10 Reasons Why Emotion Amplifiers Are Good for Your Story

We’re just a few days away from releasing a new book, The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Stress and Volatility, so things are getting exciting around here! May 13th is the magical date, so I hope you’ll stop in and help us celebrate!

What makes this book special is that it’s the grown-up version of a small digital booklet we released long ago, a companion to The Emotion Thesaurus. Amplifiers are special states and conditions that have the power to make your character emotionally reactive. Whether it’s an amplifier like pain, scrutiny, pregnancy, or something else, when something starts messing with a character’s psychological and emotional equilibrium, that’s bad for them, but good for the story. Needless to say, we had to come back to this topic and explore it in full!

Emotion Amplifiers are unbelievably good for a story. In addition to making a character emotionally volatile, here are 10 more reasons to include them:

1. Amplifiers make it harder for characters to hide what they feel.

Characters are like people–they often mask what they feel to avoid judgment, vulnerability, and the perception that they are weak. But if your character is hungover, enduring high levels of scrutiny, or it’s been ten hours since they last had a cigarette (withdrawal), it becomes harder to keep their emotions in check. A slip–forgetting their filter, telling someone off–and suddenly their emotions are on full display.

2. Amplifiers are great for uncovering a character’s faults, flaws, and sensitivities.

Characters are motivated to control events around them as much as possible, which can make them seem more capable and strong than they actually are. Derailing their plans with an amplifier is a great way to show readers they don’t have it all together and can lose their emotional grip just like anyone else.

3. Amplifiers infuse scenes with tension.

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When a character’s stress levels are heightened because of an amplifier like hunger, illness, or pain, the reader becomes glued to the page, wondering if they can handle the extra strain in addition to everything else happening in the scene. Their worry about what will happen next creates tension and the need to read on.

4. Amplifiers generate conflict.

Sometimes your character can manage the strain of an amplifier, and sometimes they can’t. If distraction, sleep deprivation, or even attraction causes your character’s attention to drift, they could fail to spot a threat or worse, taking their situation from bad to worse.

5. Amplifiers can help make a character relatable.

Most amplifiers are common enough that readers have experienced them themselves, or at least know the challenge they represent. So when a character is struggling with something like stress, pressure, or bereavement, readers relate to the character because this situation feels like common ground.

6. Amplifiers pressure characters to deal with their inner conflict.

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It can be tempting to ignore personal problems when there’s a difficult decision to be made, but if characters continue to avoid the hard stuff, readers will disengage.

Deploying an amplifier at the right time can make the character’s situation untenable, forcing them to search within and find a way to change their situation for the better, even if this means a cost or sacrifice.

7. Amplifiers provide opportunities to grow.

In a story characters should make plenty of mistakes so they can learn from them. Letting emotions take over because of an amplifier like addiction, burnout, or confinement might mean taking a foolish risk, doing or saying something that damages their reputation, or creating big problems for themselves. Dealing with the fallout of bad decisions and emotional volatility will teach them to find a better way next time.

8. Amplifiers support your story’s structure.

Stories contain a framework of turning points and characters must move from one stage to the next for the story to progress. The problem? Fear can make them resistant to take on certain challenges, and they become resistant to leaving their comfort zone. An amplifier like danger, dehydration, arousal, or physical disorientation can force them to march into the unknown so they can secure what they need most.

9. Amplifiers give the story’s premise or conflict scenario a fresh edge.

Stories naturally contain elements and scenarios that will be similar, especially within a genre. The addition of an amplifier, perhaps one like brainwashing, an injury, mental health condition, or intoxication, will help readers see your events as unique, and give you a way to show a character’s individuality in the way that they handle the challenge.

10. Amplifiers encourage readers to connect with your characters on a deeper level.

Amplifiers are familiar to readers as these states and conditions are part of the human experience. When an amplifier brings a character’s emotions close to the surface, readers can’t help but be reminded on their own emotions and humanity. This fosters empathy and connection, and the reader becomes invested in what happens next.

Becca and I explore over 50 different amplifiers in this second edition of The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus and as a companion guide, each entry is styled very close to The Emotion Thesaurus.

For an advanced look at all 52 amplifiers and a peek at some of the thesaurus entries, just go here.

I hope to see you back here on May 13th for our official book release & celebration!

The post 10 Reasons Why Emotion Amplifiers Are Good for Your Story appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

The Bookshelf Muse is a hub for writers, educators and anyone with a love for the written word. Featuring Thesaurus Collections that encourage stronger descriptive skills, this award-winning blog will help writers hone their craft and take their writing to the next level.