Wednesday, January 14, 2015

B is for Body Language

Paula looks at how characters show their emotions.

I just treated myself (courtesy of a Christmas gift voucher!) to an ‘Emotion Thesaurus’, mainly because I liked the look of this when I previewed a few pages online. Yes, I know there are various websites with lists of physical reactions to different emotions, but I decided this one was definitely worth keeping on my desk as a ‘real’ book with pages I can flip through to find what I want.

It contains (in alphabetical order) 75 different emotions, ranging from Adoration to Worry, with two pages devoted to each. Firstly, there is a long list of external physical signals e.g. twisting a watch or ring when anxious, or tapping the foot when impatient. The next two lists are internal sensations and mental responses. For instance, fear may cause a racing heartbeat (internal) and images of what-could-happen flashing through mind (mental). Another interesting section shows the cues of a suppressed emotion – a forced smile when disappointed, or staying silent when angry.

Thinking of Ana’s post on Monday, I had to smile when one of the hints in the book suggested limiting verbal and non-verbal reactions to three at the most, since a list of actions and reactions can become, as we’ve already said, a list of stage directions.

Another hint recommends keeping any movements simple, since complicated movements or ones that are too drawn out can detract from the emotion: He held up both hands. “Whoa, hold on a minute,” is far more effective than, “Wait a minute,” he said, holding up both his hands level with his head with palms facing forward and fingers spread out. Okay, maybe the latter is over-exaggerated, but I’m sure you get the idea. Often a brief non-verbal action combined with a verbal comment will give the reader enough information to picture and hear the character.

Two linked question in the book made me think: Do you have a favourite body part when showing emotions? Do you rely too much on facial expressions? Hmm, my answer is yes to both, so I’m going to challenge myself to use some different body parts!

And here’s an obvious one that we sometimes forget: characters react differently! One may run fingers through their hair when worried; another may twist a finger around a few strands of hair; another may scratch the back of their head (etc). Similarly, relief may cause one character to blow out their cheeks with a huge breath, whereas another will close their eyes and exhale quietly.

I’m sure I will find my new book very useful, but at the same time, I’m aware of the danger of overdoing things. The cliché of ‘show, don’t tell’ should never be taken to the point where you are overloading your characters (and your readers) with actions for and reactions to every emotion. That doesn’t mean, of course, that you should write ‘She was angry’ every time she’s annoyed. At the same time, you don't necessarily need to describe some physical signal of her anger every time either! The reader will soon spot the times when you’re trying too hard to ‘show’ your characters’ emotions and may even grow weary of too many actions. As with most things, less is more.

9 comments:

  1. I have the Emotion book in my old tablet. I keep the battery charged just so I can use that book.
    I agree about the challenge of finding fresh descriptions for body movements and feeling-reactions. I'm wrestling with describing why my heroine wants to avoid the hero. Should her heart thump? Pulse race? stomach butterfly? Palms sweat? Bah! All cliches.

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    1. I agree about them being clichés, Ana, but at the same time, they are the reactions readers associate with different situations, often because they've experienced those reactions themselves. If you try too hard to find alternatives, you run the risk of letting your reader 'see the writing' instead of feeling the emotion. The crucial thing, IMO, is not to use the same one over and over again (I believe the heroine in 50 Shades 'bit her lip' dozens of times!).

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    2. Ana, I envy you your old tablet. I've jsut discovered that the battery on mine has died - and all because I forgot about it.

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  2. An interesting article, Paula. I don't have the emotion book so it sounds as though it might be a suitable present from my other half for my birthday later in the year.

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    1. Next time we meet up, I'll bring my copy so you can take a look at it!

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  3. I've actually printed lists of body language information on-line to keep in my reference file, but a book devoted to it would be fabulous!

    It's these type of things I go back and take a close look at when I'm in the editing stages of a project.

    I agree, that with anything, it's a matter of not overdoing.

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    1. This book contains the best lists I've seen, Debra. I'm sure it will soon become my bible! It's much easier to flip through a book than search an online file - and this book has a lot of useful advice too.
      As you say, you shouldn't overdo the external or internal reactions, but I'm hoping this book will give me some new ideas about reactions.

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  4. I've bookmarked files about this, but always lose them. I think I might have to buy the book.

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    1. I'm already thinking this book could get as well used as my ordinary thesaurus once was, with pages falling out LOL!

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