Does anyone else get stuck when trying to describe what actions and mannerisms a person uses while talking? Some authors seem able to divers away from the norm. I find when I read a lot, I get a better sense of people's idiosyncrasies. You can only scratch your head, purse your lips, furrow your brows so many times before it becomes obvious to readers that you have no imagination. Hands on hips, clenched fists, lame humor can become boring in time. Tears, really how often does a person tear up. In real life people's feelings get hurt and their reactions are internal. Their hearts harden, their pulse quickens, they even feel the sting of tears behind their eyes. It becomes a dilemma for authors. It's easy to get in a rut. I don't think I'm alone in this. If you read the same author over and over again, it becomes obvious. I guess you could call it that author's style of writing and I think that would be true, but we know a lot of times there are no words. So you have to go and find them, whether through observing or experimenting.
These are just my thoughts on things. I'm by no means an expert, if I were, I'd be a best selling author. I just know what I know.
To all who read, God bless and happy reading.
I don't worry about it too much since in real life we all have certain mannerisms that don't change.
ReplyDeleteI suppose if it is a new character or another with the same mannerisms I would notice it more.
You're absolutely right, and repeating mannerisms can actually become part of the story, can't it. Suppose someone spits a lot, men are sometimes guilty of this, spit has DNA. If someone snaps their fingers a lot, might be a clue in a crime. My problem is, there are so many mannerisms we perform in the span of a day, there has to be more than one way to describe them.
DeleteI’m just stopping by to say Hello and Happy Saint Patrick’s Day. I like this post, makes me stop and think.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the next draft.
ReplyDeleteRemember, sometimes we just say things - if you can't think of a way to describe their actions, maybe it's because all they're doing is talking?
But they're doing so much more than talking. They're expressing and moving, doing things: twirling their hair, pulling on their ears, wiping their noses. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteI struggle with this. I am definitely not a purple prose writer with creative ways of saying something basic. But you're right it does get old with the head nods and smiles or chuckles. I guess I should pay more attention to the books I read--what do those characters do?
ReplyDeleteWith my current ms, I had the narrator (1st pov) cracking her knuckles a lot. But that seems weird for her to describe herself doing it, so I'm switching it to another character. That way my narrator can tell when the other person is anxious.
Good idea, but you could leave it with you pov character cracking her knuckles. For instance: I tiptoed up, trying to be stealthy. I suddenly had the urge to crack my knuckles and stopped myself just in time. Something like that. Good luck with your book.
DeleteI once had an agent tell me that the less action and mannerism between dialogue the better. Since then, I keep it to a minimum, which is great because I no longer struggle as much with it.
ReplyDeleteHmm, that's probably write. I guess it depends on the situation and what you're trying to convey to the reader. If you do it right, words should take care of that pretty well, but it doesn't or may not bring the reader into the scene. However, if you have an agent, then whatever you're doing must be successful. Thanks for commenting.
Delete...reading the work of our peers is the key. Whenever logjammed in thought, success is achieved by stepping away from the computer and opening a book. Perhaps it recharges the muse, something only science can answer, but it works ;)
ReplyDeleteWorks for me every time.
El
It sure does work. I find, sometimes just the first few paragraphs can trigger something that takes me a whole different direction.
DeleteThanks for your comments.
I'm still struggling with my first draft and hadn't given mannerisms a thought. I've been busy world building and trying to develop the plot. Time to get to know the characters better. I have a lot of work to do. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
ReplyDeleteI often have characters have consistent mannerisms or a way of speaking...don't we all have our own little individual ticks and such?
ReplyDeleteFor example, I worked with a guy that always twirled his pen when he was thinking. It would stop immediately the moment he began to speak. But whenever in deep thought, twirl...twirl...twirl.
I do find it challenging to express feelings through mannerisms. I find myself using the same expressions. What I've done in my current manuscript, is change to a first person point of view, so readers get an "inside look," at what's going on.
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ReplyDeleteGod bless you!
Claire.
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ReplyDelete