
Characters do more than just talk at each other. They move—with grace, in anger, to disguise emotion—and movement tells even more about them than their words. Understanding and using action to tell a story is both powerful and organic—a naturally evolving way to strong characterization.
What is body language? Google it on the web—you’ll find dozens of books by experts from all sides: psychology, business, spiritual growth, forensic investigations, and many, many more, all useful in their own way.
Each expert ultimately says the same thing.
Humans have a universal language. And, if an author can capture that physical reaction in words, there is an instantaneous and, often, unconscious connection formed with the reader.
Wow! What better way to reel your reader in? Showing a reader what your character is feeling simply by the way he stands or she smiles is mega-powerful! But it’s not just about a lip curling or an eyebrow lifting or eyes narrowing. In fact, more than one writer doesn’t understand just how potent a well-executed “message cluster”, or multiple body language signals, can be.
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