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January 10th, 2008
I have a phobia…

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Phobias to Make Characters Interesting

Phobia ~ an irrational fear of a particular person, place or thing.

1. Ailurophobia - fear of cats.

2. Nyctophobia - fear of the dark.

3. Demophobia - fear of crowds.

4. Erythrophobia - fear of blushing.

5. Gephyrophobia - fear of bridges.

6. Gamophobia - fear of marriage.

7. Kakorrhaphiophobia - fear of failure.

8. Phasmophobia - fear of ghosts.

9. Triskaidekaphobia - fear of number 13.

10. Hypengyophobia - fear of responsibility.

11. Musophobia - fear of mice.

12. Ergophobia - fear of work.

13. Lalophobia - fear of speaking.

After typing all these I’ve developed a fear of spelling one of them wrong! I thought I could inflict a phobia on one of my characters. Which one sounds interesting to you? I thought fear of blushing of was an interesting phobia and wondered how the person was going to stop blushing or avoid those who blushed.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

24 comments to “I have a phobia…”

  1. The obvious phobia for romance is fear of marriage but I say go for fear of bridges. Depending on where you live it could lead to some interesting problems!!


  2. What a nifty TT. Umm Thursday Thirteen that is. I didn’t mean your ta-tas, although I image they are spectacular. :P

    I was tagged, Shelley, so you are too. LOL Go to my website’s blog and you’ll see I’ve changed the rules a bit. Oh…and bring all your characters. Hee, hee…

    http://cassandracurtis.com/blog


  3. Fear of work…ROFL! Most of the latest generation of workers have that, don’t they. *g* There I go being very unPC again. Shoot! I’ll never get the hang of it.


  4. I just finished reading a story with a heroine who’s terrified of the dark. I’ll be coming back to check this list later. What a great idea!


  5. Ha! Doesn’t every Hero have #6 in a romance novel. LOL!

    I really like the idea of giving a character #3.
    Pretty cool list. :)


  6. Gamophobic and proud of it


  7. I definitely have Kakorrhaphiophobia but I don’t know if that makes me an interesting character. LOL.


  8. You’re a brave woman to attempt to spell all those phobias! (Not that I’d have a clue if you’d missed a letter or two *lol*)

    Great List!

    http://debbie-mumford.blogspot.com/


  9. well i should have a fear of posting now since the first one was eaten by gremlins in cyber space. I was going to lend you my three pound yorkie kirby who gets rid of all phobias but the site here saw him and decided i shouldnt post, he must be really scary… though he suffers from Ergophobia. LOL


  10. Interesting list. I personally have 4 of them

    I wonder if there’s a classified phobia for those of us scared to begin writing chapter one


  11. Fear of speaking? I know some people I wish had that phobia. ;)
    This is a great list. I’ll have to come back to it next time I’m outlining. Very inspiring.
    Hmmm, which character will I torture?


  12. Oooo I like 4. 6 is overdone.


  13. Erythrophobia - fear of blushing-

    I think I have that! And I can blush beeeeet beeet red!

    Great list today!


  14. Cool list!

    *hugs*
    Paige


  15. I have a phobia of thunder and lightining…


  16. Fear of blushing? I’ve never heard of that one!!!

    I sometimes think I have Demophobia - the mall can freak me out. I’ve turned into a hermit!


  17. A friend used to say I had circumvenaterraphobia: The fear of being landlocked! (I grew up by a big lake, and can’t imagine not being within driving distance of a very large body of water. I live about 2 miles from the ocean now!)


  18. Great list, Shelley!

    I’d say whichever phobia your character has should depend on the plot. If she’s afraid of cats, then have her interested in a vet, or assigned to do community service at an animal shelter. If she’s afraid of bridges, have her overcome that fear by crossing a high, spindly bridge. Afraid of the darK? Power goes out at dusk.


  19. I’d imagine that whichever of these you pick will color the character entirely. Fear of blushing, for example. Does it turn the heroine into a wallflower who’s afraid to attract attention?

    If she’s afraid of bridges, how does she get about (okay, you need to understand I live in Pittsburgh, which has more bridges than any city other than Venice)?

    It’s going to be a defining characteristic, so play with them all and see what works most naturally.

    Good luck!


  20. What a great idea to get a jumping off point for a story. Fears always make great motivations and these were some I had never thought of. Thanks for posting it.


  21. What about sharks. Big fear of those suckers to the point I won’t fly over water. It’s sad …


  22. I’m busy developing a fear of writing short stories. I can’t get the damn sucker to work, and it’s due Jan 15.


  23. Oh I’m writing some of these down. Having a fear of blushing sounds like an awesome idea. Especially if it’s the hero.

    I have a terrible fear of heights. I can’t go up step ladders. I’m working on it.


  24. Thursday Thirteens is cute idea.