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