Facial
expressions can show fear, glee, anger, sadness, joy, and disappointment. A
smile rounds a person’s eyes and raises their cheeks. A frown can wrinkle a
nose and forehead. Fear sometimes opens a child’s mouth. So does surprise.
People consciously
and unconsciously express feelings through body language so our characters
should do likewise.
The way
the character walks, stands, and sits can also relay information to the reader.
Angry people walk with a heavy gait and may stomp a foot…or two. Sadness may be
depicted with a shuffle of feet or stooped shoulders. A character that skips
along is probably happy and one that walks with a straight back and head held
high shows confidence.
The
character’s eye contact tells a lot. Direct eye contact implies truthfulness
and self-assurance. A character that looks away may be lying or perceived to
lack confidence.
When you
add nonverbal communication in your story, you add depth to a character. Next
week, I’ll continue this article.
Call
for Submissions for Adult Writers:
Front Porch,
the online literary journal of Texas State University’s MFA, invites all
writers to submit works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Front
Porch is dedicated to publishing the most celebrated talents in
contemporary writing published alongside exceptional new voices. Our editors
seek out both innovative and traditional literature. In short, we’re looking
for insightful and relevant writing that excels, regardless of form, theme, or
style.
Our
submissions are rolling with no deadline and submitted online
through Front Porch’s online submission manager.
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