 For Authors: May 28, 2008 Issue [#2409] |
  For Authors
This week: Edited by: Cubby  
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Hello, everyone! Welcome to this edition of the For Authors newsletter.  First off, I'd like to share a few quotes with you that are related to this week's topic. Enjoy!
Quotes:
"The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said." Peter F. Drucker ~ Peter F. Drucker
"What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
"The human body is the best picture of the human soul." ~Ludwig Wittgenstein |
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Nonverbal Communication: What Are You Really Saying?
Definitions [cited from Dictionary.com]
nonverbal adj.
1. Being other than verbal; not involving words: nonverbal communication
communication - noun
1. the act or process of communicating; fact of being communicated.
2. the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs.
3. something imparted, interchanged, or transmitted.
body language - noun
1. nonverbal, usually unconscious, communication through the use of postures, gestures, facial expressions, and the like.
~*~*~*~
While half-listening to the radio as I drove to work the other morning, my ears perked to the topic of nonverbal communication. It was actually about how a person could tell if someone was attracted to them by reading their gestures. Men pull up socks ((( How cute!))), and women twirl their hair if they are interested in the person they are talking to. Since my drive to the library is short, I didn't get to listen to much else, so I decided to do some research on the the subject and share it in this newsletter.
While it's a simple assumption that knowledge of body language is something writers should benefit from, I'm wondering how much we really know about it, or use it often enough? Waving, smiling, flipping someone off, are all pretty easy to interprut. But what about scratching under the chin, or a tilted head, among many other gestures? Digging deeper into the topic, I've discovered many body signals that I could incorporate into future stories. And it goes along with that broken record cliche`: Show, don't tell. 
Here are some examples I picked up from Wikipedia of nonverbal communication signals that can show us what one's gestures may be telling us:
 Crossing hands across the chest  barrier; opposition; cold; thinking deeply about something being discussed
Touching face during conversation deceit; withholding information
Head tilting to one side boredom; sore neck
Lack of eye contact negativity; discomfort
More interesting information I discovered from a study done by Albert Mehrabian:
Only 7 percent of communication comes from spoken words
38 percent is from the tone of the voice
55 percent comes from body language
I find that fascinating! If 55 percent of communication comes from body language, how much of this nonverbal communication are we including in our writing, especially fiction? It's certainly something to think about.
Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Mehrabian for more details!
A few interesting books to consider checking out:
 I Can Read You Like a Book: how to spot the messages and emotions people are really sending with their body language by Gregory Hartley and Maryann Karinch
What Every Body is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Speed-Reading People by Joe Navarro
Body Language For Dummies by Elizabeth Kuhnke
Here are a few links that include more interesting information:
 Why Blink Matters
http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/a/blink_effect.htm
 Believe What You See
http://humanresources.about.com/od/selectemployees/a/nonverbal_com.htm
 Body Language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_language
I honestly have to say, writing this article has definitely opened my eyes on the topic. Incorporating body language will not only enrich your writing, but perhaps help make you aware of what others are really telling you... without words.
If you are interested in more information on nonverbal communication, there is a ton of information available online and in libraries/bookstores.
Happy May and...
Keep on Writing!
Cubby ") |
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Feedback
Ronis brain tumor is gone! 
This is an awesome newsletter!!!! I really enjoyed learning how to cut out words! I am as you can see a wordy person...
~ Thank you! I'm so glad you liked it.
Jay is studying
Great newsletter, Cubby. I especially like the reference on flowery dialog tags. As for redundancy, how about the use of the phrase "sat down"? If you're not sitting yet, can you sit in any other direction than down? "She sat down on the chair." --> "She sat on the chair."
Jay
~ Yes, sit down certainly is redundant! It's weird because I say "Sit" to my dog, though I say "Sit down" to guests. Isn't that interesting? "Sit down" is probably one of the most reduntantly used phrases I know of!
Joshiahis
Thank you for the tips, Cubby .
I like how you made it simple enough for simple guys like me to understand.
~ That's 'cause I appreciate reading simple-to-understand articles, myself.
Mavis Moog
Brilliant newsletter. Thank you.
I try to write succinctly, which makes my sentences staccato. I'm working on improving rhythm. Another irritating aspect of writing succinctly is some readers don't understand a sharp point. If it's not laboured and repeated, it is missed.
Ah, the trials of a writer! [back of hand on forehead].
This is a newsletter to print and keep.
~ Yes... ***sigh*** the trials of a writer... Thank you, Mavis!!!
cookie_writer
I picked the best week to join as I have gained so much just by reading the newsletter. Thanks for the great advice and helpful links and resourses. Need to practice cutting down on words.
~ Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it.
Mark
I really appreciate the demonstration of improvemnt. Being able to identify this, or perhaps even learn to think in these terms can only help us as writers. Great newsletter.
~ Thanks, Mark! I'm more of a visual learner myself, so I love seeing examples to learn from.
Puppycat
This was very helpful. Thank you.
~ You are welcome!
GirlsNGlasses
Great newsletter! Dialog tags are one area I really struggle. I loved the Anne Marble column. Thank you.
~ Thanks for the response! I appreciate it.
lulubelle
Thank you for the helpful newsletter on needless words. Not only was it helpful to me, I thought it was hilarious. Thanks!
~ Glad you found it helpful and hilarious at the same time! You are very welcome.
ScarletSage
Hello...I don't know who suggested to have my piece featured, but I wanted to thank that person. If it was you, thank you so much, and, if it wasn't could you tell me how to find that person? I've had some issues with writing confidence lately, and this helped a lot.
Your friend,
Scarletsage
~ Yep, it was me! I'm very happy to know your featured piece helped your confidence level. We writers all need a boost once in a while. 
Maria Mize 
Thanks, Cubby, for another great newsletter!
~ You are welcome.
Great newsletter about editting out unnecessary words. However, I thought that the technical term for 'dialogue tag' was 'attribution', have I been wrong for the last few years?
~ Perhaps that is the technical term. Though I think 'dialogue tag' works better for me personally.
Ash
Thanks for writing this newsletter. I enjoyed viewing the work that was posted here. Also, thank you for the helpful tips on removing unneccesary words. :)
Ash
~ You are welcome.
Thank you, everyone, for all the wonderful feedback you send in!
As always...
Have a wonderful week!
AND KEEP ON WRITING!!!
Cubby ") |
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