Your characters do things while they speak. The range of what they do? It’s vast, and there’s a list of all the possible gestures on a fun website.
Master list of visual gestures
Bryn Donovan breaks down these gestures into facial expressions, body postures, and body movements. This activity is all around you, whether you’re a homebody watching shows or a fan of coffee shops, restaurants, and sports arenas.
You can use this time away from the keyboard or pen to observe and match up. In the theatre we called this “business” the little things we do to signal how we feel and event what we’re thinking.
Eyebrows, lips, nostrils: They’re all windows to what humans experience and believe. Crossed arms, locked ankles, tilted head — it’s all there for you to observe.” “All of these have something very distinctive to say.”
The last time I shared this list with an author, her eyes widened as she began to type. “I can use some of these right away.”
Let your eyes take you deeper into character. Watch and listen for what’s said while you observe these bits of business.
