tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post4248297299132055661..comments2024-03-29T05:29:25.218-07:00Comments on Coming Down the Mountain: No-no's in Character ActionsKaren Jones Gowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378428503220197256noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-63084986073604240652011-09-15T19:22:42.375-07:002011-09-15T19:22:42.375-07:00You know what drives me crazy? The word 'padde...You know what drives me crazy? The word 'padded' as a descriptor of walking. I 'padded across the kitchen.' I see this one everywhere. <br /><br />Angela @ The Bookshelf MuseAngela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-22412526003408448722011-09-15T02:01:03.819-07:002011-09-15T02:01:03.819-07:00Hi Karen. Good point here!
"Gritting teeth&q...Hi Karen. Good point here!<br /><br />"Gritting teeth" is my pet peeve. Especially when everyone is saying everything through "gritted teeth." Just imagine it. You'd look like a maniac if you said everything through gritted teeth, and no one would understand you. :)<br /><br />As for the others, it's all a matter of measure. Lumped together in a row they look awkward and stilt everything. Used single and occasionally they're okay.LRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16839870925431989156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-47368243410379657712011-09-14T13:00:57.995-07:002011-09-14T13:00:57.995-07:00My problem is that there are SO many things consid...My problem is that there are SO many things considered "cliche" now, but there's a reason certain things are cliche! It's because, as you said, they really happen. For me, I don't consider them an all-around no-no as much as a "use sparingly" and only if they work perfectly. I have seen a lot of sighing myself, as well as finger drumming.colbymarshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14056535503422186623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-2890961299523722682011-09-14T07:35:09.118-07:002011-09-14T07:35:09.118-07:00lol! Sometimes my characters smile a lot. Stop smi...lol! Sometimes my characters smile a lot. Stop smiling! So funny!Carolyn Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03780443388339294502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-44927012380680558462011-09-13T06:20:56.244-07:002011-09-13T06:20:56.244-07:00I love searching for a word like "smile"...I love searching for a word like "smile" and see how many Word counts. It's a personal challenge.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-72623801845344012212011-09-13T06:06:32.123-07:002011-09-13T06:06:32.123-07:00Ooooh. I have a lot of changes to make.Ooooh. I have a lot of changes to make.Lizahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16170701034715108039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-58327684553750930152011-09-12T21:23:28.311-07:002011-09-12T21:23:28.311-07:00Oh man, I know my manuscript is currently riddled ...Oh man, I know my manuscript is currently riddled with these! I'm going to have to bookmark this as one of the posts to come back and review when it comes time for editing. *sigh* Oh man...heheAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12146136846875431598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-26089145445350856182011-09-12T21:02:44.869-07:002011-09-12T21:02:44.869-07:00LOL yes. I've noticed if I don't make a hu...LOL yes. I've noticed if I don't make a huge effort I use the same 20 words over and over again. I somehow forget that other words in the English language actually exist.<br /><br />My crutch words are "stared" "looked" "shot him a look," etc. My characters seem to do lots of looking apparently.<br /><br />Great post!Jordan McMakinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14524307244794669492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-87381653025094832432011-09-12T20:45:52.727-07:002011-09-12T20:45:52.727-07:00"Lip chewing" is one of my personal hate..."Lip chewing" is one of my personal hates, there are so many better ways to say it, if one has to. I envision shredded lips- can't stop myself - bloodied and vanished. I counted in one book 48 chews. The same character. <br />Also thumb nibbling a close second.<br />XO<br />WWWwisewebwomanhttp://wisewebwoman.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-30495434267254744532011-09-12T19:11:34.936-07:002011-09-12T19:11:34.936-07:00Great observation. I'm sure that I'll noti...Great observation. I'm sure that I'll notice this a lot more now, and act acordingly in my own work.Will Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10158149526658590324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-2400637723072568322011-09-12T18:26:25.585-07:002011-09-12T18:26:25.585-07:00Someone already wrote "raised eyebrows"....Someone already wrote "raised eyebrows"...<br />Great article, something I agree with just never really thought about. *sighing* ;)MaDonna Maurerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04157381592556792198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-8727511800756811032011-09-12T17:26:32.740-07:002011-09-12T17:26:32.740-07:00Ooh, good point. I love what you say about going b...Ooh, good point. I love what you say about going beyond the obvious. But even those have to be used lightly. <br /><br />I think of mannerisms like dialogue. In order to be understood, characters can't talk like, um, you know, real people.J E Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03372746219262163566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-40785606199345235232011-09-12T16:14:44.654-07:002011-09-12T16:14:44.654-07:00...its when the act is constantly repeated that ca......its when the act is constantly repeated that causes my hair to stand on end. Grrr!<br /><br />ElElliot Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06319271528871804399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-86108472633340631702011-09-12T15:14:29.832-07:002011-09-12T15:14:29.832-07:00i don't think i've ever used the arm cross...i don't think i've ever used the arm crossing. BUT i definitely use the others. Especially when i'm draftingSarah Ahiershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02795455714801965956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-37253439699881870712011-09-12T14:30:13.408-07:002011-09-12T14:30:13.408-07:00But are they cliches or just common actions that m...But are they cliches or just common actions that might sound awkward to express in any other way? Would it sound contrived to have too many synonyms or descriptive phrases for something that could be passed by simply in a word or commonly understood phrase? Just wondering.<br /><br />Lee<br /><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Tossing It Out</a>Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-86147028374144001942011-09-12T13:06:24.028-07:002011-09-12T13:06:24.028-07:00LOL. My characters tend to 'glare' a lot ...LOL. My characters tend to 'glare' a lot if I don't watch out. I think it's because I'm usually glaring at the computer.Susan Gourleyhttp://www.susangourley.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-10565832202415991482011-09-12T12:29:41.613-07:002011-09-12T12:29:41.613-07:00Running her had through her hair.
I see that phr...Running her had through her hair. <br /><br />I see that phrase a lot! Take care<br />xOld Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13185547869183611159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-85551928566979420562011-09-12T12:26:22.968-07:002011-09-12T12:26:22.968-07:00Gotta admit; I probably have an inordinate amount ...Gotta admit; I probably have an inordinate amount of smiling, grinning, and chuckling in my book. (Kinda like ME!)Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-17855377435398191612011-09-12T12:23:07.473-07:002011-09-12T12:23:07.473-07:00Hi,
Oh, oh, if I see nibbling lip again I'll ...Hi,<br /><br />Oh, oh, if I see nibbling lip again I'll scream.<br /><br />Having said that I love chuckle! ;)<br /><br />best<br />FFrancine Howarthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02326542867876257042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-6396359880756120452011-09-12T12:09:21.743-07:002011-09-12T12:09:21.743-07:00I cringe every time I write "smile." Som...I cringe every time I write "smile." Sometimes, though, a character just has to do it.Luanne G. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15762881276976395955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-46321291235897289242011-09-12T11:30:05.190-07:002011-09-12T11:30:05.190-07:00It's so true - and I use these all the time......It's so true - and I use these all the time...in a first draft. Later I come back and come up with the more creative way to express it. Searching for those terms is an automatic way to de-cliche my MS.<br /><br />Great post! :)Susan Kaye Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07348197999397141067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-80079974448971061482011-09-12T11:24:31.242-07:002011-09-12T11:24:31.242-07:00So true, Karen. I avoid cliches throughout my book...So true, Karen. I avoid cliches throughout my book, not only on mannerisms. I see my stories from a cinematic perspective. I always try to explain what characters are doing, based on what I see and what they would be feeling. But not in a long winded way either.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-90888600072943739002011-09-12T11:17:40.845-07:002011-09-12T11:17:40.845-07:00Yeah, I'm guilty of all of these. I cringe whe...Yeah, I'm guilty of all of these. I cringe when going over my ms for editing, I really do.Paul Anthony Shortthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14393249001158230985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-46237977168993346912011-09-12T11:10:24.633-07:002011-09-12T11:10:24.633-07:00LTM, Speaking of foot stomp, the character in a ch...LTM, Speaking of foot stomp, the character in a chick lit I'm editing does that, and it totally works! Someone then asks her, "Did I see you just stomp your foot?" LOL. I love it!<br /><br />Melissa, They're the kinds of things that can be worked on later, don't worry about it now!<br /><br />Talli, well, me too for that matter LOL. In Uncut Diamonds, Marcie McGill rolls her eyes at least once. (do as I say not as I do hehe) And if Willow Watts did any of these, I never noticed anything cliched at all, so you must have incorporated it all in seamlessly. I just remember laughing hysterically as she is trying to maneuver herself around in that Marilyn get up!Karen Jones Gowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01153821980625034810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852800943772489474.post-64264918287762439272011-09-12T10:46:06.602-07:002011-09-12T10:46:06.602-07:00congratulations! You're officially an editor.
...congratulations! You're officially an editor.<br /><br />Normal people don't notice things like that, and I'm convinced they enjoy reading way more than me.<br /><br />(she said, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms. Add a foot stomp. ;o)LTMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05239077455322030275noreply@blogger.com