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Emotional Beats: How to Easily Convert your Writing into Palpable Feelings (Author Tools) Paperback – September 10, 2016

by Nicholas C. Rossis (Author)

421 ratings

Book 1 of 1: Author Tools

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Because of the way our brains are wired, readers empathize more strongly if you don’t name the emotion you are trying to describe. As soon as you name an emotion, readers go into thinking mode. And when they think about an emotion, they distance themselves from feeling it.A great way to show anger, fear, indifference, and the whole range of emotions that characterize the human experience, is through beats. These action snippets that pepper dialogue can help describe a wide range of emotions while avoiding lazy writing. The power of beats lies in their innate ability to create richer, more immediate, deeper writing.This book includes hundreds of examples that you can use for your inspiration, so that you, too, can harness this technique to easily convert your writing into palpable feelings. Perfect for genre fiction authors, use Emotional Beat as a feeling thesaurus and watch your writing take off!

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 10, 2016
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 198 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1534846808
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1534846807
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches
Book 1 of 1 ‏ : ‎ Author Tools

Best Sellers Rank: #436,660 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #185 in Word Lists
- #286 in Writing Skill Reference (Books)

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421 ratings

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Nicholas C. Rossis

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Nicholas C. Rossis lives to write and does so from his cottage on the edge of a magical forest in Athens, Greece. When not composing epic fantasies, children’s books, or short sci-fi stories, he chats with fans and colleagues, writes blog posts, and enjoys the antics of his dog, cat, and young daughter, all of whom claim his lap as home. His books have won numerous awards, including the prestigious IBBY Award (Greece).

In addition to his best-selling sci-fi fantasy series, Pearseus, he writes short science fiction/speculative fiction stories, many of which have appeared in various collections and anthologies. These include Infinite Waters, which was voted one of the best 50 Indie books of the year.

What readers are saying about Nick's fantasies:

"Most avid readers still have books from their childhood which they read over and over again. 'Runaway Smile' has joined the list."

"From the very first sentence I realized I was not reading a book, I was going on an adventure."

"Each story is like watching an old episode of the Twilight Zone."

For more on Nick or just to chat, visit him on http://bit.ly/1G79bQS

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Customers find the book to be a handy reference guide for writing emotions, with well-laid out sections and excellent information. They appreciate how it helps trigger creativity, with one customer noting it provides new ways of looking at things.

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Writing tips Knowledge Creativity Pacing

39 customers mention "Writing tips"37 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the writing tips in this book, which serves as a handy reference guide for creating emotional scenes. They find it helpful for both writers and editors, with one customer noting it provides good examples for inspiration.

"...The lists of action beats show so many different ways to convey emotions and it’s really useful to get inspiration flowing...." Read more

"This is an amazing compilation and a must have resource for anyone who likes to write - professionals or just for fun." Read more

"...not only help me freshen up my dialog, but there are many examples throughout the book, that include body parts and emotions, that show instead of..." Read more

"...This book covers all the senses, feelings, descriptive passages, antonyms, synonyms and examples of how to put emotion into your writing...." Read more

36 customers mention "Knowledge"36 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a helpful resource that provides excellent information and is quite enlightening.

"...so many different ways to convey emotions and it’s really useful to get inspiration flowing...." Read more

"Excellent overview of how to illicit an emotional response from your readers, with many great examples and direct lines that can be integrated...." Read more

"...Why I let it sit for so long is beyond me. I HIGHLY recommend this book for quick reference. For me, it has turned into the only book I need...." Read more

"Emotional Beats is chock full of helpful suggestions about all phases of writing...." Read more

9 customers mention "Creativity"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book helps trigger creativity, with one mentioning it provides a new perspective on writing.

"...guide for emotions and is great for when you are stuck and need to spark ideas...." Read more

"...I know I can get stuck on a word or phrase and this gives many samples to wake up my creative side...." Read more

"...of examples to cover a writer's infinite needs, but they're enough to trigger creativity...." Read more

"...probably don't want to use them verbatim, but they'll get the creative juices flowing to create your own emotional beats...." Read more

6 customers mention "Pacing"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with its well-laid out sections and clear organization.

"This is an amazing compilation and a must have resource for anyone who likes to write - professionals or just for fun." Read more

"...This book gives me literally dozens of ways to express emotions, clearly categorized, using mainly body language beats...." Read more

"This is a well-organized book with lots of helpful tags and inspiration. Highly recommend." Read more

"...Well laid out sections make it easy to dip in and out of. WJ Scott, Children's author, Hieroglyph." Read more

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A much-appreciated addition to my writing reference books collection!
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2021
Format: KindleVerified Purchase

When I discovered this book, I went back and forth about buying it—even added and removed it from my shopping cart a couple of times. “Do I need another book about ways to show emotion in my writing?” Then I realized I don’t expect a single writing reference book to satisfy my every need. So, I bought it. It could provide something special I wouldn’t find in my other reference books.

I browsed through the Table of Contents and was immediately drawn to the “Waking up and beds” section. I wasn’t satisfied with the way my protagonist got out of bed at the end of my last chapter. It wouldn’t ordinarily be an issue, but it is no ordinary day—my protagonist is about to make a life-changing announcement to their spouse. My eyes skimmed the list of beats and I saw it. “Yes, that’s it!” I opened my manuscript and wrote what I saw. The thing is, what I saw wasn’t even in the list. That’s the point—I found just the right thing to nudge me toward my own answer. This book is a much-appreciated addition to my writing reference books collection.

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13 people found this helpful

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J Sandi
A really handy reference guide for writing emotions
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2022
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
I got the ebook of this and found it so useful that I also got the paperback version. It is a really handy reference guide for emotions and is great for when you are stuck and need to spark ideas.
The lists of action beats show so many different ways to convey emotions and it’s really useful to get inspiration flowing.
I use this book during editing to get ideas for changing telling to showing when I get stuck. If you are a writer and struggle with showing emotions, I highly recommend getting a copy.

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7 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer
Solid Advice with Loose Pages
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2025
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Excellent overview of how to illicit an emotional response from your readers, with many great examples and direct lines that can be integrated. As far as reference books goes- absolutely buy it.
My only concern is, well.. the binding seems a bit lacking as seen in the picture. But that’s more manufacturing issue than anything, nothing to say if the actual content.

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Solid Advice with Loose Pages

Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2025
Excellent overview of how to illicit an emotional response from your readers, with many great examples and direct lines that can be integrated. As far as reference books goes- absolutely buy it.
My only concern is, well.. the binding seems a bit lacking as seen in the picture. But that’s more manufacturing issue than anything, nothing to say if the actual content.

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Susan Mesroyban
Excellent tool
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2023
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
This is an amazing compilation and a must have resource for anyone who likes to write - professionals or just for fun.

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Pamela Banner
Awesome must have reference book!
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2020
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
I bought this book a couple of years ago, and it sat lined up nice and neat on my writing reference shelf. A month ago, while packing books for an upcoming move, I grabbed a few books off that shelf to keep out for the time being. I pulled out this book and have used NOTHING else since! Why I let it sit for so long is beyond me. I HIGHLY recommend this book for quick reference. For me, it has turned into the only book I need. TY Nicholas C. Rossis!

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6 people found this helpful

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D.L. Finn
I recommend this handy writing tool!
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2019
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
This is a book for authors who are looking for new ways to say the same old thing. I know I can get stuck on a word or phrase and this gives many samples to wake up my creative side. I’ll have “Emotional Beats” by me when I edit my next book. This will not only help me freshen up my dialog, but there are many examples throughout the book, that include body parts and emotions, that show instead of tell. I recommend this handy writing tool.

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9 people found this helpful

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Jjspina
Wonderful resource for writers!
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2017
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Emotional Beats is chock full of helpful suggestions about all phases of writing. If you are looking for ways to improve your writing you need to read this book and keep it close for reference.

This book covers all the senses, feelings, descriptive passages, antonyms, synonyms and examples of how to put emotion into your writing. I found it quite enlightening and well done.

The author also included a section of suggestions to improve your writing that are offered by other authors. I plan to use this book as a reference from now on as I write.

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16 people found this helpful

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Ana Pirc
It's ok, but not worth buying
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2023
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Although it does have a bunch of somewhat useful beats and phrases, you can pretty much find all of that online for free. I feel I haven't discovered anything new really. I was hoping for some more guidance and learning. A lot of the 'beats' are just repeating the same thing, except changing gender. Some are just plain obvious. If you're a writer it also depends on what genre you're covering, because this is more for contemporary stories, some minor fantasy perhaps. If you're writing for example a historical novel or something like that, I'd pass, there isn't much you'd get out of this.

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2 people found this helpful

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Natalie Ducey
A fantastic resource and reference guide for writers!
Reviewed in Canada on February 9, 2020
Format: KindleVerified Purchase

A fantastic resource and reference guide for writers! Many thanks to Nicholas and all contributors. Highly recommend.

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Mrs. J. L. Williams
Excellent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 21, 2024
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
What every teacher and budding writer needs

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Maeve Hazel
this has to be the BEST book for writers!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 3, 2023
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
What can you expect to find in this book:
- body and facial expressions
- describing furniture
- clothes
- driving (this will help me A LOT)
- fight scenes
- food
- A TON OF SYNONYMS
- describe weather
- describe d3ath
- describe voice
- sensory words
- crying
- snoring

SO HELPFUL!

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Dotti
It's a good book for what not to do.
Reviewed in Australia on January 12, 2020
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
It's a good book on what not to do. It only tells. It doesnt show.

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T. R. Robinson
Alternatives
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 14, 2020
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
The sub-heading to this is book How to Easily Convert your Writing into Palpable Feelings sets the ethos for the content very well.

The book essentially comprises lists of differing emotions combined with vast array of alternative descriptive phrases and sentences a writer could utilise. The author has taken time to note how he describes an emotion and how authors of books he has read portray them. It is from these longterm observances the lists have been created. Certainly a work of dedication, it must have taken ages.

Where an emotion is not immediately self evident or may be interpreted as defining more than one reaction, the author has kindly offered explanations and expansions. With these and many others, lists of synonyms, metaphors, examples, and alternatives are also incorporated, all of which help comprehension.

Authors are frequently told to ‘show’ rather than ‘tell’ e.g. convey a reaction by means of painting a picture in words as opposed to a straight forward statement explaining what is going on. This method makes it much more enjoyable and relatable for readers and is more likely to engage their own emotions. This book will prove a very useful resource toward achieving the ‘show’ style. It is certainly one authors should consider for their reference libraries.

One word of warning: most of the content is set out in tables consequently, when utilising an e-reading device, there may be some formatting issues. However, these do not detract unduly from the reader’s ability to understand, enjoy, and absorb the content.

As indicated, this is a book to dip into whenever a writer wishes to find a different way to express something familiar. The standard, often cliche phrases are listed but along with many alternatives which may be used per se or in part.

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5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic resource and reference guide for writers!

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent

5.0 out of 5 stars this has to be the BEST book for writers!

1.0 out of 5 stars It's a good book for what not to do.

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A fantastic resource and reference guide for writers!

Excellent

this has to be the BEST book for writers!

It's a good book for what not to do.

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