Because I looked for it #FridayReads

“By George!” cried the inspector. “How did you ever see that?”

“Because I looked for it.”

~Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Dancing Men

“The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.”

~Sherlock Holmes The Hound of the Baskervilles

“Education never ends, Watson. It is a series of lessons, with the greatest for the last.”

~Sherlock Holmes His Last Bow

It’s just as well the older I get, the more blank pages turn up in my mental vault. Knowledge grows exponentially and I need room for all the new info! My novels are works of fiction but they couldn’t be more true in their details. My facts are solid. A little known fact of me — my head is full of facts from reading the entire 1985 World Book Encyclopedia. (The task took me approximately six years.)

Another fact of me — I was raised in market research. My family business introduced companies to the benefit of both. In order to do that we needed to know what those companies needed, and that required research. I was deep in research at a young age and I still love it. Research equates to treasure hunting for me. Combine reading the encyclopedia with penchant for research and what do you get? You get a very busy mind with one fertile imagination. Fact-wise, when I write, the only thing I take liberty with is how I stitch those facts together. I enjoy when authors take the time to write a believable story, even if that story is about a werewolf. 

One way to craft a believable story is to include those things people understand intrinsically. Like body language.

Today’s post wraps up those telltale body symbols we do on purpose or display subconsciously.

Sucking in the belly – look at me
Chest back, belly out – you’re uncomfortably close to me, back off


Rubbing belly – seeking comfort
Rubbing belly – (situational – pondering or having uncomfortable thoughts)
Thrusting hips – provocative, overtly sexual
Hips drawn back – uncomfortable, protecting the vulnerable spot
Hips sideways – (situational – a subtle indication of what you really want)
Swaying hips, sashay – suggestive sexual display
Hands on hips – waiting
Hands on hips, stance wide – growing impatience
Hands on hips, elbows wide – (situational, could mean aggression)
Cupping hand gesture – the topic needs extra care
Gripping hands – possessiveness, ownership
Holding your own hands – seeking comfort
Wringing hands – extreme nervousness, woe
Fist in hand – repressed anger
Hands wrapped around a mug etc – self-comfort
Hands clenched thumbs up – pleasure
Cupped hand weighing gesture – evaluation
Fingers curled, thumbs inside – seeking comfort


Hand out sideways – greeting
Laced fingers propping chin – thinking, listening
Laced fingers behind head – carefree, evaluation
Drumming fingers – impatience
Finger tracing a circle at the temple – he’s nuttier than a squirrel!
Index finger to thumb, other fingers out – it’s ok, all is good
One finger in the air – (Situational – seeking attention or having a point)
Hand with/without one finger in air, arm raised – attention, pick me!
Finger tapping temple – (Situational – think about it, he’s touched in the head!)
8 fingertips on the mouth – received shocking news
Hiding hands – (Situational – lying, concealing, I don’t care to talk, I want to listen to you)
Hand on face, middle finger over mouth – evaluating
Steepled fingers – (Situational – thinking, superiority, confidence)


Rubbing hands together – (Situational – cold, plotting, excitement, anxious to get going)
Palms flat together – prayer, contemplation
Hand massage – stress, anxiety
Palm(s) up – (Situational – beseeching, asking for help greeting, nothing to hide)
Fiddling fingers – expelling tensile energy
Handshake, simultaneous arm grip – dominance
Firm handshake – display of strength, alpha move
Handshake, quick withdrawal – submission, discomfort
Finger point – that way!


Fist pound into palm – rage
Snap – like that! That fast! In an instant
Clapping hands – approval


Sharp clap – attention getting
Thumbs up – it’s ok, liked
Thumbs down – it’s not ok, disliked
Thumb jerk over shoulder – that way!


Finger slash over throat – your dead, it’s dead, it’s done
Palm out – Stop I’ve heard enough, interrupt
Side hand chop – It’s done! Enough!


Wave – helloooo


Wave off – dismissive
Wave to – come here!


Hand shaping – hands forming words as you speak them, sincerity
Butt thrust – sarcasm as in kiss my….
Butt thrust with patting – insult as in kiss this
Butt thrust, mooning – disregard
Butt wiggling – overt sexual display
Butt sway – look at me, I’m hot
Butt patting – you want me
Thighs widen – conscious or unconscious sexual invitation
Thighs tight together – self-protection
Swinging legs – delight, tensile energy – usually sexual
Crossing legs – (situational – at ease, self-control, defensive)
Hands on thighs – I’m ready to go
Hands on inside thighs – unconscious desire
Both hands on thighs elbows out sideways – equal to hands on hips – (situational – impatience or aggression)
Thigh slap – motivational gesture
Thigh drumming – (situational – boredom, impatience, excitement)
Bouncing thigh(s) – focusing or impatience
Touching or stroking the knee – sexual tease
Balled fists on knees – anger
Foot point – works like a finger point
Parallel feet pointing at someone – you have my full attention
Curling toes – (Situational – frustration, fear, excitement, pleasure or anxiety)
Foot tap – impatience
Toes pointing inward – (Situational – introspection, awkwardness, defensiveness
Foot stomp – seeking attention, rage, tantrum
Foot swinging – focus, expelling nervous energy
Tilting back on balls of feet – contemplative, made a decision
Bouncing on toes – exuberance

I’m sure if you were to think about it, you’d come up with even more.

My personal well is dry!

Monday: Different symbols

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Words Worth Mentioning for January

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”

~Winston Churchill

 

Authors and Industry representatives all month long.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

Our January is on! Prizes often include $100 in gift cards for Amazon/B&N, ebooks, print books, audiobooks, additional gift cards, and non-book items. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/