Great writers of fiction know a secret. (And, when it comes to having better relationships, it's a secret that all of us could stand to learn, too.) It's about body language.
More than any words can do, body language instantly tells us about a person's thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
What does that have to do with writing? Great fiction writers don't tell the reader our characters' feelings. The reader knows--or figures out--the character's emotions, based the action. Specifically, we give readers clear emotions through body language.
When seated, palm-down hands placed on the top of the thighs can mean you're nervous. Rocking up and down on the balls of your feet can mean we're feeling positive or confident. Turning our front side away from someone can mean we're uncomfortable, that we're blocking ourselves from someone who is threatening, as we turn away from the discomfort.
Writers: Body language knowledge is a goldmine. How much do you know?
Here's my new favorite on body language:
What Every Body is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Speed-Reading People
If you're serious about fiction writing, invest in the book.
And if you're serious about knowing people--period--get the book, too. It can give you insight to understand--and get close to--those you care about.
To your success,
Erin
Monday, December 13, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Writers & social media
My friend and mentor, Randy Gilbert, is amazing. He's always laughing in his unassuming manner, while I'm on the other end of the phone, blown away by the volume of marketing savvy pouring from his being.
Randy's message over the last months has been blue-sky clear: Social media, social media, social media. Stop dabbling. Dive in. Let them in on your life, your passions, your message. Do it now, and do it well.
For me, that takes planning and simplicity. Life is too busy, drawing me in to the mundane, the banal. My guess is that it happens to you, too. To not get drawn in to the screaming menial, I need to plan. And, in my propensity to do too much, I must have a constant mantra: Simplify.
Stop trying to paint Mona Lisa. Do small. Then add together. Have we not heard this before?
Social media's secret is brevity. Write too much, lose the reader. People don't want a book. Or a dissertation. Or an essay. Or even a page. Short and sweet will do. Hear me again: Short. (Thank you, Seth Godin. Your blog length is a much-needed knock upside the head.)
Authors, blog, and blog now. Make it short, clean, and simple. Article writers....Shorten them. Seriously. You're writing too much.
Plan. Simplify. Connect.
With passion and purpose,
Erin
Randy's message over the last months has been blue-sky clear: Social media, social media, social media. Stop dabbling. Dive in. Let them in on your life, your passions, your message. Do it now, and do it well.
For me, that takes planning and simplicity. Life is too busy, drawing me in to the mundane, the banal. My guess is that it happens to you, too. To not get drawn in to the screaming menial, I need to plan. And, in my propensity to do too much, I must have a constant mantra: Simplify.
Stop trying to paint Mona Lisa. Do small. Then add together. Have we not heard this before?
Social media's secret is brevity. Write too much, lose the reader. People don't want a book. Or a dissertation. Or an essay. Or even a page. Short and sweet will do. Hear me again: Short. (Thank you, Seth Godin. Your blog length is a much-needed knock upside the head.)
Authors, blog, and blog now. Make it short, clean, and simple. Article writers....Shorten them. Seriously. You're writing too much.
Plan. Simplify. Connect.
With passion and purpose,
Erin
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