Do you think you’re any good at reading facial expressions?

It’s not always easy reading facial expressions. That’s part of why people are able to bluff in poker games. People don’t know what the bluffers are thinking because they can’t read facial expressions well.

Click for Free Writer's Block Help E-Zine and Free E-Book

It is important to know that reading facial expressions and reading body language are important tools to have at your disposal. When considering how to read facial expressions, keep in mind that everyone has his or her own quirks. People might possess some of the same characteristics as their parents or even friends whom they hang out with all the time. This imitation can be interesting fodder for writing. Some people are flattered when others imitate them, while others find it bothersome when others try to be just like them. Spin the story on its head and write about someone who enjoys the attention that imitation of facial expressions or body language brings. The twist can be when the person who is doing the imitating ends up having someone else imitate his or her own idiosyncrasies. How does the imitator feel about imitation now? If they find it annoying in the least, the hypocritical value alone would be well worth investigating through your storytelling.

Reading emotions can be difficult. Even if someone tells you he or she is doing great, it’s often impossible to tell whether they are really telling the truth or not. You may want to delve deeper, but you may be afraid to, because you don’t want to stir the pot. The great thing about writing through emotions, however, is that you can always stir the pot. You can always delve deeper. You can always find your own unique and sincere ways of dazzling readers with splendidly evolved characters who grow more intensely magical with each stroke of your pen or touch of your keyboard.

Consider how reading facial expressions can substantiate your writing and make readers invested in continuing on with your words. Readers should be able to see your characters through the words on the page.

Not many writers are blessed with illustrators who bring the characters vividly off the pages of their books. Not many writers are blessed with illustrators at all. That’s why your readers must be able to see the characters that you are writing and that they are getting to know and love. When reading books, isn’t it nice to see the events unfolding as if you are watching a movie or a TV show? The words spring off the page and into your mind’s eye as if there are no words – only actions and revelations. That level of description and imagery sustains a piece of writing and, by extension, sustains readership.

Think of some facial expressions that you, or those close to you, make on a regular basis. Look at emotion icons or just look at people around you to get your imagination going. Picture a look of complete disappointment. How about sheer happiness? Utter confusion? Flirtation? Rage (maybe with nostrils flaring)? Silliness? Explanation? Contemplative thought? Maybe you picture one person making all of these faces. Or maybe you relate some of these emotions and consequential facial expressions with certain people. The person’s face that reminds you of silliness may be a completely different person’s face than that of someone who is constantly raging over something or other. Pondering the different faces of these people may not only give you ideas for what faces can look like and how you can write them with clarity, but it may give you ideas for the types of characters who portray these faces so well. Taking ideas from what you already know (including people’s faces) is wonderfully useful. Experience drives much of writing. By experiencing the world around you, you are able to write more fully about concepts that may not have been so easy otherwise.

So, take a cue from reading facial expressions. Move forward with learning more about your stylistic and other creative strengths and find ways to increase your writing repertoire as you explore new ideas for moving past your writer’s block.

To return from Reading Facial Expressions to the
Emotional Writing Page, click here

To return from Reading Facial Expressions to the
Writer's Block Help Home Page, click here

New! Comments