He slammed his fist against the table.
She twirled one of her curls around her finger.
He crossed his arms.
She lifted her chin, twisted her lips in a half-smile.
In life, gestures are a non-verbal form of communication. Our body language--how we move, our facial expressions, our "tics"--these actions say as much as (or sometimes more than) our words.
In writing, gestures are often used to fill space or to create a rest from dialogue.
When used correctly, they add depth to the character and give us something else to focus on before returning to the real story/action. When used incorrectly, they can come across as trite, overused, irrelevant, or even distracting.
Therefore, gestures should be approached with care and consideration.
Try to avoid generic descriptions (one size fits all). Each character should have a unique response to any given situation. A gesture should tell us something specific about the character and what he/she is reacting to. Think unexpected and unusual (but not forced or overdone).
Above all, make sure your gestures mean something. Resist using them as a placeholder or filler material. When in doubt, leave it out. It's likely your story will progress just fine without the attention drawn to a random nodding of the head or pointing of a finger.
Be Brilliant!
~Katie~
