EMOTION THESAURUS

SOMBERNESS



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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:
Having a dark or gloomy manner

PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS:
An unmoving stance
A voice devoid of emotion, deadpan
A grave expression
A sad or serious demeanor
Hands folded in one's lap
Sitting quietly
Flaccid yet unwelcoming (closed) body language
A tendency to look down
A thoughtful expression
Hesitation before speaking, as if weighing words
Dark or heavy observations
A bleak mood that affects others, lessens energy, brings people down
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INTERNAL SENSATIONS:
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MENTAL RESPONSES:
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CUES OF ACUTE OR LONG TERM SOMBERNESS:
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MAY ESCALATE TO:
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CUES OF SUPPRESSED SOMBERNESS:
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MAY DE-ESCALATE TO:
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ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS:
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