Your Characters Aren't Traumatized, They're Going Through Some Stuff

Tired of every protagonist having a tragic backstory, a clinical diagnosis, and a mountain of unresolved childhood trauma? SAME.

In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Stacey and Troy sit down with licensed therapist and voracious reader Jeanne Anderson to dismantle the overuse of trauma tropes in fiction. We’re talking big T vs. little t trauma, emotional growth without catastrophe, and how to avoid turning your book into a DSM highlight reel.

What real emotional arcs look like

Why “research” means more than scrolling Instagram

How to write psychological depth without clinical crutches

When diagnosis drops and psychobabble kill your character’s vibe

What to do instead (hint: it's all about self-awareness, not suffering)

If you’re an author who wants to write deeper, more resonant characters without turning every arc into a therapy session, this one’s for you.

Plus: We drop book recs, storytelling tips, and even rant about footnotes in fiction (yes, really).

Craft & Writing Books

    Story Genius by Lisa Cron

    The Story Equation by Susan May Warren

    The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi

     Activate by Angela Ackerman

     Verbalize by Angela Ackerman

 Psychology, Trauma & Emotional Health

    The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

    Grow Yourself Up by Jenny Brown

    The Mask of Sanity by Hervey Cleckley

 Fiction Examples Referenced

    A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

    The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

    The People We Keep by Allison Larkin

    Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling)

    Books by Catherine Steadman (e.g., Something in the Water)

    Orphan X series by Gregg Hurwitz

    Books by Brad Thor (e.g., Scot Harvath series)

Find us on your favorite podcast platform or watch the full replay on YouTube.

 For writing resources and character development help, visit:

PrintToPro.com

ThePlotAbides.com