{"id":22364,"date":"2019-11-12T03:00:46","date_gmt":"2019-11-12T11:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=22364"},"modified":"2019-11-05T07:03:12","modified_gmt":"2019-11-05T15:03:12","slug":"use-body-language-to-add-depth-to-characters-by-kay-keppler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2019\/11\/12\/use-body-language-to-add-depth-to-characters-by-kay-keppler\/","title":{"rendered":"Use Body Language to Add Depth to Characters by Kay Keppler"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Use<\/a>Let\u2019s welcome back monthly columnist, editor, and novelist, Kay Keppler<\/a>, as she shares with us \u201cUse Body Language to Add Depth to Characters.” Enjoy! <\/em><\/p>\n

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More than 50 percent of human communication is nonverbal.<\/strong> We react to situations\u2014and other individuals\u2014with facial expressions, body posture, gestures, eye movement, touch, and the use of space, as well as with words.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Most of us are not aware of these micro-expressions and movements, but others interpret our words, actions, and feelings by what they see\u2014our body language.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even when we don\u2019t verbalize our thoughts,<\/strong> most of us throw off clues about what we\u2019re thinking and feeling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We don\u2019t just respond to another\u2019s speech, either: Our body language can be an involuntary reaction to one of the five senses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So if we want to understand others, we have to know how to read these reactions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Use Body Language in Your Fiction<\/span><\/h2>\n

The good news is that in any society, specific micro-behaviors\u2014body language\u2014have accepted interpretations.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example,<\/strong> facial expressions<\/span> often reflect emotions\u2014from happiness to sadness, depression, or anger. When a person shows you a smile that\u2019s genuine, their eyes crinkle. A lack of crinkles around the eyes suggests a fake smile. At one point, researchers believed that making a genuine <\/span>smile<\/span> was nearly impossible to do on command.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another example: Normally, a person needs to blink 6 to 10 times per minute, but this rate slows dramatically when s\/he looks at a person or object s\/he finds attractive. The slower blink rate can be a good indicator of romantic interest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Writing Body Language<\/b><\/h3>\n

Applying body language to your characters is one of the best ways to show and not tell when we write.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Used judiciously,<\/strong> it adds depth to your characters, revealing the emotions they can\u2019t or won\u2019t speak aloud. And it can add depth and richness to dialogue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda Patterson at <\/span>Writers Write<\/span><\/a>\u00a0has devised cheat sheets for body language\u2014for every emotion, she supplies a well-known and understood body language response. See if these help you write deeper, more complex characters.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Cheat-Sheets-For-Body-Language-Part-1\"<\/a> \"Cheat-Sheets-For-Body-Language-Part-2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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Editor\u2019s Note: We offer a course in <\/span>Barany School of Fiction<\/b><\/a>\u00a0on exploring the senses in crafting your characters and editing your fiction. We go beyond the 5 senses and cover over 21 senses you can use to craft compelling characters! Check out this home study course here: <\/span>https:\/\/school.bethbarany.com\/p\/beyond-5-senses<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR<\/h2>\n

\"On<\/a>Kay Keppler<\/a> is an author Zero Gravity Outcasts<\/a><\/em>, Betting on Hope<\/a><\/em>, Gargoyle: Three Enchanting Romance Novellas<\/a><\/em>, and editor of fiction and nonfiction \u2013Angel\u2019s Kiss<\/a><\/em> and Outsource It<\/em>!<\/p>\n

She lives in northern California. Contact her here at Writer\u2019s Fun Zone in the comments below, or at kaykeppler@yahoo.com<\/a> to ask questions, suggest topics, or if you prefer, complain.<\/p>\n

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More popular articles by Kay Keppler on Writer’s Fun Zone:<\/strong><\/p>\n