LDStorymakers Notes: Gesture Crutches

This class was taught by the very cool Jordan McCollum. I was late because I underestimated the amount of time it would take me to check out of the hotel and put my bags in the car in the rain. So not only did I have to walk to the only seat available at the very front of the room while everyone watched, but I missed the first part of the class. :(

Fortunately for you, the full presentation can be found here on her blog.

In the first part of the class (the part I missed), she talked about using macros to find your gesture crutches. If you don’t know what a macro is, you’re missing out on what I think is one of the most powerful tools MS Word has to offer. I use it all the time at work and it saves me hours. Hours, people. That’s not an exaggeration. It’s also a great tool for editing. Jordan blogged about it here, if you want more info on the awesomeness of macros.

And now for my notes. :)

What to look for:

·         Uses that fall too close together

·         Repetitive gestures

·         Patterns

·         Echoes

·         Uses that don’t make sense

·         Uses that aren’t necessary

·         Uses that are awkward

·         Uses that are bare – He nodded (could just be filler)

·         Uses that could be fresher or more powerful

Strategies to fix:

·         Delete

·         Move to dialogue

·         Change the narrative mode

·         Use synonyms (within reason)

·         Focus on underlying emotion/message – What are you trying to convey?

·         Use subtext

·         Cultivate a body language bank

·         Change the body part

·         Punch up

·         Use something old in a new and fresh way

Personalizing character gestures:

·         Describe in her POV

·         Give character a trademark gesture

·         Dig into character (see below)

·         Look at scene’s emotional set

·         Observe

·         Use real life patterns

·         Get up and act it out

Digging in:

·         Get to know character

·         What are they like physically? How does that impact their movement? How do they feel about that? Look at their past and present. Ex: Tall person—how does he carry himself? What does that say about him?

·         Basic details—specifics, personalized

·         Ask So what? to reach inner value/core truth

·         Value—Ex: feels not good enough/average

·         Trait—Ex: general attitude timid/cover with bravado

·         Mannerism—Ex: way that he walks, way he holds his head

·         Does he want to stand out?

·         Capturing a vision of character as an integrated whole

You don’t need to delete every smile and nod, but they start to lose meaning when overused.

And that’s all I have. I hope that was helpful to some of you. Be sure to check out Jordan’s website and her books.

In the comments, tell me your go-to gesture crutches and your methods for making them work for you.