Action Action Everywhere

http://www.longridgewritersgroup.com/rx/wc11/action_tags.shtml

Writing Craft - Craft

Mary Rosenblum has published eight novels in mystery and science fiction as well as more than sixty short stories in major publications, in all genres.  She also writes nonfiction and is a Long Ridge instructor as well as Web Editor. 

Action Action Everywhere

            When you write dialogue, try to show us the speakers.  Let us see their actions.  Show us their body language – the shrugs, winces, sideways glances, and blushes that let us guess what the speaker’s emotional state is.  Next time you’re in a mall food court, waiting at an airport, or stuck in line at the cash register, try a little ‘action tag practice’.  Unobtrusively watch people who are engaged in conversation.  Notice their body language – the way they hold their arms, gesture, their posture, their expressions. 

            When you write that next dialogue scene, remember that your characters are not sitting stone still and speaking. They are probably moving about a bit. If they’re not, make them move around a bit.  Give them something to do while they’re talking. Then we can see them and hear them at the same time, and we’ll hear just the right tone of voice, since we’ll know each character’s emotional tone. 

            Action tags are one of the most powerful fiction tools you have in your toolkit.  Time to start using them.