Character's Silent Language, Part III
Social scientists state that 93% of all communication is nonverbal. So how do we transfer this information into our writing and allow the reader to gauge a character’s emotions?
Touch is a common practice. People who engage in conversation often touch each other. Is the touch friendly, playful, comforting, encouraging, assaulting, or indicating some other feeling? Also consider the person who is being touched. The intent may be interpreted differently by the person being touched. How long did the touch last? Was it flirtatious? Repetitive movement. Does the character repeatedly run his finger through is hair when nervous? Bite fingernails? Stick out his jaw when angry. People exhibit different mannerisms and characters should reflect these specific and different gestures, as well. Since so much of our communication is conveyed through silent language, such as gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and proximity, let’s incorporate these expressions and mannerisms into our writing for a more realistic approach to developing characters.
Call for Submissions for Adult Writers:
Chicken Soup for the Soul. My Very Good, Very Bad Cat
Our cat books are so popular that we do a new one every other year. We are now collecting
stories for our 2016 edition. We want your funny stories, your heartwarming stories, and your
mindboggling stories about all the very good, very bad, simply amazing things that your cat
does. What have you learned from your cat? How does your cat improve your life? What crazy
things does your cat do? Has your cat ever done anything heroic? How does your cat warm your
heart and make you smile? We want to hear all about the absurd antics, funny habits and
insightful behavior of your cat. Stories can be serious or humorous. The deadline date for story
and poem submissions is August 31, 2015.
Submission guidelines at http://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics
Touch is a common practice. People who engage in conversation often touch each other. Is the touch friendly, playful, comforting, encouraging, assaulting, or indicating some other feeling? Also consider the person who is being touched. The intent may be interpreted differently by the person being touched. How long did the touch last? Was it flirtatious? Repetitive movement. Does the character repeatedly run his finger through is hair when nervous? Bite fingernails? Stick out his jaw when angry. People exhibit different mannerisms and characters should reflect these specific and different gestures, as well. Since so much of our communication is conveyed through silent language, such as gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and proximity, let’s incorporate these expressions and mannerisms into our writing for a more realistic approach to developing characters.
Call for Submissions for Adult Writers:
Chicken Soup for the Soul. My Very Good, Very Bad Cat
Our cat books are so popular that we do a new one every other year. We are now collecting
stories for our 2016 edition. We want your funny stories, your heartwarming stories, and your
mindboggling stories about all the very good, very bad, simply amazing things that your cat
does. What have you learned from your cat? How does your cat improve your life? What crazy
things does your cat do? Has your cat ever done anything heroic? How does your cat warm your
heart and make you smile? We want to hear all about the absurd antics, funny habits and
insightful behavior of your cat. Stories can be serious or humorous. The deadline date for story
and poem submissions is August 31, 2015.
Submission guidelines at http://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics
No comments have been added yet.
