tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post3826415671901302078..comments2024-01-24T05:13:06.164-08:00Comments on Not Your Usual Suspects: BODY LANGUAGESusanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11286314155783213006noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-19120304975358451552011-05-20T16:20:42.746-07:002011-05-20T16:20:42.746-07:00Hi Kelly. Thanks for stopping by.Hi Kelly. Thanks for stopping by.Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09054306874904898496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-59210498176943791082011-05-20T15:41:58.894-07:002011-05-20T15:41:58.894-07:00Greetings! I love body language with dialogue inst...Greetings! I love body language with dialogue instead of the he said, she said.KELLY FITZPATRICKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04738502576190460531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-32978763705606667132011-05-20T14:13:01.327-07:002011-05-20T14:13:01.327-07:00Good morning Vanessa.
I know. Like I said, when I...Good morning Vanessa. <br />I know. Like I said, when I find somethong I like I want to use it more than onceRitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09054306874904898496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-71953406448224774422011-05-20T13:13:59.096-07:002011-05-20T13:13:59.096-07:00Hi, Rita! Great exercise. Body language is so impo...Hi, Rita! Great exercise. Body language is so important in writing. It's where our "Show, don't tell" skills come into play. I have to admit to overusing some gestures--sarcastic eye rolls or characters standing with hands on hips, for instance. I try to weed them out during revisions.Vanessa Barneveldhttp://www.vanessabarneveld.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-17978397027103986962011-05-20T13:00:23.902-07:002011-05-20T13:00:23.902-07:00Glad I could help Maureen. But, I'm wondering ...Glad I could help Maureen. But, I'm wondering about that fist shakin stuff.Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09054306874904898496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-52605705099169047502011-05-20T12:34:08.189-07:002011-05-20T12:34:08.189-07:00Ironically, I was just editing a scene and stepped...Ironically, I was just editing a scene and stepped away to read your post, and after reading your post I shook my fist at my scene! LOL <br /><br />Thank you, Rita. Your input helped me.Maureen A. Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16432964748852427405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-76824469614919792112011-05-20T12:32:23.121-07:002011-05-20T12:32:23.121-07:00Hi Autumn. Ir's fun to sit back, watch and mak...Hi Autumn. Ir's fun to sit back, watch and make up a story about what is going on with people.Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09054306874904898496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-64569871521271182092011-05-20T12:29:13.284-07:002011-05-20T12:29:13.284-07:00Thanks Jenn and thanks for visitingThanks Jenn and thanks for visitingRitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09054306874904898496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-11412133854675886372011-05-20T11:55:04.584-07:002011-05-20T11:55:04.584-07:00Great post, Rita. Whenever I read an author tellin...Great post, Rita. Whenever I read an author telling what a character is feeling, I wonder why she didn't show. BL is a powerful tool. <br /> <br />Okay, I'll play with a few. Number one, you say nervous. I could say he is in a hurry to pick up his son or happy because he knows he nailed the interview and can't wait to get started.<br /><br />Number two, The couple leaning together are discussing a diagnous and it's not good. Away same thing. It's not good. Either way you get a good feeling of what is going on the character's head.Autumn Jordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14168172253998245307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-57093248027362769242011-05-20T10:53:55.238-07:002011-05-20T10:53:55.238-07:00Love your examples, Rita. Subtle body language can...Love your examples, Rita. Subtle body language can be almost like screaming. You get emotions and points across without spelling them out.<br /><br />Great post!<br /><br />Jenn!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-27386799051926004122011-05-20T10:42:09.967-07:002011-05-20T10:42:09.967-07:00Gwen I just feel even after millions of years of e...Gwen I just feel even after millions of years of evolution we haven’t lost our survival of the fittest instincts.Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09054306874904898496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-22288674052007598382011-05-20T10:11:27.257-07:002011-05-20T10:11:27.257-07:00I have always loved your "lizard brain" ...I have always loved your "lizard brain" label. It works on so many levels.<br /><br />I still catch myself "interpreting" action for readers---in the event they aren't smart enough to catch it for themselves, you understand. Yeah, not bright. How may times am I, with my explanations, going to call anyone dense, dim, or just plain stupid before they toss my book against the wall?<br /><br />Not many, I'll bet.<br /><br />Excellent blog, Rita! ;-)Gwynlynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13131507614528809505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-77941977568190270892011-05-20T09:58:26.206-07:002011-05-20T09:58:26.206-07:00Vivi makes sense and from what I've read of yo...Vivi makes sense and from what I've read of yours there are no baseball bats involved.Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09054306874904898496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-75359161379825597202011-05-20T09:42:53.030-07:002011-05-20T09:42:53.030-07:00I probably fall into the "baseball bat to the...I probably fall into the "baseball bat to the head" school also, in part because I like deeper POV - so the extra "golly, that guy slamming doors is angry!" becomes a confirmation that the POV character is interpreting the body language the same way the reader is. If that makes sense.Vivi Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00502615009474830083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-48611978385056112662011-05-20T09:23:33.583-07:002011-05-20T09:23:33.583-07:00Louisa, I think in our lizard brain we all know wh...Louisa, I think in our lizard brain we all know what these body signals mean, but we have suppressed our instincts. Even reading animal’s body languages in a survival instinct. Knowing when it’s safe to approach and when we’re about to get eaten.. I am always amazed by those that climb in to a wild animal enclosure and are surprised when they are attacked.Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09054306874904898496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-15937554382530769252011-05-20T09:16:26.678-07:002011-05-20T09:16:26.678-07:00Toni, one of my packets is Matgie's the other ...Toni, one of my packets is Matgie's the other is May Buckham'sRitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09054306874904898496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-60561568826227005122011-05-20T09:10:33.565-07:002011-05-20T09:10:33.565-07:00Thanks for stopping by Darynda. I'm finding to...Thanks for stopping by Darynda. I'm finding too many authors using the overt stock motions. In my quest to do it better I’ve become a big people watcher and learning a lot.Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09054306874904898496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-41325885272977488782011-05-20T09:04:52.341-07:002011-05-20T09:04:52.341-07:00Liz,
Ther is always something else to think about....Liz,<br />Ther is always something else to think about. Heavy sigh. I swear this must be the only business that the more you know the harder it gets.Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09054306874904898496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-10657581737198278452011-05-20T09:03:12.904-07:002011-05-20T09:03:12.904-07:00Great post, Rita! Actually I must confess I haven&...Great post, Rita! Actually I must confess I haven't given a great deal of thought to this subject. Your post is going in my writing craft notebook to remind me. I am sure when I look over my current WIP I will find myself guilty of expressing a character's emotion with body language followed by a completely superfluous explanation as to what that body language means. DOH !!! <br /><br />Surprisingly I do spend a great deal of time studying my dogs' body language. All of my dogs are rescued dogs and they come from some terrible situations. It is vital, especially at first that I watch their postures and body positions to make sure I don't push them too far. I don't think human body language is that much different except for the wagging tail!Louisa Cornellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12971924594129471055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-10735415668434445082011-05-20T09:01:19.477-07:002011-05-20T09:01:19.477-07:00I love Margie Lawson's non verbal communicatio...I love Margie Lawson's non verbal communication workshops for this reason. Body language is so important. Greta post Rita, and yes, I remember our State Department visit.Toni Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08348843511453338339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-29932382955448808232011-05-20T08:58:39.821-07:002011-05-20T08:58:39.821-07:00I absolutely love it when a writer does body langu...I absolutely love it when a writer does body language and does it well. To me there is a big difference between a disinterested shrug and the slight lifting of one shoulder with eye lowered and chin tucked. <br /><br />Great post!Daryndahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07521012056539137699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-38649463958761620382011-05-20T08:55:38.080-07:002011-05-20T08:55:38.080-07:00I love subtle body language, too, Rita. I have to ...I love subtle body language, too, Rita. I have to admit to picking a favorite and then overusing it without realizing it. It takes my CPs pointing out the repetitions to make me realize what I've done.<br /><br />Great post!Tina Joycehttp://www.tina-joyce.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-34249098494453038082011-05-20T08:29:00.860-07:002011-05-20T08:29:00.860-07:00I'm pretty sure I don't think about it eno...I'm pretty sure I don't think about it enough, so I'm glad I tuned in today. Now I'll intentionally thinknabout it as I'm layering the wip. <br /><br />Nice topic.liztalleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12601028356828336177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-12076851138170918512011-05-20T08:22:26.050-07:002011-05-20T08:22:26.050-07:00Marcelle,
Excellent point! Some cultures men and w...Marcelle,<br />Excellent point! Some cultures men and women are not permitted to make eye contact in public. I understand diplomats are taught what not to do and what to expect in other countries For those of you who went to the KOD State Department tour remember the lady who told us about her experiences as the first woman to fill a post in a Middle Eastern country?Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09054306874904898496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-85316563904134609782011-05-20T08:14:42.592-07:002011-05-20T08:14:42.592-07:00Elise,
I have three books on body language and tw...Elise, <br />I have three books on body language and two body language lecture packets I refer to constantly. It’s all a learning curve. The more you do it the better you get. Or the more your editor points outRitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09054306874904898496noreply@blogger.com