read the stories where the characters have repetitive actions. They’re
described in different ways, but in the end, they mean the same.
is all?
you’re afraid of ghosts.”
She stabbed him with her glare.
house. Harold closed his eyes. He’d taken the dare. He couldn’t turn back now.
the idea. Some take the adage, “The eyes are the window of the soul,” to the
extreme. Those authors, if they aren’t using a speech attribute, give all
movement to the eyes.
authors will have their character’s gripping everything in sight. The same rule
applies. Characters’ actions should be varied. Deep thought can be used to aid
in presenting rounded characters.
best authors use beats that provide insight into the personality of their
characters:
abandoned house. His friends had called him a coward. Still, he had a mystery to solve and nothing would stand in his way.
tug brought her to his side and slipped his arm around her shoulder. Supposedly
haunted houses were great places to take a date. Girls loved to be frightened,
even if they wouldn’t admit it. “Are you okay?”
all?
didn’t want to awaken anything that could be waiting for them in the dilapidated
mansion. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of ghosts.”
anything I can’t explain.”
house. Harold stilled every muscle in his body. It wouldn’t do to let Audrey
know he was just as frightened as her. He’d taken the dare. He couldn’t turn
back now.
authors is to highlight repetitive motions and, when possible, provide a more
vivid picture of movement. Characters do widen their eyes, narrow their gazes,
glare, look up, look down, and look away…but the best stories limit those
actions.