If you've been working through the character worksheet and following this series of posts, you now have novel-worthy, essential main characters, that epitomize specific characteristics enough to have legs. Now it's time to get those characters walking, talking, and moving with mannerisms that make them leap off the page. How? By showing your characters instead of telling the reader about them, and that requires knowing what makes them walk and talk differently than other characters.
Talking Body Language Scene by Scene
When you talk to someone face-to-face, your mind processes more than what they say. Subconsciously, you register the way her voice sounds, the way her eyes meet yours, the expression on her face, the way she stands, the gestures she makes, even the distance she likes to keep between her and other people. All of these things together put her words in context and tell you whether to like her, respect her, mistrust her or fear her.
Ideally as you are writing a scene in your work of fiction, you want to be able to visualize that scene. You want your reader to be able to:
- See the specific location and the furnishings and objects in it, a macro view.
- Zoom in on one or two unique details, an oddly painted chair, a wall color, a particular painting, a collectible, a micro view.
- Connect their visualization of the macro and micro view to a better understanding of one or more of your characters. A specific detail is there because one of your characters put it there or chose the location because of it. What does that say about your character?
- What actions do they interrupt as they turn to each other and speak?
- How do they navigate around the setting?
- What actions do you see that would tell the story even if you didn't have any dialogue?
- How does that character stand and move that's different from every other character?
- How does that make other characters react to her?
- Does she have a specific gesture she makes frequently? When does she make it? What triggers it?
- Is she aware she is making that gesture?
- Does she like the gesture? Does it embarrass her?
- Do other characters like it? Dislike it?
That's what you need to put in your book.
The mannerisms section of the character worksheet contains 108 quirks and mannerisms to help you get started. But it's just a jumping off point. Hopefully, by the time you even get to that section, you will know enoug Add a Comment
Excellent post Martina. This really gets a person thinking about fleshing out their characters. :)
The key now is to apply all of what you mentioned today--off to see who's doing what and acting how in my current WIP. :)
I have been loving your Character series, and this post is no exception. I usually have a good handle on body language and expressions during conversations and more general scenes, but what I always have to do is go back in a revision and add in the specific sensory details the characters are focused on at that moment to highlight their state of mind and illustrate another facet of their character. Great tips!
Wow, what a wealth of info' and much to glean from. Thanks! It's like I walked into a writer's conference and tapped into just the class I need...
Hi Rachel, great to see you here!
And Bluestocking and Kenda, thanks so much for the kind words! I'm kind of sad to see this series end, but I'm leaning toward doing the visual scene staging for next week. I've been wanting to think and research that a little more for a while now.
Great post. It really is all about not only how the character interacts with the setting, but the motivation behind the actions. Each action should reveal the emotion that the character is feeling. This is especially important when they are trying to mislead or hide something through their dialogue--their words say one thing, but their actions clearly show the truth.
There's a few of these sister-posts I've missed and I'm looking forward to catching up on them. Many thanks for gathering them all here. :)
Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse
Awesome post! I'm much more of a 'character' person than plot (although I know you need both for a story to be successful), so this info is really helpful. And your link list? Crazy good.
Great post. I've really enjoyed this character series. It's something I struggle with. I have a tendency to overuse those words characters use so have to watch.
Seriously! Just when I think you can't get any more awesome - there you go! Sheesh! I love it!!!
Hi Angela, once again, your Emotion Thesaurus rocks. I like the symbolism thesaurus too! Great point about using action to tell the truth when the dialogue lies.
Hi Cambria!!! So happy to see you here. And Lisa and Natalie, we are only this "awesome" because you push us by leaving great comments like that. Awesome right back at ya!! :-D
genius, AS USUAL. you guys are amazing.
i don't know how you do it.
*IN AWE*
This post series just keeps getting better and better. Thanks for posting on this subject.
I'm currently in the process of fleshing out my ms with more tidbits of description - these tips are terrific - thanks!
Another amazing post. Thank you so much for taking the time to compile this!
I'm loving your blog!
Thanks, Tahereh. Very big smile on my face! (Marissa's too, even through the migraine.)
Virginia, thanks very much. I'm sad to see it end. It's been fun to write.
And Jemi, I'm glad it looks helpful. Let us know how you do with the description. Hopefully next week's Tuesday post will help too. I'm leaning toward visual scene staging and selective details.
Martina
Jackee, you snuck in on me. Thanks! And welcome. Thanks for following!
Martina
Thanks for the great post. I can see all the work it took! :)