PHYSICAL FEATURE THESAURUS

FINGERS



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HELPFUL TIP:

Physical features should do more than simply describe how a character looks. Just like their occupation or area of giftedness, a character's appearance can say a great deal about them. Hinting at traits through clothing choices, alluding to an emotional state through movements, and highlighting certain details for comparison or contrast purposes can help readers form opinions on who the character really is.
DESCRIPTORS AND KEY ELEMENTS:
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COMMON ACTIONS AND ALTERNATIVE WORDS TO DENOTE THEM:
Quiver: shake, shiver, shudder, tremble, flutter, jitter, quaver, tremor
Tingle: smart, sting, tingle, prickle, tickle, throb
Fidget: tap, drum, beat, rub, stroke, pick, pluck, bounce, pat, flick, worry, fret, fiddle, twiddle, twitch, chafe, fuss, squeeze, waggle, flutter, snap

EMOTIONS AND RELATED GESTURES:
  • When people are struggling with nervousness or worry, the fingers often give them away. Fingers worry at each other, pick at loose threads, stroke or rub a certain spot over and over, drum on a tabletop, or tap the lip or chin. The fingers can play a great role in individualizing your character and creating those unique movements to show when your hero is anxious.
  • The fingers will quiver or tremble at the height of any strong emotion like excitement, terror, or rage. A common sign of anger is the fingers curling into fists. And of course, people in many cultures will recognize the most obvious finger signal for frustration or indignation.

SIMILE AND METAPHOR EXAMPLES:
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CLICHÉS TO AVOID:
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BODY DESCRIPTION NOTES:
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