A brief, scarcely exhaustive list of other actions that wise writers might do well to put on permanent hiatus: the angry flaring of nostrils the thoughtful pursing of lips the quizzical cocking of the head the letting out of the breath you didn’t even know you were holding the extended mirror stare, especially as a warm-up for a memory whose recollection is apt to go on for ten pages Also overrated: blinking grimacing huffing pausing (especially for “a beat”) smiling weakly snorting swallowing doing anything wistfully
