Body Language - Character ER

A character’s dialogue can add humor and suspense (if delivered by an antagonist). Two characters can exchange witty banter, argue, or whisper sweet nothings. Dialogue pushes a story forward. You can’t have a book without it.

A character’s emotion influences the story, fuels scenes, and builds connections with readers. Without emotions, we would have dull stories and robotic characters. We don’t want that!

A character’s body language is also important because it compliments dialogue and reveals emotions. Whenever our characters say or do something, whenever they feel a certain way, we should add physical cues to drive home those feelings and actions. 

Below are some emotions with physical reactions.

Anger – clenching of jaw and fists, a puffing up of the chest and squaring of shoulders, spine rod-straight, arms crossed, flaring of nostrils, seething, pacing, glaring, heart pounding, blood roaring, heat rising up neck and face

Curiosity/Suspicion – head tilting, pursing of lips, scratching head or temple, tapping fingers, quirking a brow, squinting eyes

Fear – cowering, avoiding eye contact, slumped shoulders, body shaking, sweaty hands, dry mouth, fast breathing, heart racing

Grief – sobbing, whole body shaking, quivering lips, tearing eyes, heavy heart, shuffling footsteps, low shoulders

Love/flirting – heart fluttering, breath catching, glowing, blushing, laughing, winking, lip biting, butterflies in the stomach

QUESTION: Do you forget to add body language and other physical reactions?

Rules For Writing: No Tears

I’ve heard this rule that you should never write about tears. No “tears lingered on her lashes”, “a single tear fell down her cheek”, “tears blurred his vision”, etc. I’m sure you could come up with a thousand other versions that you’ve probably read in books by some very well-known authors. 

According to this rule, any mention of tears is a big mistake; a literature crime. A writer should never do this!

I don’t believe in this rule...

"Tears are words that need to be written.” - Apulo Coelho

Books may be fictional to some extent, but they are based in realism. The characters in fiction may not be real, but they are portrayed as real and real people cry. It’s what we do when we’re upset, sad, angry, and even happy. And what happens when we are emotionally compromised? Our tear ducts inflame, tears are produced, and we cry.

If one of your characters is grieving the loss of a loved one, a marriage, or just went through something a stressful, they could be so upset that they could breakdown and cry. Being extremely happy or overly enraged can cause the same effects. If you think you (or any person in general) would cry after experiencing what one of your characters has just gone through then it is your duty as the writer to create an authentic story for your readers by letting your characters cry too. 

See: Your Thoughts + Your Emotions = Your Characters

When you’re reading a book, I hope you notice the vivid descriptions that plant an image in your mind of the characters and what they do. I also hope that you use the same strategy when you are writing. Descriptions are vital to create a story and prose is essential to optimize a reader’s experience.

See: Writing Good Prose

You should always describe everything you visualize while you’re writing your book so your readers can visualize it too. And that includes telling them what happens when your characters cry, which involves what? That’s right! Tears.

Don’t be afraid to use tears in your writing, but you should avoid cliches by being unique. Your readers won’t mind if you write about tears in your story (I know I don’t!) and the only opinion that really matters is your own!


QUESTIONS: Do you believe this writing rule is ridiculous or a gem? Do you use “tears” in your writing?