Creative Writing: Writing with the Body: Using Body Language to Tell the Story

When we tell stories, we often say that characters are angry, or sad, or lying. However, there are some common types of body language that also indicate these feelings. Your job today will be to write a story without telling the reader what emotion the character is feeling, but showing the reader what the character is feeling.

Steps: 

1)      Choose a prompt from the following list. This should give you a place to start your story.

a.       Prompt One: One day, you find this message: “To whomever finds this message, they erased us. This is all that remains. Please, remember us”

b.       Prompt Two: You are a child’s imaginary friend. As he grows up, you realize that you are fading away.

c.       Prompt Three: You have just discovered (100% accurate) proof that everyone around you is an alien. Describe your day tomorrow.

d.       Prompt Four: Tell the story of the Princess that rescues the Dragon from the Knight.

2)      Write a story without saying the word “said.”

3)      Instead, use this list of body language to describe HOW your characters are speaking:

ANGER

Anger is one expression of fight-or-flight mode – an automatic, instinctive reaction to a threat. In many cases, there is an underlying fear of being harmed. Thanks to automatic nervous system arousal, the heart rate increases, pupils dilate, and the face may flush. Other signs of anger:

               Balling the fists

               Crossing arms tightly

               Clenching fists once arms are crossed

               Tight lipped smile

               Clenched teeth

               Shaking a finger like a club

               Stabbing a finger at someone

ATTRACTION

               Pupils dilate

               Women will cross and uncross legs

               Mirroring (usually unconsciously) mimicking the other person’s body language

DISTRESS

Men in particular have a tendency to stroke or rub the nape of the neck when they’re upset. It acts as a self-soothing gesture to deal with a “pain in the neck.”

               Crossed arms – arms act like a protective barrier.

               Self-hugging – arms are crossed, hands gripping upper arms.

               One-arm cross – one arm crosses the body to hold or touch the other arm.

               Women will often keep a hand on a purse or bag strap if they are afraid in public.

               Clutching a purse, briefcase, or bag with both arms.

               Adjusting cuffs or cuff links.

              

LYING

Lying causes a subtle tingling in the face and neck, so the gestures below are attempts to eliminate that feeling:

Covering the mouth – can be like a “shh” gesture, or they may cover the mouth completely – such as by covering the mouth with a cough.

Touching or rubbing the nose or just below the nose – often a quick, small gesture, not a scratch.

               Rubbing the eyes

               Scratching the neck with an index finger

               Shifting eyes or gaze.

               Shifting feet.

OPENNESS AND HONESTY

               Exposure of the palms.

               Arms and legs unfolded.

               Leaning forward.

SUBMISSIVE SIGNALS (SHYNESS, ETC)

               Smiling – that’s why some people smile when they’re upset or afraid.

Slumping the shoulders

Doing anything to appear smaller.

SUPERIORITY, CONFIDENCE, DOMINANCE, ETC

               Steepling the fingers (aka setting the tips of the fingers together).

               Folding the hands behind the back.

Thumbs sticking out from pockets when hands are in pockets (can be front or back pockets).

               Hands on hips.

               Straddling a chair.

               Hands folded behind the head while sitting up (especially in men).

4)      Don’t forget to include other expressions, especially facial expressions:

a.       Anger: furrowed brows, frowning, tight lips.

b.       Happiness: smiling, laughing, creased eyes

c.       Sadness: downcast eyes, glum expression, deflated posture, teary eyes

d.       Affection: smiling, soft gaze, hugging, gentle touching.

e.       Embarrassment: Red cheeks, red ears, downcast eyes, embarrassed smile.

Example:

The dragon cocked a watchful scaly eyebrow. His gaze followed the princess as she climbed the building. From his hidden perch on the crumbling roof, he could see the entire expanse of his rotting kingdom, including anyone who entered it. Tossing his tail briskly from side to side, he contemplated his prey: a potential meal that would break the monotony of swamp-rats and spindly crows.

**

The princess’ grip slipped and she gasped, flailing for a moment … she barely managed to grab onto an outcropping of rock. Her heart raced and her breath came in gulps; it had been a near miss. She looked up at her goal: a darkened window with a wisp of curtain in the topmost tower of the Dragon’s Keep. Her lips tightened, her eyes narrowed, and she let out a slow breath. She calculated her next move, and then she reached for the next crevice in the rock.

**

The prince stared into a gap in the ceiling, his blue eyes searching in his pallid face. The dragon was unusually quiet tonight. Was he finally tired of caring for his prisoner? Would the prince find himself in the scalding-hot jaws of the beast? Or was another of his father’s unlucky soldiers about to meet his untimely end in a torrent of fire and brimstone? The prince gulped, and screwed up his eyes, pressing the palms of his hands to his forehead. Despite all the odds, he prayed that this would be the day he would be saved.