Enough of the words that get used too frequently, as we discussed in the first three parts of this series.
On to the more interesting topics of facial expressions and gestures.
By the way, these things can create… you guessed it… repetitious words.
When we write, we express not just action, narration, and dialogue, but we also want to describe characters and highlight emotion.
What better way to do that than a facial expression or gesture?
Facial expressions
I can’t count the number of manuscripts I’ve seen where facial expressions are described to the point of distraction. Characters smile, frown, nod, shake their heads, open their eyes, close their eyes, wink, blink, and furrow their brows. Sometimes brows knit and rise. Lips purse and pucker. Jaws drop, mouths open.
As I’ve said repeatedly, there’s nothing inherently wrong with any of these words or actions. The issue occurs when they become …
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