The Emotional Wound Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Psychological Trauma
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THE EMOTIONAL
WOUND THESAURUS:
A Writer’s Guide to Psychological Trauma
ANGELA ACKERMAN
BECCA PUGLISI
MORE WRITERS HELPING WRITERS® BOOKS
The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression
The Positive Trait Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Attributes
The Negative Trait Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Flaws
The Urban Setting Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to City Spaces
The Rural Setting Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Personal and Natural Places
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi are best-selling authors, writing coaches, and international speakers. Their books are available in multiple languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. Angela and Becca also co-founded the popular Writers Helping Writers® site, a hub for writers to hone their craft, as well as One Stop for Writers®, an innovative online library built to help writers elevate their storytelling.
Copyright 2017 © by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi
All rights reserved
Writers Helping Writers®
First print edition, October 2017
ISBN-13: 978-0-9992963-0-1
ISBN-10: 0-9992963-0-2
No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in print or electronic form without prior permission of the authors. Please respect the hard work of the authors and do not participate in or encourage the piracy of copyrighted materials.
Edited by C. S. Lakin and Michael Dunne
Book cover design by The Book Design House
Interior formatting by Polgarus Studio
PRAISE FOR THE EMOTION THESAURUS
“One of the challenges a fiction writer faces, especially when prolific, is coming up with fresh ways to describe emotions. This handy compendium fills that need. It is both a reference and a brainstorming tool, and one of the resources I'll be turning to most often as I write my own books.”
~ James Scott Bell, best-selling author of Deceived and Plot & Structure
PRAISE FOR THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE TRAIT THESAURUSES
“In these brilliantly conceived, superbly organized and astonishingly thorough volumes, Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi have created an invaluable resource for writers and storytellers. Whether you are searching for new and unique ways to add and define characters, or brainstorming methods for revealing those characters without resorting to clichés, it is hard to imagine two more powerful tools for adding depth and dimension to your screenplays, novels or plays.”
~ Michael Hauge, Hollywood script consultant and author of Writing Screenplays That Sell
PRAISE FOR THE URBAN AND RURAL SETTING THESAURUSES
“The one thing I always appreciate about Ackerman and Puglisi's Thesauri series is how comprehensive they are. They never stop at just the obvious, and they always over-deliver. Their Setting Thesauri are no different, offering not just the obvious notes of the various settings they've covered, but going into easy-to-miss details like smells and tastes. They even offer to jumpstart the brainstorming with categories on potential sources of conflict.”
~ K.M. Weiland, best-selling author of Creating Character Arcs and Structuring Your Novel
Wish you had a powerhouse writing resource at your fingertips that could save you valuable time while elevating your storytelling? One Stop for Writers® might just be the answer. Brought to you by Becca and Angela, the authors of this and other best-selling writing books, along with Lee Powell, the creator of Scrivener for Windows, the One Stop online library is the resource you’ve been searching for.
Our unique description database is one-of-a-kind, and will help you set your book apart by bringing forth the fresh imagery and deeper meaning that your readers crave. Built around our popular thesaurus collection, it covers the most important elements of description, including emotions, settings, weather, characterization, emotional wounds, physical features, symbolism, and more. Along with an array of unique tools, tutorials, structure maps, timelines, worldbuilding surveys, and generators, you can also plan and organize your writing like never before.
Isn’t it time someone made writing a little easier? Stop by (registration is always free) and see how we’re changing the game for writers.
Table of Contents
Foreword
Self-Care for Writers
The Mirror of Fiction: a Reflection of Life and Our Deeper Selves
What Is an Emotional Wound?
Character Arc: an Internal Shift to Embrace Change
The Villain’s Journey
Brainstorming Your Character’s Wound
Pain Runs Deep: Factors That Will Impact the Wound
Revealing the Wound Through Behavior
Problems to Avoid
Final Words from the Authors
THE EMOTIONAL WOUND THESAURUS
Crime and Victimization A Carjacking
A Home Invasion
A Physical Assault
Being Held Captive
Being Sexually Violated
Being Stalked
Being Treated as Property
Being Victimized by a Perpetrator Who Was Never Caught
Identity Theft
Witnessing a Murder
Disabilities and Disfigurements A Learning Disability
A Physical Disfigurement
A Speech Impediment
A Traumatic Brain Injury
Battling a Mental Disorder
Being So Beautiful It’s All People See
Falling Short of Society’s Physical Standards
Infertility
Living With Chronic Pain or Illness
Losing a Limb
Losing One of the Five Senses
Sexual Dysfunction
Social Difficulties
Failures and Mistakes Accidentally Killing Someone
Bearing the Responsibility for Many Deaths
Being Legitimately Incarcerated for a Crime
Caving to Peer Pressure
Choosing Not to Be Involved in a Child’s Life
Cracking Under Pressure
Declaring Bankruptcy
Failing at School
Failing to Do the Right Thing
Failing to Save Someone’s Life
Making a Very Public Mistake
Poor Judgment Leading to Unintended Consequences
Injustice and Hardship An Abuse of Power
Becoming Homeless for Reasons Beyond One’s Control
Being Bullied
Being Falsely Accused of a Crime
Being Fired or Laid Off
Being Forced to Keep a Dark Secret
Being Forced to Leave One’s Homeland
Being the Victim of a Vicious Rumor
Being Unfairly Blamed for Someone’s Death
Experiencing Poverty
Living Through Civil Unrest
Living Through Famine or Drought
Prejudice or Discrimination
Unrequited Love
Wrongful Imprisonment
Misplaced Trust and Betrayals A Sibling’s Betrayal
A Toxic Relationship
Abandonment Over an Unexpected Pregnancy
Being Disappointed by a Role Model
Being Disowned or Shunned
Being Let Down by a Trusted Organization or Social System
Being Rejected by One’s Pe
ers
Childhood Sexual Abuse by a Known Person
Discovering a Partner’s Sexual Orientation Secret
Discovering a Sibling's Abuse
Domestic Abuse
Financial Ruin Due to a Spouse’s Irresponsibility
Finding Out One Was Adopted
Finding Out One’s Child Was Abused
Getting Dumped
Having One’s Ideas or Work Stolen
Incest
Infidelity
Learning That One’s Parent Had a Second Family
Learning That One’s Parent Was a Monster
Losing a Loved One Due to a Professional’s Negligence
Misplaced Loyalty
Telling the Truth But Not Being Believed
Specific Childhood Wounds A Nomadic Childhood
A Parent’s Abandonment or Rejection
Becoming a Caregiver at an Early Age
Being Raised by a Narcissist
Being Raised by an Addict
Being Raised by Neglectful Parents
Being Raised by Overprotective Parents
Being Raised by Parents Who Loved Conditionally
Being Sent Away as a Child
Being the Product of Rape
Experiencing the Death of a Parent as a Child or Youth
Growing Up in a Cult
Growing Up in Foster Care
Growing Up in the Public Eye
Growing Up in the Shadow of a Successful Sibling
Growing Up With a Sibling’s Disability or Chronic Illness
Having a Controlling or Overly Strict Parent
Having Parents Who Favored One Child Over Another
Living in a Dangerous Neighborhood
Living in an Emotionally Repressed Household
Living With an Abusive Caregiver
Not Being a Priority Growing Up
Witnessing Violence at a Young Age
Traumatic Events A Child Dying on One’s Watch
A House Fire
A Life-Threatening Accident
A Loved One’s Suicide
A Miscarriage or Stillbirth
A Natural or Man-Made Disaster
A Parent’s Divorce
A School Shooting
A Terminal Illness Diagnosis
A Terrorist Attack
Being Humiliated by Others
Being Tortured
Being Trapped in a Collapsed Building
Being Trapped With a Dead Body
Divorcing One’s Spouse
Getting Lost in a Natural Environment
Giving Up a Child for Adoption
Having an Abortion
Having to Kill to Survive
Losing a Loved One to a Random Act of Violence
The Death of One’s Child
Watching Someone Die
Appendix A: Wound Flowchart
Appendix B: Character Arc Progression Tool
Appendix C: Wounding Examples from Popular Stories
Appendix D: Backstory Wound Profile Tool
Recommended Reading
Join Us At Writers Helping Writers
FOREWORD
Forewords are a bit like prologues in that there’s a temptation to skip them and get to the meat and potatoes of the book. We hope that, in our case, you’ll indulge us for a very quick yet important word about the content you’ll find within.
The purpose of this book is to provide useful information about wounding events and how they impact characters—not only the hero but any member of the story’s cast. Mentors, sidekicks, love interests, and villains are all affected similarly by trauma, which will determine the motivations that drive them toward their chosen goals. So as you read, think about each important character and how past wounds may create damage and cause personality shifts, biases, and changes in behavior and attitude.
Please also note that while we have done our best to respect these wounds by researching them thoroughly, neither of us are psychologists. The content here is not meant for real-world application and should only be used to better understand the deeper layers of our characters and how past traumas can drive their choices.
Finally, despite this content being for writing purposes, trauma is, sadly, not fictional. It is a very real, damaging thing, and reading about it can sometimes be triggering, as we have all experienced emotional pain in one form or another. We urge you to take this into account as you explore the darker aspects of your characters’ wounds. If necessary, consider putting safeguards in place for yourself. To this end, we’ve included the following section on self-care should any entries in this book hit you particularly hard.
SELF-CARE FOR WRITERS
Use This Book in a Safe Place. Many authors like to work in a busy coffee shop, a library, or even at a group writing event. But if you are exploring a character’s wound that touches something from your own past, it isn’t uncommon for a rush of unpleasant emotions to hit. If this happens, it is much better to be in a place where you can take a few moments to privately process whatever comes.
Incorporate a Time Buffer. Writing about a difficult moment in a character’s life isn’t easy, especially if some of it feels personal to you. As such, it may be better to not tackle painful content right before a scheduled appointment or over the lunch hour. When writing an emotionally taxing scene, give yourself ample time to get back into a balanced mentality before returning to your responsibilities in the real world.
Take as Many Breaks as You Need. If you feel overwhelmed, go for a walk, cuddle with your cat, or indulge in a special treat. Lighting a scented candle at the start of the session and blowing it out when you’re ready to stop is also a great way to signal your mind that it’s time to back away emotionally and turn to something else.
Have Someone You Trust on Standby. If you’ll be working on a scene that is especially personal or difficult, having a friend in the loop can be helpful. Let them know when you’ll be writing it and that you may need to call on them for a bit of support or encouragement. You might also ask them to check on you through text, email, or social media messaging. This can help with any feelings of isolation that may hit as you write.
THE MIRROR OF FICTION: A REFLECTION OF LIFE AND OUR DEEPER SELVES
If there’s a universal truth in life, it is that people are spellbound by story. Deep down, each of us craves a view into other worlds and is fascinated by the unspooling of a reality that is different from our own. We solve mysteries, fight battles, visit fantastical places, discover (or rediscover) romance, and follow the stepping-stones of a character’s journey that may or may not be similar to our own. A great story becomes a unique threshold, offering us an opportunity to cross over and experience the life of another person.
On the outside, it may seem that fiction is solely about escaping the dullness or stress of the real world, yet entertainment is only one reason people are drawn to it. Throughout the ages, story has been used to guide and teach, allowing us to pass on important information, ideas, and beliefs in many different forms.
This storytelling tradition continues today. We might tell a half-true tale to friends about our crazy weekend in Vegas or relay to co-workers an eye-rolling anecdote about What My Moronic Neighbor Did This Week. Often, however, a story comes from a more meaningful place, giving us the chance to share our raw feelings, hopes, and desires with others. Either way, as writers, if we approach the page only planning to entertain, our stories will lack depth. To ensure that our writing connects with readers, we need to acknowledge that storytelling resonates deepest when it provides them with something they are always searching for: context.
Why is context so important? Because life doesn’t come with a user’s manual (oh, how some days we wish it did!). As people, we spend a lot of time pretending that we’ve got it together and know exactly what we’re doing, but, in reality, most of us don’t. Obstacles, challenges, and opportunities come along in life and prompt difficult questions: How do I deal with this? What should I do? What will it
say about me if I fail?
Unfortunately, fear, self-doubt, and insecurity are all part of the human baggage we lug around each day. Because we don’t want to seem weak, most of us won’t share our uncertainty openly; instead, we manage situations the best we can and look around for examples—context—of how to behave, move forward, and hopefully become more experienced and capable people.
This universal need to grow provides writers with a special opportunity to create a mirror of the real world through fiction, allowing readers a safe way to probe their own deeper layers. After all, as characters face tough choices, painful consequences, and hard-won achievements, readers can’t help but be reminded of their own journeys. By sharing a character’s experiences, they get an intimate glimpse into how others wrestle with difficult situations, moral dilemmas, and the disruptive nature of change. And whether readers are consciously aware of it or not, this exposure provides the context they seek, offering information that may help them better navigate their lives.
Above all else, the fictional character’s internal journey from brokenness to wholeness is one everyone can identify with because, deep down, each of us is a bit damaged. We’ve all suffered emotional hurts and are looking to heal. And stronger still are the deeper motivations to find our purpose in this world, to belong, and become better people. To accomplish these things, like the hero or heroine of a story, we need to cast aside that which holds us back: our own fears and emotional pain—the root of our insecurities.
Connecting readers with complex characters who remind them of themselves results in story magic—achievable, but magic all the same. And creating true-to-life mirrors with our fiction is the key to drawing readers in. Human desires, needs, beliefs, and emotions are all areas to explore, but one of the most potent real-life reflections that should steer a story from start to finish is the character’s emotional wound.