EMOTION THESAURUS

WARINESS



Never struggle with Show-and-Tell again. Activate your free trial or subscribe to view the Emotion Thesaurus in its entirety, or visit the Table of Contents to explore unlocked entries.

CHOOSE MY PLAN

HELPFUL TIP:

The inner landscape of your characters (especially your protagonist) is the lifeblood that runs through your story. Emotions, and how they're expressed, are tied deeply to a character’s personality and which positive traits and negative traits will manifest. To bring your readers in deeper through shared experience, consider filtering the setting descriptions through your character’s emotions while also exploring important colors, textures, and shapes through his or her senses.
DEFINITION:
Mistrust marked by caution and watchfulness; being alert to possible danger

PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS:
Head cocked to the side
Eyes narrowed, as if in confusion
Pursing the lips
Lowering the brows
Cutting the eyes toward the source
Hands up in a defensive stance
Speaking in a soothing, placating voice
Backing away
Posture “perks up” as awareness increases
Sidestepping, but keeping one's gaze on the source
Actively listening for something
Lifting the chin
...

INTERNAL SENSATIONS:
...

MENTAL RESPONSES:
...

CUES OF ACUTE OR LONG TERM WARINESS:
...

MAY ESCALATE TO:
...

CUES OF SUPPRESSED WARINESS:
...

MAY DE-ESCALATE TO:
...

ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS:
...