MASTER LISTS FOR WRITERS: Thesauruses, Plots, Character Traits, Names, and More (17 page)

50 PAST TRAUMAS

One of my favorite poets, Robert Hass, began his poem “Meditation at Lagunitas” with these lines: “All the new thinking is about loss./In this it resembles all the old thinking.”

Nobody gets through life without tragedies. Sometimes we forget how ubiquitous they are, because people don’t always discuss them. The most successful, attractive, popular, and competent people still have heartbreak in their pasts.

The difficulties your character faced in the past may or may not play a large role in your story. Either way, they will affect her personality and the way she deals with immediate challenges.

Although I made this list with backstories in mind, you may find inspiration here for a main plot.

The items on this list range from upsetting to seriously damaging—and of course, different characters would respond differently to any of them. They are in no particular order. I have not elaborated on some of the worst things because I want to avoid triggering strong negative emotional responses in people who have experienced them in the past.

A character’s past trauma may affect her in many different ways. She may be unwilling to try or take risks in some area of her life. She may lack confidence or self-esteem. It may have resulted in a low-level depression, marked by listlessness, aches and pains, insomnia, or chronic fatigue.

If she has post-traumatic stress disorder, she may experience bad dreams or flashbacks about the event. When something reminds her of it, her heartbeat and her breathing may accelerate with panic.

You may shy away from giving the people in your story real problems, but unfortunately, making life perfect for your characters rarely results in an interesting story. No matter how awful your character’s past is, you can write her into healing and a much brighter future. Her story may provide just the inspiration a reader needed.

1. She was fired from a job.
   

Maybe she didn’t see it coming, or maybe she did and was unable to stop it. Either way, this can be a body blow.

1. His partner cheated on him.
   

This could raise feelings of inadequacy, anger, and profound distrust in future relationships.

1. Her best friend betrayed her.
   

This can hurt almost as much as the betrayal of a lover, and people around her might not understand that.

1. He was molested as a child.
   
2. She was sexually assaulted or raped as an adult.
   
3. His parent abandoned the family when he was young.
   
4. She was bullied as a child.
   

She might have been singled out for ridicule because of her appearance, her learning style, or her behavior.

1. One or both of his parents or a sibling died when he was young.
   
2. One of her parents or a sibling died recently.
   
3. His spouse died recently.
   
4. Her dog or cat died recently.
   

Not everyone recognizes how much grief this can actually cause, which may make things all the more difficult.

1. He made an accidental but catastrophic mistake.
   

For instance, he might have run over someone’s dog.

1. She was scammed out of a bunch of money.
   

1. He was mugged or robbed.
   
2. She was injured in sports or in a bad accident.
   
3. He was rejected from the college he always dreamed of attending.
   
4. She didn’t get the chance to go to college at all.
   

Maybe she really wanted to, but it wasn’t possible because of her grades, finances, or a family situation.

1. He failed out of college, or was unable to finish.
   

Mental health issues, a family crisis, or financial circumstances may have been to blame.

1. She got pregnant as a teen.
   

Whether she terminated the pregnancy, had the baby and gave it up for adoption, or chose to become a mother, she may have been shamed about her pregnancy and her decision.

1. She suffered a miscarriage.
   

Others may make it worse by saying it was God’s plan or that she can get pregnant again.

1. He was demoted at work.
   
2. His new venture failed.
   

It’s not only disappointing, but also embarrassing.

1. She was physically abused as a child.
   
2. He was emotionally abused as a child.
   
3. As an adult, she was physically or emotionally abused by a partner.
   

1. His father physically abused his mother.
   
2. She was arrested.
   
3. He went to prison.
   
4. Her parent went to prison.
   
5. His spouse divorced him, or his boyfriend moved out with little warning.
   
6. Her fiancé called off the wedding.
   

Alternately, he simply didn’t show up for the ceremony.

1. He was evicted from his apartment.
   
2. She suffered a public embarrassment.
   

She might have fallen on her butt in front of a huge crowd, or she might have been in an embarrassing video that went viral.

1. He lost access to his children.
   

Maybe he was deported, or maybe his ex disappeared with them.

1. She witnessed a horrific accident or violent crime.
   
2. He fought in a war.
   
3. She or someone close to her was the victim of police brutality.
   
4. As a child, he was indoctrinated into a cult or religious sect with damaging beliefs.
   
5. As a child, she lived in poverty.
   

She might have often lacked adequate food, decent clothes, or other necessities.

1. He survived a hurricane, plane crash, or other disaster.
   
2. She was very ill as a child or teen.
   

Extensive treatment or surgeries early in life may have had a lasting impact.

1. He survived a serious illness as an adult.
   
2. The person he loved married somebody else.
   
3. She learned some shocking news about herself or her family.
   
4. At a school or workplace, she was harassed for her race or sexual orientation.
   
5. When she came out as a lesbian, family members or friends rejected her.
   
6. He lost his license or accreditation.
   

He might be a lawyer who was disbarred, a doctor who lost his medical license, or a priest who was defrocked.

1. She lived in an unsafe place.
   

It may have been in a high-crime area or in a war zone.

1. He lost something important.
   

He may have misplaced a winning lottery ticket or the heirloom diamond ring he was going to use when he proposed to his girlfriend.

1. She lost the respect of the person whose opinion she valued the most.
   

50 WAYS TO SHOW A CHARACTER IS A GOOD PERSON

This is related to the list “100 Positive Character Traits.” It shows some of the
best
traits on that list, like compassion, consideration, and tolerance,
in action
.

Sometimes, you want to let your readers know right away that a character is really a nice person, even if she or he has flaws. You might also have a moment in your story when a character realizes he misjudged a basically decent person. Here are a lot of ways to show a character has a good heart, rather than simply telling your reader that he does.

1. She says good morning to someone and asks how his weekend was.
   
2. He smiles at a stranger.
   
3. She listens to someone else’s story—even if it’s boring.
   
4. He sympathizes with someone’s gripes—even petty ones.
   
5. She notices when someone’s down and asks if everything’s okay.
   
6. He treats an unpopular or weird person with respect.
   
7. She compliments someone’s handiwork or a photo of his children.
   
8. He tells somebody that she’s being too hard on herself.
   
9. She gives money to a panhandler when everyone else walks on by.
   
10. He knows the name of the elderly neighbor down the hallway from him, or the security guard at his company.
    

1. She gives directions to someone who is lost. Maybe she notices he looks confused and asks him if he needs help.
   
2. He calls his mom.
   
3. She visits her sick friend or her aging relative.
   
4. He takes care of a friend’s baby or kid for the afternoon.
   
5. On her morning commute, she lets somebody merge in front of her.
   
6. When someone bumps into him, he says it’s okay instead of getting annoyed.
   
7. When she has a legitimate customer complaint, she addresses it kindly rather than rudely.
   
8. He stands up for a sales associate or cashier being abused by a customer.
   
9. She donates blood.
   
10. He volunteers, formally or informally. He teaches a kid to read, or dishes out food at a community kitchen.
    
11. She holds the elevator door for someone—and tells him, “Take your time.”
    
12. He gives his seat to somebody else on the bus.
    
13. She’s nice to her dog or cat.
    
14. He helps catch someone else’s dog or cat who got loose on the street.
    

1. She puts her shopping cart back where it’s supposed to go.
   
2. He apologizes when he’s made a mistake.
   
3. She shovels snow off her neighbor’s sidewalk.
   
4. He leaves a great tip.
   
5. She writes a nice comment on someone’s post or picture on social media.
   
6. He lets someone with just one or two items go ahead of him in line at the grocery store.
   
7. When someone in front of her in line at the grocery store is short a dollar, she chips in the difference.
   
8. He brings donuts to the office.
   
9. She buys lemonade from the neighbor kids’ lemonade stand.
   
10. He declines to participate in gossip.
    
11. She gives credit to a co-worker.
    
12. He reacts to his whining child with patience and restraint.
    
13. When she shops for clothes, she picks up a dress that slips off the hanger and returns it to the rack.
    
14. When he accidentally breaks something in a store, he finds a sales associate so he can pay for it instead of walking away.
    

1. She defuses a conversation that’s growing tense with a joke.
   
2. He goes to church.
   
3. She prays.
   
4. He helps someone jump start her car or helps when it’s stuck in the snow.
   
5. When she and someone else start speaking at the same time, she says, “Go ahead.”
   
6. He finds a recycling bin for his empty can or bottle.
   
7. She picks up a piece of trash on the sidewalk or in a hallway and throws it away.
   
8. He strikes up conversation with someone who’s alone and looks lost at a social event.
   
9. She compliments a child on his art project or his outfit.
   
10. When he’s running late in the morning, he turns back because he forgot to kiss his wife goodbye.
    
11. She calls her husband in the middle of the day, just to say “I love you.”
    
12. He gives someone a hug.
    

25 WAYS TO SHOW A CHARACTER IS A JERK

This is related to the list “100 Negative Character Traits.” It shows some of the
worst
traits on that list in action.

Once in a while, I’ll read a book where the protagonist and all her friends keep talking about how awful a particular character is—but the character doesn’t seem all that bad to me. If I’m supposed to like and root for the protagonist, then this is a real problem in a story. It makes me, as a reader, wonder if the protagonist judges people too harshly.

If a character is eventually going to do something terrible, most of the time, you don’t want him doing it out of nowhere. Moreover, if you’re writing a mystery or thriller, you may want to make one character seem suspicious, even if it turns out he’s just an ordinary unpleasant person and not the bad guy.

Some of the things on this list are really mean, but some could also be done by a decent character on a bad day. Just don’t let her off the hook for it.

1. She gives backhanded compliments.
   

“That’s a great picture of you. Your face looks slimmer.”

1. He says something sexist or bigoted.
   

It may be subtle—the kind of thing where no one corrects him, because they’re asking themselves, “Did he mean what I think he meant?”

1. She shares a nasty rumor without being able to confirm it.
   
2. She’s condescending to the server or the person doing her nails.
   
3. He sends back his order, even though it’s fine.
   

“This bagel is all the way toasted, but I said I wanted it
lightly
toasted.”

1. He demeans his spouse, child, or friend in front of others.
   

He might do it in the guise of a joke, but it’s hurtful.

1. She takes up two spaces when she parks her car.
   
2. He parks in a spot reserved for the disabled, even though he is able-bodied.
   

He might make the excuse that he’s in a hurry, or he’s only going to be a minute.

1. She honks other drivers, or even pedestrians, for minor infractions.
   
2. When he wins at something, he gloats.
   
3. She leaves a mess behind.
   

She tosses her cigarette butt on the sidewalk or doesn’t re-rack her weights at the gym.

1. He sexually harasses someone who is in no position to object.
   

It may take the form of subtle innuendo or compliments that are over the line.

1. She doesn’t say “thank you.”
   
2. He says “no” instead of “no thanks.”
   
3. She helps herself to someone else’s food.
   
4. He borrows things without asking.
   

1. She insists on being addressed as “Doctor” or “Senator,” if she is one.
   
2. He makes himself too comfortable.
   

He sprawls out and takes up two seats on the subway, or he puts his feet up on someone else’s coffee table.

1. She gives unsolicited and bossy advice.
   
2. He declines to sponsor a walkathon or order Girl Scout cookies.
   
3. He complains about crying babies or loud little kids.
   
4. She makes detailed and/or unreasonable demands.
   

“I’ve attached a list of acceptable baby shower gifts. I don’t want anything homemade or any stuffed animals.”

1. He issues orders when most people would make requests.
   
2. She makes fun of people who aren’t hurting anyone, either behind their backs or to their faces.
   
3. He never passes up the opportunity to show how smart or successful he is.