How to Write a Good Story

By JoyCronje

307K 8.1K 1.1K

This book is a collection of resources and random tips that will help you become a better writer and create s... More

Body Language (I)
Body Language (II)
Body Language (III)
Advice from Cliff Pickover (I)
Advice from Cliff Pickover (II)
Advice from Cliff Pickover (III)
Advice from Cliff Pickover (IIII)
Donna Ippolito
Dialogue: The Music of Speech (I)
Dialogue: The Music of Speech (II)
Dialogue: The Music of Speech (III)
Dialogue: The Music of Speech (IIII)
Elizabeth Sims
7 Ways to Make a Good Story Great (I)
7 Ways to Make a Good Story Great (II)
7 Ways to Make a Good Story Great (III)
Fixing Common Plot Problems (I)
Fixing Common Plot Problems (II)
Fixing Common Plot Problems (III)
Fixing Common Plot Problems (IIII)
Interlude: Joy on writing a good story
Using the Reverse Dictionary
'Ly' Adverbs (I)
'Ly' Adverbs (II)
'Ly' Adverbs (III)
Ernest Hemingway's app and advice (I)
Ernest Hemingway App and Advice (II)
Ernest Hemingway App and Advice (III)
Ellen Brock: Omniscient Narrator & Third Person Voice (I)
Omniscient Narrator & Third Person Voice (II)
Omniscient Narrator & Third Person Voice (III)
Interlude: Fun stuff (I)
Interlude: Fun stuff (II)
Randy Ingermanson: the Snowflake Method (I)
the Snowflake Method (II)
the Snowflake Method (III)
the Snowflake Method (IIII)
Gayle Moran on Points of View in Writing
Points of View in Writing (II)
Naming your Characters
Interlude: Joy on Plotting and Characters (I)
Interlude: Joy on Plotting and Characters (II)
Writing From more than one Point of View
Writing from More than One Point of View (II)
Janice Hardy on Multiple Point of View Characters
Jody Hedlund: 7 POV Tips -Avoid being Branded as an Amateur
Words To Describe a Character's Voice
Fictional vs Real Settings for your Story
Janice Hardy: 10 Questions to Ask when Choosing a Setting (I)
10 Questions to Ask when Choosing a Setting (II)
Randall S Hansen: Expanding Your Vocabulary (I)
Expanding Your Vocabulary (II)
Amanda Patterson: Guaranteed ways to bore your reader
Richard Nordquist: 200 Common Redundancies (I)
Common redundancies (II)
200 Common Redundancies (III)
Eight Ways to Strengthen your Prose
Leo Babauta: 31 Ways to Find Inspiration for Your Writing
31 Ways to Find Inspiration for Your Writing (II)
Interlude: Joy on overcoming writer's block
ProofEditWrite.com: Avoid Clichés
Avoid Clichés (II)
Words to Describe a Room
David Mesick: Three Things that will Make your Characters Deeper
SaidSimple: When To Start A New Paragraph
Rachelle Gardner: How to cut Thousands of Words without Shedding a Tear
Passed or Past? (grammarmonster.com)
Bare vs. Bear
Chuck Wendig: 25 Things a Great Character Needs
HOW TO PLOT A STORY
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE
Grammar Girl & Grammar Party: until, 'til, till, til
Gilliane Berry: The Ten Worst Ways to End a Book
Gary Korisko: How to Write With Confidence
silverpen.org: Grand List of Fantasy Clichés
Chuck Wendig: said or fancy-pants words
When Should We CaPiTaLizE?
Rob Hart: Plot Clichés
Strange Horizons: Stories we've seen too often (I)
Strange Horizons: Stories we've seen too often (II)
Strange Horizons: Horror stories we've seen too often
PunctuationMadeSimple.com
Punctuationmadesimple.com: The Apostrophe

Body Langauge (IIII)

23.7K 547 96
By JoyCronje

These are my final cheat sheet shares for body language you can use to show specific emotions in characters. I hope they're useful or at least give you some ideas for your own story.


Awe: slack-jawed, unable to move, fixed gaze.


Amusement: throw head back, slap thighs, clap hands, shake with laughter.


Annoyance: press lips together, narrow eyes, roll eyes ,exasperated sighs.


Anxiety: fidget, twist a ring, chew on a pencil, bite lip, swallow constantly, quickened breathing, hold breath, darting eyes, sweat, clammy palms, high-pitched laughter, hunched posture, pace, stutter, play with hair.

Attentiveness:  furrowed brow, lean forward, sit up, take notes, mimic body language.


Confidence: clasp arms behind body, lift head, push chest out, stand tall, make firm and precise movements.


Contempt: lift chin, purse lips, sneer, stretch or turn away, dismissive hand-waving.


Cynical: twist lips, half-smile, shake head, press lips with a slight frown, roll eyes.


Deception: one sided shoulder shrug, look down, scratch nose/ear/ neck, feet kick out or shuffle involuntarily, sudden change in demeanour, hesitation in speech, shifty eye contact, long blinks, shrug, unwarranted smiles or laughter, shake head 'no' while saying 'yes/, lick lips, cover/touch mouth.


Defensive: cross arms or legs, arms out with palms forward, hands up, place anything in front of body, hands in pockets.


Desire: flirtatious behaviour, wink, look up through the lashes, glance over the shoulder, make eye contact, touch hair or clothing, straighten spine, strike a 'cowboy' pose with thumbs in belt, dilated pupils, arch, stretch, women cross and uncross legs.


Disbelief: wide-eyed (shock), narrow-eyed (sceptical), twist mouth, crinkle nose, crease brow.


Displeasure: fake smile, pout, frown, cross arms.


Distress: Stroke/rub nape of neck, wide eyes, shallow rapid breathing, beat walls, huddle in a corner, clasp hands over head, rock, wring hands, run hands through hair, adjust cuffs, men hold hands together in front of crotch


Fear: hunch shoulders, shrink back, mouth open, widen eyes, shake, tremble, freeze, rock from side to side, wrap arms around self, shaking hands


Frustration: shake head, massage temples, clasp wrist in opposite hand or behind back, aggressively run hands through hair, show white knuckles


Grief: curl into foetal position, face contorts, slump, cover face or head with hands or arms or pillow, stare, shake with sobs, tremble, turn away, difficulty swallowing.


Happiness: smile, laugh, hum a tune, crinkle eyes and nose, swing arms, spin loosely, dance, jump, hug, giggle.


Honesty: maintain eye contact, smile with eyes and mouth, look up, palms up, open arms.


Impatience: nod quickly, tap fingers, sigh, check the clock, tap feet, increase pitch in voice, look away.


Jealousy: tight lips, sour expression, narrow eyes, crossed arms.


Overwhelmed: palms to forehead, splayed fingers, cover eyes with one hand, eyes wide and staring into space, hands grip onto something.


Passion or Eagerness: lean forward, nod, wide eyes, steady eye contact and raised eyebrows, hand on heart, double-handed handshake, feet pointed inwards.


Pleasure: tilt head back, part lips slightly, eyes wide or closed, languorous movements, stretch, arch neck or back, flush, quick breath and pulse.


Possessiveness: handshake with arm clasp, place hands on or around someone's shoulders or neck or waist, place hands on wall near them, stand in personal space with body positioned toward person, run a knuckle down someone's cheek, stare others down if they get too close.


Pride or Dominance: chin up, chest out, shoulders back, hard handshake, lean back with hands behind head and feet up, unblinking focused eye contact, hands on hips, straddle chair.


Sadness: droopy body, bowed, wrap arms around self, hesitating movements, bottom lip jutting out, lip quivers, cry, sob, shake, drag feet.


Secretiveness: tight-lipped smile, hands in pockets, look away, cover face, look down.


Shame: slump shoulders, look down and away, bury face in hands, bow head, straight mouth.


Shock: hands over mouth, mouth open, gasp, freeze and stare with wide eyes and raised eyebrows, smack palm against  forehead, step back


Shyness: blush, avoid eye contact, keep distance from others, back away if others come too close, fold arms, bend head, 'hug' walls


Smugness: slight close-lipped smile, one raised eyebrow, slightly tucked chin, enigmatic smile, raise eyebrows, steeple fingers.


Suspicion: narrow eyes, glance sideways, raise eyebrow, rub eyes, shake head, blow out cheeks, frown, tighten lips


Thoughtfulness: steeple fingers, pinch nose, close eyes, ear, stroke a real or imaginary beard, furrow brow, narrow eyes, tilt head and press lips together, rest chin on hand, lean back and look up.


Triumph: clench hands above head, tilt head back and yell, pump fist in air, jump, roar, whoop.


P.S.

Thanks for reading, and to the voters and commentors, thank you times a thousand! If you like this, consider reading one of my other books. They might just be to your liking (and if they aren't you can tell me)

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