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

by Angela Ackerman, Becca Puglisi

Welcome to the 2nd edition of Emotion Amplifiers—expanded and updated!

Characters who are in control of their emotions rarely slip up, which makes for boring reading. To avoid that pitfall, channel your dark side and introduce stress that will make it harder for them to think clearly. Your weapon of choice? An amplifier. Pain, arousal, dehydration—conditions and states like these make it difficult for a character to emotionally self-regulate, setting them up for overreactions, misjudgments, and (hopefully) colossal mistakes they’ll have to fix and learn from.

Inside The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus, you’ll find:
• A deep dive into cognitive and emotional dissonance and how psychological discomfort steers a character’s reasoning and impacts their ability to make decisions
• Information on emotional stress as a trigger for self-awareness and personal growth, which makes amplifiers powerful levers to help steer story structure and character arc
• Lists of body language cues, internal sensations, thoughts, and other descriptives to show the effects of more than 50 amplifiers
• Brainstorming help on how to use each amplifier to generate tension and complication, apply everyday pressure, and make a character emotionally volatile
• Fifty-two bonus writing tips to help you wield amplifiers with skill and precision, taking your scenes from good to great

Push your characters. Give them no quarter. Use physical, cognitive, and psychological strain to force them to face their mistakes, acknowledge their true feelings, and work through the contradictions at the heart of every inner struggle.

Genres: Writing, Crafts, Nonfiction

206 pages, Paperback

First published December 4, 2014

About the author

ANGELA ACKERMAN is a writing coach, international speaker, and co-author of 11 bestselling books for writers, including The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression. Her books are available in 10 languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. Her home country is Canada.

Angela is also the co-founder of the popular site Writers Helping Writers®, as well as One Stop for Writers®, a portal to powerful tools and resources that help you think like a writing expert so you become a stronger storyteller. A strong believer in writers helping and supporting other writers, she tries to pay-it-forward however she is able to.

http://writershelpingwriters.net
http://onestopforwriters.com

Reviews

[Darlene Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best resource for writing I have on my shelf is The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. Now the dynamic duo have outdone themselves by writing the perfect accompaniment that can only ramp up your writing. The introduction alone is extremely helpful to any writer, whether a beginning or a seasoned author. As they state, for a story to work, it needs emotion for readers to be able to empathize with the charcaters. Emotional stress is also necessary for character development. The book has fifty-two states and conditions with the power to amplify a character’s feelings, such as Burnout, Deception, Pressure, Trauma, Pain, Illness and my favourite, Hangover. Each state or condition includes Physical signals and behaviours, Internal sensations, Mental responses, Associated power verbs, and Scenarios for building conflict and tension. All incredibly useful, especially for those times you get stuck or the story needs a boost. This book should be on every writer's resource shelf.

[Stuart Wakefield · Rating 5 out of 5]

They've done it again!

Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi have once again delivered an indispensable resource for writers with The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Stress and Volatility. This second edition builds upon their already remarkable collection of tools that assist writers in creating compelling and realistic emotional landscapes. Here, they take a step further into the labyrinth of human behaviour, offering a comprehensive guide to emotional amplifiers that enhance character development in super-powerful ways.

A bit of background: Originally introduced as a series of blog posts, the concept of the emotion amplifier quickly gained popularity among writers looking to deepen their characters’ emotional journeys. Angels and Becca recognised the immense potential of this idea and expanded it into an e-booklet that became a cherished companion to The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression. Now, with this new, expanded edition of The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus, the authors have truly outdone themselves.

The book includes 52 states and conditions that can unbalance characters and steer them toward poor judgment, heightened conflict, and gripping volatility, expertly dissecting these amplifiers, providing invaluable insights into how they can be leveraged to amplify a character’s emotional state and cause internal discord. From pain and exhaustion to jealousy and perfectionism, each amplifier is meticulously detailed with physical, cognitive, and psychological effects that writers can weave seamlessly into their stories.

One of the book's standout features is how it guides writers to use amplifiers not just as emotional catalysts but also as tools that bolster story structure. There's practical advice on how to use these amplifiers to create friction and conflict, which can transform crucial story moments into unforgettable, emotionally charged scenes. By pushing characters onto shaky emotional ground, Angels and Becca have ensured that readers will relate to their vulnerability, making the story all the more compelling.

Beyond its instructional value, The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus is also a smorgasbord of inspiration. Each entry is rich with potential, sparking ideas and offering new perspectives on how to bring characters’ emotions to life.

And you know I'm all about characters!

Angela and Becca understand the human condition deeply, and their empathetic yet clear-eyed exploration of these amplifiers provides writers with a nuanced understanding of their characters’ psychology.

In short, The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Stress and Volatility is a masterfully crafted guide that should be on every writer’s bookshelf. Angela and Becca have once again proven why they're trusted authorities in character development. By leaning into the complexity of emotional amplifiers, they've created a resource that not only informs but also inspires, empowering writers to create more authentic, emotionally resonant characters and stories.

[Erica Converso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feeling burnt out and bored with your plot? Characters leaving you cold? Are you tired of being stuck with your writing, and hungry to take your work to the next level? Well, it’s a good thing Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi have you covered!

The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus, a companion to the fabulous Emotion Thesaurus and latest in the Description Thesaurus series, is a boon to writers who are struggling to make their story really come alive. Beyond the nuts and bolts of conveying plot, an author must strive to create characters with whom readers can resonate, characters who are backed into corners or pushed to their emotional limits. But as writers, how can we best do that?

The Amplifier Thesaurus to the rescue! Here you will find over fifty “states” that characters may be in, like “boredom” or “danger.” For each, there is a description, a list of physical signs and behaviors or mental responses that indicate the state in question, and ways that state may impact the plot. For example, how a character might downplay or hide the state (“Oh, I’m not bored!”), duties or desires made difficult by being in that state, and other scenarios for building conflict and tension.

The beginning of the Thesaurus, as always, contains a handy guide for how to use the entries ahead, and I’ve always found those explanations to be worth the price of the book alone. Angela and Becca give nuanced and informative guides to each thesaurus, but these intros really serves as a masterclass for how to get your plot in order, whether by analyzing why characters make the choices they do, or what benefit the technique in question will provide for your story.

I have loved every one of the books in the Thesaurus series, and this one is no exception. If you’re truly serious about improving your craft, grab a copy of the Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus and dig right into it. You’ll be glad you did.

[Annie Lima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every book this duo has produced has been really helpful to me as a writer. The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus is no exception! It's a great resource that I wholeheartedly recommend to any fiction author, whether you already have The Emotion Thesaurus or not. (You should definitely get that one too! However, this book stands on its own just fine.) Each entry starts with a description of a specific "emotion amplifier" (panic attack is the one on the screen in front of me right now). Here's a description of the other sections that come with each entry, along with a couple of examples for each:
a list of physical signs and behaviors that others could observe from someone experiencing it (jumping at loud noises, swaying on their feet)
a list of internal sensations to use if you're writing from that character's POV (difficulty drawing a full breath, hands going numb or tingly)
mental responses (muddled thoughts, trying to calm themselves down)
efforts to hide the panic attack (a forced smile, the character excusing oneself for "fresh air")
associated power verbs (clench, palpitate, flee)
emotions generated by this amplifier (concern, desperation, fear)
duties or desires that may be more difficult to fulfill (being perceived as strong and capable, not relying on medication to help)
scenarios for building conflict and tension (working with a person who stresses the character, needing to visit a triggering location)
As you can see, this resource is full of LOTS of details about how you can use each emotion amplifier in your fiction. Grab your copy now, and you'll see what I mean!

[Gifford MacShane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this thesaurus, and once I started reading, I couldn't stop!

The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus is the companion volume to Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi's original Emotion Thesaurus, which is the one writing guide I couldn't live without. This book, however, expands on the Emotion Thesaurus, and illustrates how a character's emotional reactions to situations are affected by stressors, such as pain and exhaustion, or even simple things like heat and cold. It includes not only physical and mental responses to the stress, but each one also lays out scenarios that will build conflict and tension, as well as the "power verbs" to best explain it.

I highly recommend the Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus. For a full understanding of a character's emotions, combine it with The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression. Your characters will thank you!

The The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Stress and Volatility will be available May 13 -- mark your calendars!

[Marina Costa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus is a companion to the Emotions Thesaurus, useful both for beginner writers and for the experienced ones.

Emotion amplifiers are specific situations that must be coped with on top of everything else – such as: chronic pain, hangover, temptation, pregnancy, sensory overload, etc. They’re a challenge, conflict, and emotional destabilizer, influencing what the character feels and how they think by disrupting their balance and eliciting an unusual reaction, usually stress-based. They support story structure and help enhancing the story stakes. They make it harder for the characters to hide their feelings, make them act impulsively, show their flaws and sensitivities, therefore determining conflict.

In most novels and novellas (because short stories can be sometimes different), conflict is the engine of the story. Conflict is fueled by the characters’ emotional reactions to the plot actions. Tapping into our character’s feelings and conveying those clearly to readers is of utmost importance so that readers can connect to the characters and keep reading the story. This is where the Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus is useful because a character might need an additional push to get them out of their emotional comfort zone.

I wholeheartedly recommend this thesaurus, covering fifty two main emotion amplifiers, for all writers’ needs.

[Carol Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each page is set up like the other thesauri in this seres. As a member of ONE STOP, I have these thesauri at my fingertips. While writing my novel. I identified what I thought my character was feeling. Then I consulted these lists of physical signals and behaviors to show (instead of tell) my character's emotional state. Since I wrote in the first POV, the list of internal sensations and mental responses was extremely helpful in nailing my protagonist's feelings and thoughts. The Amplifier has a new category that will be extremely helpful to writers--Efforts to Hide the Emotion.

Flipping through the ARC, I found so many articles I wanted to read: "Using Amplifiers to Reveal Personal Growth"; "Using Amplifiers in Story Structure" (cue in Six-Stage Plot Structure); "Using Amplifiers to Create Dramatic Tension." Each article uses examples that show factors such as mental health, instability, or something as simple as hunger to heighten conflict. The three appendices include tools to destabilize your character (yes, we must do that to our beloved characters!) and ways to understand character dissonance and their decision-making process. WOW. That's A LOT! A fantastic resource to help writers go deeper into their novels.

[Judy L. Mohr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I managed to get my hands on an ARC copy of this book, and let me tell you that you want this book! If you are familiar with 'The Emotion Thesaurus', then you will be already familiar with what to expect in this book. And trust me, this book doesn't disappoint.

If you are new to the 'Thesaurus' series, I need to stress that this is a COMPANION book to The Emotion Thesaurus. If you are after physical and internal ways to express sadness, fear, confusion, etc., then you are wanting 'The Emotion Thesaurus'. 'The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus' dives into how physical states like being drunk, ill, or exhausted amplify the core emotions. The two books should be used in conjunction with one another. Don't use this book in isolation of 'The Emotion Thesaurus'.

In the opening section of this book, Ackerman & Puglisi talk about why you might want to use emotion amplifiers (like being drunk, ill, or tired), when you might use them, and when you want to avoid them. Then you get into the meat of the book, with the extended lists that we've all come to enjoy.

When this book comes out mid-May 2024, I'll be going to my favorite online bookstore and ordering both the print and digital versions. (And yes, this will be in addition to the ARC that I already have in my possession.) And I will be adding this book to the list of books that I recommend to writers as part of my day job as a writing coach and developmental editor.

[M.E. Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Stress and Volatility is the latest in a line of incredibly helpful writing tools by the dynamic duo consisting of Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. In this greatly expanded second addition, the emphasis is on the conditions that, when added to the already emotionally charged feelings of a character (their emotional state), spark overreactions, poor decisions, and flat-out mistakes—essentially all the things authors do to torment their characters on the page. This is a book in three parts: craft and the importance of controlled organic character conflict; descriptions of how the specific amplifier can come into play; and some nifty templates in the appendix. I’ve been a big fan of their thesauri since I first discovered The Emotion Thesaurus. I was provided an ARC of this book, but it wouldn’t have mattered. I’ve bought a copy of every thesauri they’ve created and I recommend their books to my workshop students as well. The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus is a welcome and valuable addition to my collection.

[Brandi MacCurdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful resource from Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus is an absolute must have for any writer, in any season of your writing journey.

Each entry in this guide is significant and well fleshed out. They include clues, indicators and effects of each emotional amplifier covered. Entries have sections such as Scenarios for Building Conflict and Tension and Duties and Desires That May Be More Difficult to Fulfill. The value of these insights is priceless for somone working on any manuscript.

Not only is this an excellent writing resource, it gives the reader thought-provoking information on stressors and mental health.

This book is available on May 13, 2024, and everyone should grab a copy!

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced readers copy of The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi.

I have most of the other books in this series of thesauruses and they are a valuable part of my writing reference library. This latest release is an excellent addition to the series. I love the explanations and examples provided at the beginning of the book. I found the sections on internal dissonance and using amplifiers to support story structure especially interesting.

Each emotion amplifier entry in the thesaurus is well described with lists for how a character may experience the amplifier under sections like physical signals and behaviors, internal sensations, mental responses, among others.

This book will be a reference I will refer to often while I write.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it comes time to prepare for copyedits and you want to take a good look at your prose, the writing thesauruses in the Writers Helping Writers series by Ackerman and Puglisi are all rather useful. Their newest, The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus, goes deeper into more intense emotions like dehydration, hyperactivity, trauma, and isolation. I write horror, so my characters are often people who are not good at showing emotion or have been overloaded with so many intense emotions in a short period of time that they shut down, and this book does a great job of giving ideas to the author about how to show those things. The great enemy of the author is boredom and this book amps up the emotions when both reader and character are becoming emotionally exhausted. I highly suggest it.

[Jordan Lynde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received THE EMOTION AMPLIFIER THESAURUS as an ARC. I had no doubt in my mind that this thesaurus would be as indispensable as its predecessors, and I was right! If you want to amplify your writing (pun intended) I would highly suggest this book and all the others Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi put out! When it comes to emotions, it can be really hard to constantly have to draw from your own when writing. I find sometimes with very emotional scenes I just stop feeling...because I've tried feeling too much, or, I just haven't experienced the exact emotion I am writing. This book holds a plethora of information on how to write your characters and those emotions. From boredom to exhaustion to indecision to stress and many more.

You will get descriptions of the emotions, physical signs and behaviors a character could exhibit, but also internal and mental ones as well. They even take it further by giving associated verbs, emotions that develop from the original one, and more.

Writing is hard. Let these thesaurus help you!

[Diana Stout · Rating 5 out of 5]

For any writer - I can’t recommend this book enough! Whether you’re a pantser, plotter, or a plantser, this 2nd edition of the very first book they published before writing their thesaurus series is a must-have. A companion book to the Emotion Thesaurus, I can easily see this new edition as a companion book for the Wound Thesaurus, as well.

I’m a huge plotter who develops characters before I begin any writing. This Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus will always be one of my first go-to books as I dig down into the well of my characters’ backgrounds--their fears, wounds, and flaws. The multiple sections of each amplifier that include physical signals and behaviors, internal sensations the character experiences, their mental responses, the efforts they make to hide the amplifier, and other emotions that can be generated will all aid in my characters having more depth than ever before.

Additionally, each amplifier provides possible situations that can lead to more conflict and tension within the storyline and the character’s behavior.

Run--don't walk--to your nearest bookstore on May 13, 2024, to order your copy!

[Caroline Corvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like all the other resources in this series, this is a must have book for writers. Browsing through it, I immediately found entries that made me want to grab my manuscript and use them to turn up the emotional temperature of the story.
This is the ideal companion to have sitting alongside while you write as well as when diving back in to edit. It provides clear and effective ways to amp up the tension and conflict as well as providing depth to characters. I know I’m going to use it all the time.

[Randy Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll state upfront that I received this as an ARC, and that I am a total fanboy of Becca Puglisi and Angela Ackerman of Writers Helping Writers. I have bought all of their Thesaurus' and these indispensable tools have elevated my writing skills exponentially. This new expanded edition of the Emotion Amplifier is another step up.
When a character has to react, even if you (the writer) know how they feel, or should be feeling, it can be difficult to come up with descriptions other than 'he said sadly', or 'she looked angry,' or 'he was bored,' etc. This is a great kickstart to look up those emotions and put them into body language and actions that shows (not tells!) how our characters are acting and reacting.
I prefer the PDF version(s) so I can have them open on one screen while working on my manuscript on the other. It is easy to do a quick search for the emotion and find all the actions associated with it, and to use the hyperlinks to quick and easy find companion definitions and action.
The proof is in the pudding. My readers comment and compliment the elevation of writing skills and descriptions. Count me in on all their Thesaurus'! -Randy L Scott

[Lynette Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG. Not even a dozen pages in, and I’m seeing things I’ve practiced in my writing with greater clarity than ever before. You might be, as I was, tempted to skip the “introduction” but don’t. Even if you think you understand emotion amplifiers, read the explanations and examples the authors offer. It brings a new level of clarity. 

Browsing the pages of the Thesaurus section of this book, you’ll find the treasure trove of information you expect from the authors. But this book carries extra gems. I love the added features of associated power verbs, emotions generated by this amplifier, duties or desires that may be more difficult to fulfill, and scenarios for building conflict and tension. And don’t overlook the helpful tools in the appendices.

If you are a writer, you need this book. I have no doubt that my copy will become as thumb worn and indispensable as my other Ackerman and Puglisi thesauri. 

[Penny Dobbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly helpful.

[Holly Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooo helpful for writers, love this series

[Morgan Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole series is essential!

[MegsChaosLibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa! just Whoa! 😳
Our poor characters already go through so much, but let's crank it up to an 11!
this is the prefect reference for escalating the stress and challenges your characters face!!!

[Tracy Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ackerman and Puglisi hit the ball out of the park with The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus: A Writer���s Guide to Character Stress and Volatility. Like their other thesauri in the series, they give wonderful examples and explanation of how to effectively or ineffectively use the emotion amplifiers.

They have included such topics as cognitive bias and cognitive decline, lethargy, pregnancy, malnutrition, sleep deprivation, and trauma. Like The Emotion Thesaurus they include physical signs, internal sensations, mental responses, efforts to hide the amplifier, emotions generated, duties or desires that may make it more difficult to complete, and the writer’s tip at the end of each entry.

But my favorite of all are the power verbs listed with each entry. I appreciated that sometimes they are listed alphabetically and in other entries they are in random order. It kept me from arbitrarily picking the first verb that caught my attention yet may not be the quite right word.

I found reading some of the entries quite cathartic because I, like my characters, didn’t recognize my own amplifiers.

The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus is a must have writing resource.

[Angela Liempt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC of this book and read it cover to cover! I absolutely love these writing resource books, and The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus is the perfect compliment to The Emotion Thesaurus.
I will definitely be purchasing the paperback copy once it is released in May to add to my writing resource shelf.
If you're a writer who is interested in leveling up your characters in a way that takes the reader along for the emotional ride, this is the resource book for you!

[Bobbi Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I was given an arc for this book, and I love it! I own the series, and find them all indispensable in my own writing. Each entry is a deep dive into the emotive experience, and includes instructions -- an actual demonstration on how to employ emotion! – to reveal hidden feelings and emotional subtext. It’s like taking an MFA course!

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tremendous asset to writers of fiction. The writers have done an excellent job of exploring and explaining how people react to the events and stimuli around them. A resource that will continue to be useful for years to come.

[Lisa Carlisle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic resource for authors! I think I have all the books in this series as they are so helpful, especially when I'm stuck or repeating things. I've recommended them to other authors as well.

[J Bridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus has been such a huge help in my current WIP, particularly since I'm starting to branch out of my writing comfort zone. It's so nice having a resource handy to help get me through those sticky moments when my brain just says NOPE.

For example, in my project, my main characters are grappling with depression and grief, so I've been leaning pretty heavily on those, along with injury, and a ton of others. The whole Writers Helping Writers series, and this book in particular have been excellent resources in my writing, and I definitely recommend them to writers!

*I received an advanced copy for review. Thanks to Angela Ackerman for the ARC!

[Elena Markem · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the books in this series are AMAZING! I am thrilled to have this to add to my library - and my writing arsenal. Ackerman and Puglisi have created another amazing resource to help writers create more vivid characters and, as a result, pull readers more deeply into their stories.

Beyond the ongoing emotions that a character might be feeling in your story, there are the emotions that grow from this.

As they write in the introduction: Amplifiers are an added condition or situational burden that must be coped with on top of everything else. And when you add this to your characters... you pull your reader SO close.

BUY ALL THESE BOOKS. Seriously...one of the best investments you can make for yourself as a writer.