Don’t you sometimes struggle to add the right body language description (beat) to amp up your dialog? One that conjures just the right image, is not cliché and sounds fresh?
Then this meme-type exercise is for you. Read on for a quick how-to.
Take a good look at the GIF below.- Using the scene set up I give you, describe the body language you see just as you’d do if you were writing out the scene yourself.
- Post your “beat” until Wednesday as a comment here, blog it, post on Facebook, wherever.
- If you don’t post here, leave a comment with a link to where you posted, so I can find you.
I will then update this page to include all offerings I gather with links to participants’ sites or social media.
No judging, no winners. My aim is to gather lots of different body language beats describing a visual action/reaction for my readers (and yours) to read and maybe learn. An added perk: each week, I’ll choose a random participant who will get FREE book promo on my promo blog mmjayepresents.com.
Two science fiction writers are last week’s winners: Margaret Fieland and Nicholas C. Rossis, who will both get free book promos. Check out GIF Friday: Beat It #1 to see how they described last week’s GIF.
Would you like to join the fun? Then go ahead and “beat it”.
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GIF FRIDAY: BEAT IT #2 starring Kristin Kreuk
My temples pounding in sync with the banging, I reach the shed and swing the door open. Yup, I found the source of all the noise that woke me, and boy, is she worked up.
“Jesus. You assembled the bookcase by yourself?” I ask. The thing ate up the entire space.
(Insert beat) “What? You thought I couldn’t wield a crowfoot wrench? By the time you got around to doing it, it would have turned moldy-green.”
I scratch the back of my head. “Umm, okay, but how are we getting it out? It won’t fit through the door.”
She stands up and brushes her hands on her jeans. “Well, I’ll leave you to ponder on that. You woke up at two in the afternoon. I’m sure you’re full of productive energy.” Passing by me, she pinches my cheek. “Just make sure it’s in our living room by five, before your parents arrive,” she says oh so sweetly. “I did promise them you’ll have it on display today. They paid for it, after all.” She leaves, closing the door behind her.
I guess she found out Doug’s bachelor party wasn’t held at his basement.
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And here are the awesome offerings:
She blows off an errand strand of hair that tickles her nose. Her gaze bores two holes into my skull. Ants crawl up and down my spine.
Those catlike eyes flash with fury she doesn’t bother to conceal. I’m in real trouble this time. An errant strand of the hair she never seems able to tame falls across her face and she blows it away impatiently, a challenge blazing in her eyes.
She didn’t look up from her work so much as she could’ve broken her neck with the force of its upward trajectory. Her unblinking eyes bore into mine in silent challenge. She huffed powerfully, sending a loose strand of hair shooting above her sweaty brow.
She looks up at me, a determination I haven’t seen before burning behind her eyes. She fixes me with her gaze, pouts her bottom lip and blows an errant strand of hair from her face defiantly. Her eyes are hard and her gaze doesn’t shift; only a twitch of her eye gives away any emotion as speaks.
Anke
She looked at me defiantly. A loose strand of hair got in the way of her stare. Normally, she would sweetly tug it away behind her ear. Not now. She did away with it with a forceful blow of air from her mouth. The agressive, unyielding twitch of her eyes warned me not to mess with her, either.
MM Jaye's HEAs 
Love this concept, MM Jaye! Such a great idea 🙂
Thanks, Christie! Try it whenever you feel like it.
My beat:
Her green eyes flash, molten with anger. Her hair was knotted atop her head, but for a single strand that falls across her forehead. A strong puff from the corner of her mouth took care of it.
I’d go for something quite succinct, that also includes his reaction to her glare. So, here’s my rather descriptive beat:
“She blows off an errand strand of hair that tickles her nose. Her gaze bores two holes into my skull. Ants crawl up and down my spine.”
Very scifi-ish! 🙂 Excellent! Thanks so much for playing.
Those catlike eyes flash with fury she doesn’t bother to conceal. I’m in real trouble this time. An errant strand of the hair she never seems able to tame falls across her face and she blows it away impatiently, a challenge blazing in her eyes.
Clare, that was awesome! Thank you so much for joining in this week.
No problem – I had fun with it! It’s quite interesting to try and ‘fit’ in with someone else’s style of writing. It was interesting to write from the man’s perspective when I automatically take the female role because I am female. An excellent writing challenge! Now I look back to last weeks’ challenge, I think I might have preferred the Robert Pattinson one though 😉
Can’t blame you! 😉
She didn’t look up from her work so much as she could’ve broken her neck with the force of its upward trajectory. Her unblinking eyes bore into mine in silent challenge. She huffed powerfully, sending a loose strand of hair shooting above her sweaty brow.
I love your version of the “silent challenge”. Thank you for playing. If you’re a writer and want a free book promo, leave a link where I can find you.
http://rnmckinnon.com
I’m on Scribophile too. 🙂
Oh, Rebecca, I didn’t realize it was you. I’ve visited your blog and left a comment there as well. Thanks for dropping by.
She looks up at me, a determination I haven’t seen before burning behind her eyes. She fixes me with her gaze, pouts her bottom lip and blows an errant strand of hair from her face defiantly. Her eyes are hard and her gaze doesn’t shift; only a twitch of her eye gives away any emotion as speaks.
Awesome, Vicki! I love how he notices the “twitch of her eye”. It’s a good way of showing they’re intimate, and he knows her “tells”. Thanks for joining this week’s GIF.
She looked at me defiantly. A loose strand of hair got in the way of her stare. Normally, she would sweetly tug it away behind her ear. Not now. She did away with it with a forceful blow of air from her mouth. The agressive, unyielding twitch of her eyes warned me not to mess with her, either.
Great idea,this GIF-beat-challenge, MM Jaye! Greetings from Germany!
Thank you, Anke! I loved how “normally, she would sweetly tug it away”. It gives more insight into the character.
Anke, I can’t find you. If you have a site you’d like me to link to, please leave the link here.
Haven’t created my site yet.