Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
The Negative Trait Thesaurus summary
Brief summary
The Negative Trait Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi is a valuable resource for writers looking to develop well-rounded characters. It provides a wide range of negative traits and their associated behaviors, thoughts, and emotions, helping writers create complex and believable personalities.
Table of Contents
The Negative Trait Thesaurus
Summary of key ideas
Understanding Negative Traits in Characters
In The Negative Trait Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi, the authors delve into the world of character development by focusing on the negative traits that make characters more complex and relatable. They start by explaining how negative traits are an essential aspect of a character's personality, shaping their behaviors, beliefs, and interactions with others.
The authors emphasize that negative traits aren't inherently bad; rather, they are simply qualities that can lead to negative outcomes in certain situations. For instance, while being ambitious can drive a character to success, excessive ambition might lead them to act ruthlessly towards others.
Exploring a Wide Range of Negative Traits
Next, The Negative Trait Thesaurus provides an extensive list of negative traits, categorizing them under broad headings such as emotional, physical, mental, and moral traits. Each trait is further broken down into subcategories, providing a detailed understanding of its manifestations and impacts.
For example, under the broader category of 'Physical Traits,' the authors explore traits like 'Addicted,' 'Aggressive,' and 'Argumentative.' For each trait, they explain the typical behaviors, thoughts, and emotions associated with it, helping writers understand how these traits influence a character's actions and decisions.
Understanding the Origin of Negative Traits
After listing and categorizing the negative traits, Ackerman and Puglisi delve into the origins of these traits. They explain that negative traits often stem from a character's past experiences, such as traumatic events, childhood upbringing, or societal influences. Understanding the root cause of a character's negative traits is crucial for creating a believable and compelling backstory.
For instance, a character who is overly cautious and mistrustful might have developed these traits due to past betrayals or traumatic experiences. By understanding the source of these traits, writers can craft more authentic and multi-dimensional characters.
Utilizing Negative Traits in Character Development
In the latter part of the book, the authors provide practical advice on using negative traits to develop well-rounded characters. They stress the importance of balance, explaining that while negative traits add depth to a character, they should be counterbalanced by positive traits to avoid creating unlikable or one-dimensional characters.
Additionally, the authors discuss the role of negative traits in character arcs, relationships, and conflicts. They highlight how a character's negative traits can lead to internal and external conflicts, driving the plot forward and creating opportunities for character growth.
Incorporating Negative Traits in Writing
In conclusion, The Negative Trait Thesaurus serves as a valuable resource for writers looking to create compelling and realistic characters. By providing an extensive list of negative traits, exploring their origins, and offering practical advice on character development, the authors equip writers with the tools to craft more authentic and relatable characters.
The book emphasizes that characters, like real people, are shaped by a mix of positive and negative traits. Understanding and utilizing these traits effectively can help writers breathe life into their characters and engage readers on a deeper level.
How do we create content on this page?
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is The Negative Trait Thesaurus about?
The Negative Trait Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi is a valuable resource for writers looking to create well-rounded and believable characters. It provides an extensive list of negative traits and explores how these traits can manifest in a character's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. With practical tips and examples, this book helps writers develop complex and realistic characters that drive their stories forward.
The Negative Trait Thesaurus Review
The Negative Trait Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman, Becca Puglisi (2013) offers a comprehensive resource for writers looking to enhance their character development. Here's why this book is a valuable resource:
- Provides an extensive list of negative traits with detailed explanations and tips on how to incorporate them into characters realistically.
- Includes writing prompts and exercises to help writers deepen their understanding of character flaws and motivations.
- Offers a fresh perspective on character creation, ensuring that readers can craft complex and believable characters that resonate with audiences.
Who should read The Negative Trait Thesaurus?
Writers who want to create well-rounded and realistic characters with flaws
Authors looking to deepen their understanding of character development and psychology
Storytellers who want to avoid clichéd or one-dimensional character traits
Categories with The Negative Trait Thesaurus
Book summaries like The Negative Trait Thesaurus
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
33 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
The Negative Trait Thesaurus FAQs
What is the main message of The Negative Trait Thesaurus?
The main message of The Negative Trait Thesaurus is to help writers develop well-rounded, believable characters through exploring their flaws.
How long does it take to read The Negative Trait Thesaurus?
Reading The Negative Trait Thesaurus takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in under 15 minutes.
Is The Negative Trait Thesaurus a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Negative Trait Thesaurus is a valuable resource for writers looking to enhance character development. It offers insightful prompts and tips in a concise format.
Who is the author of The Negative Trait Thesaurus?
The authors of The Negative Trait Thesaurus are Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi.
What to read after The Negative Trait Thesaurus?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Negative Trait Thesaurus, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susann Jeffers
- Making It All Work by David Allen
- The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
- The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
- Mindset by Carol Dweck
- Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely
- Switch by Chip Heath & Dan Heath
- The Da Vinci Curse by Leonardo Lospennato
- The Defining Decade by Meg Jay
- The Art Of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau