unsightly, plain, homely, evil, repulsive, repugnant, gruesome.

  Unhappy — miserable,
uncomfortable, wretched, heart-broken, unfortunate, poor, downhearted, sorrowful, depressed, dejected, melancholy, glum, gloomy, dismal, discouraged, sad.

  Use — employ, utilize, exhaust, spend, expend, consume, exercise.

  Wrong — incorrect, inaccurate, mistaken, erroneous, improper, unsuitable.

  Words don’t come easy

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  When we speak, we convey our emotions with more than just words. Body language is one way we do this. Another is through a character’s voice. For example, a woman speaking in a smoky-sounding voice will come across as sexy and alluring. Here is a selection from writinghelpers (http://writinghelpers.tumblr.com):

  Breathy: a breathy voice may signify excitement or desire.

  Brittle: a brittle voice signifies a character who is about to cry.

  Booming: very loud and attention-getting.

  Croaky: if someone’s voice sounds croaky, they speak in a low, rough voice that sounds as if they have a sore throat.

  Flat: spoken in a voice that does not go up and down.

  Grating: a grating voice, laugh, or sound is unpleasant and annoying.

  Gravelly: a gravelly voice sounds low and rough.

  Gruff: this voice has a rough, low sound.

  Guttural: a guttural sound is deep and made at the back of your throat.

  High-pitched: true to its name, a high-pitched voice or sound is very high.

  Hoarse: someone who is hoarse, or has a hoarse voice, speaks in a low, rough voice, usually because their throat is sore.

  Honeyed: honeyed words or a honeyed voice sound very nice, but you cannot trust the person who is speaking.

  Husky: a husky voice is deep and sounds hoarse (as if you have a sore throat), often in an attractive way.

  Low: a low voice is quiet and difficult to hear; also used for describing a deep voice that has a long wavelength.