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The Negative Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide To Character Flaws (2013)

by Angela Ackerman(Favorite Author)

4.65 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0989772500 (ISBN13: 9780989772501)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

JADD Publishing

review 1: Genre: Reference, Writer HelpAudience: WritersLength: 206 pgsRating: ****Review: This book, like The Emotion Thesaurus that I bought a while back from the same authors, is a great help. It has a wonderful introduction that goes into detail on character flaws, why characters need them, and how to craft them in your writing. It has a long list of flaws, and unlike The Emotion Thesaurus, it includes in index in the back that links the similar flaws. (I find myself using a regular thesaurus with The Emotion Thesaurus since it doesn't include this.) It also includes some great worksheets at the end to help plot out characters. This was perfect for me. It works best if used together with The Positive Trait Thesaurus, and personally, I would have gladly paid more to have both wor... moreks included in one volume. (I bought each for $4.99.) If you need help delving in deeper with your characters and really making them shine, I would suggest both of these.Try this. Like good writer reference books? Read DONE & DONE: The Power of Accountability Partnering for Reaching Your Goals by Annette Lyon and Luisa Perkins
review 2: I turn to Ackerman and Puglisi's Emotion Thesaurus regularly when needing inspiration for character reactions and action beats. Their new additions to the series are shaping up to be just as valuable, if not more so. In the introductory material to this volume, they state that they view this book as a "brainstorming tool." This is spot-on. As they explain in their insightful opening chapters, character flaws drive character arcs. Without a solid understanding of what major problem is at the crux of our character's personal dilemma, we will never have the knowledge to shape a powerful transformation over the course of our story.But more than just power, we also want originality, and this is where the Negative Trait Thesaurus should prove especially helpful. Just in browsing a few entries, my imagination was immediately spurred to look beyond obvious, first-glance choices toward bigger and more unique possibilities. I look forward to using this wonderful tool (complete with some of the best "bonus goodies" I've ever seen in the appendices) in shaping my characters in my next work-in-progress. less

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