Angela Ackerman's Blog: Writers Helping Writers, page 170

Physical Attributes Thesaurus Entry: Eyes

Courtesy of ismellsheep, WANA Commons

Physical description of a character can be difficult to convey—too much will slow the pace or feel 'list-like', while too little will not allow readers to form a clear mental image. If a reader cannot imagine what your character looks like, they may have trouble connecting with them on a personal level, or caring about their plight. 


One way to balance the showing and telling of physical description is to showcase a few details that really help 'tell the story' about who your character is and what they've been through up to this point. Think about what makes them different and interesting. Can a unique feature, clothing choice or way they carry themselves help to hint at their personality? Also, consider how they move their body. Using movement will naturally show a character's physical characteristics, keep the pace flowing and help to convey their emotions.







Eyes




Descriptors: shades of blue, brown, green, gray, and hazel; almond-shaped, round, big, piggish, squinty, narrowed, close-set, far apart, glassy, feverish, watery, pink-rimmed, bright, dull, dancing, sparkling, speckled, laughing, smoldering, vapid, empty, dead, blind, far-sighted, near-sighted, cloudy, milky, protuberant, deep-set, sunken, blackened, bloodshot, dazed, hard, cold, limpid, dry, scratchy, yellowed, jaundiced, sharp, intelligent, gentle, kind, monochromatic, lazy, icy



Things Eyes Do (and other words/phrases to describe those actions)


Look: see, watch, glance, gaze, glimpse, notice, observe, peek, stare, view, take in
Move: roll, shift, narrow, blink, bat, wink, close, open, widen, dilate, dart, follow
Cry: leak, tear up, fill, water, overflow, glisten, drip, pour



Key Emotions and Related Eye Gestures: 


Sadness: cry, grow dull, close, tear up, lose focus, grow distant
Anger: narrow, sharpen, grow cold, harden, increase in intensity, snap or spark, glower, stare, glare
Joy: brighten, sparkle, tear up, laugh
Fear: widen, dilate, squeeze shut, jump, dart, stare, stop blinking, dry out


Simile and Metaphor Help:                         



Without my glasses, I was as blind and vulnerable as a just-born squirrel.
I met his gaze and wished I hadn't. His ball-bearing eyes were small and black and inhuman. If he blinked, they'd drop out of their sockets and bounce across the floor, and the loss wouldn't deter him in the least.




Clichés to Avoid : bedroom eyes; eyes that pierce or look through you; eyes being the window to the soul; doe eyes; eyes as big as saucers; eyes that shoot daggers; sunken eyes that make one's head look like a skull; blind as a bat





HINT: When describing any part of the body, try to use cues that show the reader more than just a physical description. Make your descriptions do double duty. Example: Principal Miller was short and squat with too-long arms. Between classes, he slouched into the hallway and watched us with his bulging eyes, waiting for someone to screw up so he could pounce. "Frog" was the obvious nickname, but he wasn't nearly so smart. We called him Slug.




BONUS TIP: The Colors, Textures & Shapes Thesaurus in our sidebar might help you find a fresh take on some of the descriptors listed above! 

Angela, a NANO Fraud? Another Strange Sighting

Holy cow, people. I thought perhaps last week's photo of Angela frolicking with a sexy man was just some strange occurrence--you know, like how people say that somewhere in the world, we all have a twin? After all, Angela told me she was taking the month of November to write by candlelight in some clandestine Nanowrimo cave and would be off the grid.







However, Nicōle Olea, YA writer & YALITCHAT Membership Ambassador sent me this email yesterday:



Dear Becca,



It’s no wonder that this news has been buried, what with a highly important election going on, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn II about to be released any day now, and Kourtney Kardashian’s apparent love for Spanx.



However, I’ve got some epic world changing news. Elvis lives!



Yes, the King, who has allegedly been swinging his hips for the big Guy upstairs for well over thirty years now, has been popping up all over the place right here on planet earth! I have it on a very good authority-­‐from a trustworthy news source that Elvis sang Love Me Tender to President Obama on the campaign trail.



What could be bigger proof that The King Lives than crooning to the President of the free world you ask? Our very own Angela was in his royal presence and she can attest that not only was he breathing he hadn’t aged at all. I’m thinking he must have gone all sparkly vampire and that whole dying thing was just a cover up. Though she won’t confirm nor deny this theory, how it could it possibly be wrong?





Original by Paul Smith @ Wikimedia Commons





I’m calling a Volturi cover up! 
What say you? 




Love & big sparkly vampires who wear sparkly jumpsuits,



Nicōle



Again, I'm at a loss, Musers. Why is Angela here in this photo when she's supposed to writing a Middle Grade novel? And Holy Mountain Dew, why is she dressed as an ELVIS IMPERSONATOR? If you want more detail about this first person sighting, you can find Nicōle on her Blog and Twitter.



Help me figure this out! Take the POLL...











Angela isn't a fraud, is she? Perhaps in addition to doing NANOWRIMO,

Physical Thesaurus Attributes Entry: Chins and Jaws

Just a reminder for you NaNoWriMo'ers out there, that Ange and I are giving away 10 digital copies of The Emotional Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression to participants and winners. More info can be found here, or just skip right to the entry form :).



And now, on to today's Physical Attributes Entry:





CHINS & JAWS








Physical description of a character can be difficult to convey—too much will slow the pace or feel 'list-like', while too little will not allow readers to form a clear mental image. If a reader cannot imagine what your character looks like, they may have trouble connecting with them on a personal level, or caring about their plight. 


One way to balance the showing and telling of physical description is to showcase a few details that really help 'tell the story' about who your character is and what they've been through up to this point. Think about what makes them different and interesting. Can a unique feature, clothing choice or way they carry themselves help to hint at their personality? Also, consider how they move their body. Using movement will naturally show a character's physical characteristics, keep the pace flowing and help to convey their emotions.





Descriptors:

Chins: double or triple, flabby, fleshy, undercut, recessed, pointy, sharp, cleft, dimpled, weak, strong, stubborn, stubbly, bearded, pimply, square, prominent

Jaws: clenched, wide, square, wired shut, clicking, creaking, sore, loose, jowly



Things Chins Do: jut, gesture, point, lift, lower, quiver, tremble



Things Jaws Do: drop open, clench, break, lock, slide back and forth, pop or crack,



Key Emotions and Related Gestures: 




Anger: grinding teeth that result in a clenched jaw and "hard" chin; muscles jumping near the chin or jawline, tendons standing out; a chin that looks stronger or more prominent due to jutting out
Fear: chattering teeth due to a quivering jaw; clenching the teeth in an effort to keep the jaw still; dropping the jaw so as to breathe in more oxygen in preparation for what's to come
Sadness: a chin that quivers or trembles; a chin that drops to the chest; covering or rubbing the chin in an effort to hold back tears or keep others from noticing


Simile and Metaphor Help:                         



Megan's eyes flashed and she snapped her teeth shut. Her ever-pointy chin came at me like a missile.
Melvin towered over me, waiting for me to get up. I stayed where I was, working my jaw back and forth to test the damage. It creaked like a rusty barn door but seemed to be working.



Clichés to Avoid : elfin chins; glass jaws; a weak chin as a sign of a weasely, skeevy character





HINT: When describing any part of the body, try to use cues that show the reader more than just a physical description. Make your descriptions do double duty. Example: Hank leaned back in his chair, hands laced lightly over his torso, considering me. I couldn't look at his eyes, too scared to see his decision there, so I stared at his chin—dimpled and pale as a baby's bottom. But with the tiniest jerk, his goons would turn me into a bloody smear. I looked at the floor instead.






BONUS TIP: The Colors, Textures & Shapes Thesaurus in our sidebar might help you find a fresh take on some of the descriptors listed above! 

FACT or FICTION: Is Angela REALLY Doing NaNoWriMo?

Something strange happened today and I'm turning to you guys for help.  As you all know, Angela told us all she would be taking November off from the blog to participate in NaNoWriMo. A month of writing, no distractions, she said. A secluded getaway, just her and the keyboard, she said.



And well, that's what I thought she was doing.





But then I got a disturbing email addressed to Angela. It was from Jessica Bell, a respected blogger, songwriter, singer, author of String Bridge and well known personality in our writing community.



Because I'm handling all things blogging right now, I opened it. The contents were...most unAngela-like. If Jessica were not such a stand up person, I might have dismissed the letter and picture enclosed as some kind of hoax. But, knowing her as I do...I am at a loss as to what to believe.



After some serious deliberation, I'm posting the email here in hopes someone might have answers.




~*~*~



Dear Angela,




So
I kinda followed you this morning. And I brought my camera. You weren't
going to your writing cabin in the woods to tap away at your NaNo
project at all, were you? I mean, you lied to me. How could you? I
thought we were in this together?





Original source ABC networ, DWTS






Unless...you are trying to fit in some quick research? Is your novel about extraterrestrial ballroom dancers, disguised as spunky blonds, that try to inhale human brain matter through aural orifices for experiments in cloning participants for Dancing with the Stars? If not, then I'm afraid I'm going to find it very hard to forgive you.




 Is that what your book is about? *Ahem* Wow. Don't you think that's a bit out there? What kind of audience are you targeting? And what are you doing wearing that dress? I mean, unless you're planning on sitting on some Easter eggs, I would have thought your taste would be less ... yellow. 




*Sigh*

Honestly, Angela, I'm disappointed. You'd better get in touch, stat. I need an explanation.



*Whispers* Oh, and um before you leave Mr Grease Lightnin' ... couldja score his um *cough* phone number *cough* for me?




 ~Jessica Bell


This must be a mistake. A misunderstanding. I mean, this couldn't REALLY be Angela, could it? She's supposed to be WRITING, glued to her computer, surviving off of Diet Dr. Pepper and leftover Halloween Candy. And dear god of Mountain Dew, wearing that dress? Please. The word isn't even in her vocabulary.




Okay. There MUST BE a logical reason for this picture that Jessica took. I'm interested in your thoughts, Musers, so please, TAKE THE POLL...

 
Angela would not lie to us, would she? I refuse to believe it! Therefore, in this picture, Angela...



Stay tuned, Musers. I will try and track her down. 



Becca, OUT.

Your Blog As A Promotion & Branding Tool

I am super excited to welcome Nina Amir, Inspiration to Creation Coach, who inspires people to combine their purpose and passion so they Achieve More Inspired Results. She motivates both writers and non-writers to create publishable and published products, careers as authors and to achieve their goals and fulfill their purpose.




Nina's new book
How
to Blog a Book, Write, Publish and Promote Your Work One Post at a Time is of special interest to Becca and I as we go about transforming some of the most popular blog thesauri here into books! 




Do you ever wonder if all that great content you write about each week can and should be converted into a book? If so, this is a very good resource to check out--Nina knows her stuff!









How a Blog Allows You to Promote as You Write

By
Nina Amir




Writers write. That’s what we do. That’s
what we are good at. And that’s why we balk at promoting ourselves and our
books.




We don’t do promotion. It’s not our job. It’s not what we are good at.




Here’s the rub. If we don’t promote
ourselves and our books we:




Don’t get book publishing contracts.
Don’t sell many self-published or traditionally published books.
Don’t get many freelance writing jobs.
Don’t make as much money.





That leaves you and me with a few options. If
we are stubborn, we can maintain our position: I don’t do promotion. I’m a
writer. Period.




Fine. Then ask yourself: Do I want to
become a successful writer? If so, define what success means to you.  If success means selling more than the
average 250-500 books per year or earning more than a four-figure income per
year from writing, you must change your attitude and embrace promotion.




Don’t fret! You can do so simply by writing.
You can promote yourself and your forthcoming or published book with a blog.

What
to Blog About




Yes, a blog involves a different type of
writing in addition to your other writing, but it’s writing! You simply need to
commit to writing a short blog post—250-500 words—a few times—2-5—a week. That’s
not so bad.




And there are so many things you can write
about. I came up with 20
things aspiring and published authors could blog about. Book marketing
expert John Kremer came up with 101.
Look at the topics you feel passionate about or your forthcoming and published
books and come up with a list of possible topics. Make a content plan for each
month, if that is easier for you.




Or pick a theme and stick to it. In the
process, you’ll become an authority.  You
can even do this on many topics. This will help you land more book contracts
and writing assignments—and added bonus of blogging.




The
Blog as an Author Website and Branding Tool




Still having trouble wrapping your busy writing
fingers around this concept? Consider this: Do you write morning pages? Keep a
journal? Spend time emailing friends? Blogs began as online journals. Take on
blogging as an author website where you can brand yourself by revealing the
many aspects of who you are as a writer. Connect with potential readers, let
them know more about your through your posts, and show off your awesome writing
talent for potential book, newspaper and magazine publishers. (And, of course,
feature your published works.)




Simply start your daily writing period with
30-45 minutes of blog writing. Compose a short post about whatever is on your mind
that day. You can even add in your own photos and videos easily created on your
iPhone or other android phone. Have fun with your blog. Make it a creative
statement. 





The
Blog as a Writing Machine




If this still seems like a superfluous
activity, then get down and dirty with your tactics. Use your blog as a way to
write a book. Indeed, blogging a book is the quickest and easiest way to write
your book and promote it at the same time. You’ll hardly know you are promoting
your work at all!




When you blog a book, you publish your
writing regularly and consistently on the internet as you create your first
draft. This allows you to garner a loyal following of readers—fans—for your
book as you write it. These fans then purchase the finished product. They also
help promote your blog and the book when it is published. Plus, if your blog
becomes popular, you might land a publishing deal in the process.




Here are the basic steps for blogging a
book:




Pick a topic. Choose a topic you are passionate about and can blog about for
a long time
Determine if your
book is viable. Your book idea should have a
large enough market and be unique among existing blogs and books.
Map out your book’s
content. Brainstorm all the content that could
be in included in your book and organize it a table of contents.
 Come up with a content plan. Determine what content that
will appear in the published book but not on the blog.
Break the contents down into posts-sized pieces (250-500 words). Each post should have a title. 
Write and publish posts on a schedule. Write
and publish 2-7 times per week for the first 6-12 months; then you can reduce
the number of times you post.
Create a manuscript. Write your posts in a word
processing program, and then copy and paste them into your blog.







Go ahead. Write. And blog. In the process, promote
yourself and your work by doing what you do best. 




The author of How
to Blog a Book, Write, Publish and Promote Your Work One Post at a Time , Nina has also self-published 10 short books. A sought after editor, proposal consultant, book and author coach, and blog-to-book coach, Nina’s clients’ books have sold upwards of 230,000 copies and landed deals with top publishers. 




She is the founder of Write Nonfiction in November and writes four blogs, including Write
Nonfiction NOW!, How to Blog a
Book, and As
the Spirit Moves Me. Sign up for a free author, book or blog-to-book coaching session with Nina or receive her 5-Day Published Author Training Series. You can find more about Nina at her website, or follow her on Twitter, Facebook.

Physical Attributes Thesaurus: Legs

Courtesy of Nicholas_T



Physical description of a character can be difficult to convey—too much will slow the pace or feel 'list-like', while too little will not allow readers to form a clear mental image. If a reader cannot imagine what your character looks like, they may have trouble connecting with them on a personal level, or caring about their plight. 



One way to balance the showing and telling of physical description is to showcase a few details that really help 'tell the story' about who your character is and what they've been through up to this point. Think about what makes them different and interesting. Can a unique feature, clothing choice or way they carry themselves help to hint at their personality? Also, consider how they move their body. Using movement will naturally show a character's physical characteristics, keep the pace flowing and help to convey their emotions.








LEGS






Descriptors: shapely, curvy, scrawny, thin, plump, muscular, sinewy, athletic, long, stumpy, stubbly, hairy, sleek, tanned, pale, veined, strong, wobbly, spindly, bowed, weak



Things Legs Do (and other words/phrases to describe those actions)


Move: run, walk, jog, stride, sprint, pump, piston, leap, jump, dash, dart, lope, trot, pummel
Dance: boogie, cavort, careen, hop, jive, frolic, prance, caper, jitter




Key Emotions and Related Leg Gestures: 


Nervousness: tingle, tremble, shiver, quiver, shake, shift, cross/uncross, pace
Terror: give out, collapse, bolt, run, seize, go limp, lose strength, wobble
Excitement: jitter, bounce, jump



Simile and Metaphor Help:                           


Her legs were as shaky as a new colt’s.
Adrenaline flooded my body, turning my scrawny legs to pistons.



Clichés to Avoid: legs like tree trunks, toothpicks, or chicken legs




HINT:   When describing any part of the body, try to use cues that show the reader more than just a physical description. Make your descriptions do double duty. 

Example: Jenna’s legs were all muscle, pushing and pulling and working with no sign of fatigue. Right now, she was just running a treadmill; if she ever had to escape a psychotic lunatic, my money was on Jenna.




BONUS TIP:  The Colors, Textures & Shapes Thesaurus in our sidebar might help you find a fresh take on some of the descriptors listed above!  

Nanowrimo Participants WIN BIG!

We love writers. A lot. But, if there is one thing we love more, it is the obsessive, sanity-deprived, coffee-in-veins breed of individuals who attempt to
pound out 50K in a single month. Yes, we're talking NANOWRIMO, the crazy phenomenon when writers lock their Internal Editor into a tiny imaginary room filled with clowns and revel in the screams as they type, uninterrupted.







I have Nano'd in the past, but often the timing isn't quite right. Well, the timing this November isn't great with Becca and I hustling to get the next Thesaurus book written, yet I'm taking the plunge anyway! Why? Because I've been revising, revising, revising, and now I'm ready to do some creating. I have this idea about shadow children and a school photographer who isn't human, and the idea won't let go. So, what better chance to sit down and get the story out than NANOWRIMO?



Because Becca recognizes (and probably fears) my special brand of insanity, she's totally cool with me going dark here at the blog for November. And, because she loves to encourage people as much as I do, we're offering a juicy, book-a-licious carrot to Nanowrimo Participants.








*DRUM ROLL*





Becca and I are giving away 10 digital copies of The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide To Character Expression to participants (and winners) of Nanowrimo this year!


So, strap on your tinfoil hat and join the November Writing Spree! Set up a profile at NANOWRIMO and then fill out this fast form below...it's that easy. And, if your name is drawn and you happen to own a copy already, you can gift your prize to someone else! Christmas is coming, so why not play Santa?







ENTRY FORM

(CLICK TO ENTER!)



While I'm off writing this next month, make sure to stop in! Lots of cool stuff is going on as Becca  runs amok er, takes care of everything. And if you are over at the Nano boards, look for the weirdo named Momzilla. :)



We would love to make sure as many NANOers find out about this contest as possible,
so we'll showcase a link in the sidebar until the end of November. People can feel free to sign up any time!

And if you guys would be willing to share this giveaway with any Nano groups you're with or on Facebook, Twitter, etc, we would be eternally grateful! :) 



So, will you be joining the insanity? Let me know in the comments! 

Nanowrimo Participants WIN BIG!

We love writers. A lot. But, if there is one thing we love more, it is the obsessive, sanity-deprived, coffee-in-veins breed of individuals who attempt to
pound out 50K in a single month. Yes, we're talking NANOWRIMO, the crazy phenomenon when writers lock their Internal Editor into a tiny imaginary room filled with clowns and revel in the screams as they type, uninterrupted.







I have Nano'd in the past, but often the timing isn't quite right. Well, the timing this November isn't great with Becca and I hustling to get the next Thesaurus book written, yet I'm taking the plunge anyway! Why? Because I've been revising, revising, revising, and now I'm ready to do some creating. I have this idea about shadow children and a school photographer who isn't human, and the idea won't let go. So, what better chance to sit down and get the story out than NANOWRIMO?



Because Becca recognizes (and probably fears) my special brand of insanity, she's totally cool with me going dark here at the blog for November. And, because she loves to encourage people as much as I do, we're offering a juicy, book-a-licious carrot to Nanowrimo Participants.








*DRUM ROLL*





Becca and I are giving away 10 digital copies of The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide To Character Expression to participants (and winners) of Nanowrimo this year!


So, strap on your tinfoil hat and join the November Writing Spree! Set up a profile at NANOWRIMO and then fill out this fast form below...it's that easy. And, if your name is drawn and you happen to own a copy already, you can gift your prize to someone else! Christmas is coming, so why not play Santa?







ENTRY FORM

(CLICK TO ENTER!)



While I'm off writing this next month, make sure to stop in! Lots of cool stuff is going on as Becca  runs amok er, takes care of everything. And if you are over at the Nano boards, look for the weirdo named Momzilla. :)



We would love to make sure as many NANOers find out about this contest as possible,
so we'll showcase a link in the sidebar until the end of November. People can feel free to sign up any time!

And if you guys would be willing to share this giveaway with any Nano groups you're with or on Facebook, Twitter, etc, we would be eternally grateful! :) 



So, will you be joining the insanity? Let me know in the comments! 

Nanowrimo Participants WIN BIG!

We love writers. A lot. But, if there is one thing we love more, it is the obsessive, sanity-deprived, coffee-in-veins breed of individuals who attempt to
pound out 50K in a single month. Yes, we're talking NANOWRIMO, the crazy phenomenon when writers lock their Internal Editor into a tiny imaginary room filled with clowns and revel in the screams as they type, uninterrupted.







I have Nano'd in the past, but often the timing isn't quite right. Well, the timing this November isn't great with Becca and I hustling to get the next Thesaurus book written, yet I'm taking the plunge anyway! Why? Because I've been revising, revising, revising, and now I'm ready to do some creating. I have this idea about shadow children and a school photographer who isn't human, and the idea won't let go. So, what better chance to sit down and get the story out than NANOWRIMO?



Because Becca recognizes (and probably fears) my special brand of insanity, she's totally cool with me going dark here at the blog for November. And, because she loves to encourage people as much as I do, we're offering a juicy, book-a-licious carrot to Nanowrimo Participants.








*DRUM ROLL*





Becca and I are giving away 10 digital copies of The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide To Character Expression to participants (and winners) of Nanowrimo this year!


So, strap on your tinfoil hat and join the November Writing Spree! Set up a profile at NANOWRIMO and then fill out this fast form below...it's that easy. And, if your name is drawn and you happen to own a copy already, you can gift your prize to someone else! Christmas is coming, so why not play Santa?







ENTRY FORM

(CLICK TO ENTER!)



While I'm off writing this next month, make sure to stop in! Lots of cool stuff is going on as Becca  runs amok er, takes care of everything. And if you are over at the Nano boards, look for the weirdo named Momzilla. :)



We would love to make sure as many NANOers find out about this contest as possible,
so we'll showcase a link in the sidebar until the end of November. People can feel free to sign up any time!

And if you guys would be willing to share this giveaway with any Nano groups you're with or on Facebook, Twitter, etc, we would be eternally grateful! :) 



So, will you be joining the insanity? Let me know in the comments! 

Physical Attribute Entry: Teeth

Before we get to today's entry, Becca and I want to wish our pal LENNY a Happy 13th Birthday! If you want to find out more about this amazing kid and super-intuitive writer-in-the-making, please stop in at his blog, Lenny's World! You will be glad you did!









Physical description of a character can be difficult to convey—too much will slow the pace or feel 'list-like', while too little will not allow readers to form a clear mental image. If a reader cannot imagine what your character looks like, they may have trouble connecting with them on a personal level, or caring about their plight. 





DavidShankbone


One way to balance the showing and telling of physical description is to showcase a few details that really help 'tell the story' about who your character is and what they've been through up to this point. Think about what makes them different and interesting. Can a unique feature, clothing choice or way they carry themselves help to hint at their personality? Also, consider how they move their body. Using movement will naturally show a character's physical characteristics, keep the pace flowing and help to convey their emotions.






TEETH


Descriptors: white, polished, orderly, straight, crooked, snaggle-tooth, twisted, yellowed, nicotine-stained, grey, rotten, pearly, buck toothed, healthy, bright, jutted, cracked, missing teeth, braces, crowns, capped, baby teeth, over sized, spaced, gaps, worn, overbite, under bite, sensitive teeth, aching, veneers, broken, dentures, false teeth, bridges, grinding, painful, implants, crowded, blackened, cavity-riddled, bumpy, loose, fanged



Things Teeth Do (and other words/phrases to describe those actions):



Cut: rip, slice, tear, shred, rend, split, cleave, pierce, strip


Chew: masticate, gnaw, mash, dent, grind, flatten, crush, chomp, nibble, wad


*Special* Teeth also impact the sound of a person's speech. Someone with missing teeth might adopt a slight whistle to some of their words. When dentures are removed, some words can sounds a bit muffled or slurry.



Key Emotions and Related Teeth Actions: 



Rage: Bearing the teeth at another; forcing harsh breaths through clenched teeth; biting to hurt or maim

Frustration: Tight jaw, teeth clamped; grinding teeth, tapping teeth together

Desire: licking teeth; rubbing the tongue over grooves, pulling in moisture; playful biting



Simile and Metaphor Help: 

                        




Straight: His smile was a white picket fence.

Whitened:  The politician flashed so many 'trust me' smiles that I felt like a celebrity facing down the paparazzi.




C lichés to Avoid :



Having "horse" teeth, that people from Britain have bad teeth; being told candy will rot your teeth; clenched teeth



HINT: When describing any part of the body, try to use cues that show the reader more than just a physical description. Make your descriptions do double duty. Example: Alan was efficient to the core. He didn't savor his food, taking small, considerate bites, pausing to reflect on the complex flavors of the citrus duck and saffron rice stuffing. No, instead he shoveled in bite after bite, his teeth tearing and mashing, consuming fuel to power the machine.






BONUS TIP: The Colors, Textures & Shapes Thesaurus in our sidebar might help you find a fresh take on some of the descriptors listed above!