Show AND Tell: Writing Nonverbal Cues + Body Language
Here are some suggestions to avoided the dreaded “talking heads” syndrome in your writing.
A clenched fist; a tightening of lips; shifting weight from foot to foot: there are endless ways that we as people communicate with one another without using our voices.
Body language is important not only in our real-life relationships, but in creating characters who feel real.
Think about the people you interact with on a daily basis — how do they hold themselves? Upright and strong? Hunched and nervous? Quiet and passive?
A character’s body language should be one of their most intrinsic qualities, made known to the reader early in the story. By defining the way they physically exist in their world, you can avoid the “talking heads” vibe that makes your characters feel flat and static. Once you bring body language and nonverbal cues into your characters, they will appear authentic and full of depth.
Here are just a few body language/nonverbal cues that can communicate huge amounts of information about your characters:
- tone of voice
- touch
- mannerisms
- habits
- eye contact
- gestures
- posture
- facial expressions
Some research suggests that up to 80% of communication from one person to another happens nonverbally. This poses an interesting challenge for writers, as so much important story information is often conveyed through dialogue.
In the case of nonverbal cues, I believe both showing AND telling play important roles. Whether it’s describing what a facial expression looks like (angry? sad? confused?) or what they’re doing with their hands (stuffed in pockets? wringing? relaxed?), describing these body language aspects will make your writing, and characters, feel more authentic.
Another aspect of nonverbal cues that some writers miss is the way a character is interacting with their environment. This carries the bonus of helping you worldbuild along with elaborating on the character. Are they angrily spinning thread? Brewing a cup of tea over a fire? Polishing their weapon meditatively?
Additionally, by diving into your character’s body language, you can reinforce dialogue, or contradict it. Maybe the character says “No” with a firm slap on the table, or says “Yes” but averts their eyes.
Next time you feel stuck on fleshing out body language and nonverbal cues, here are a few questions to get the wheels turning again.
-What is your character thinking or feeling?
-Are they trying to hide those thoughts or feelings? Or expressing them without remorse?
-How does the physical manifestation of those thoughts and feelings occur?
-Are they withdrawn or outgoing?
-Do they have physical habits, such as biting their hangnails?
-What are they doing with their hands/feet/body?
-Are they making eye contact with other characters?
-How confident are they?
-How would they pick up an object? Tenderly, casually, or roughly?
Body language isn’t just about the body. It expresses a deeper world within ourselves and others, and this has to apply to fictional characters as well.
I don’t normally recommend watching TV shows as a writing exercise, but when it comes to body language, actors tend to know what they’re doing, and we can learn from that.
Pay attention to not just what the actors are saying, but what their facial expressions say, what they’re communicating with their hands or the way they stand, and how they’re interacting with their unique world.
If you’ve been stuck on nonverbal communication, I hope this little article helped! Feel free to respond with any lingering questions you may have over on Substack, and please share with a writer friend!
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