Have you ever noticed when a character makes a certain facial expression … well … a LOT?
I think I notice things like that more because I catch myself doing it when I write. My characters have this tendency to lift one eyebrow higher than the other. Why?
Yeah. I have a tendency to do that look more often than I should. To the point that I actually have an extra wrinkle above my right eyebrow that doesn’t exist over the other. Yep. I come from an expressive family. No poker faces here, for sure.
And when I hear something I don’t believe–like when my child tells me something I know isn’t true–well, this LOOK comes out. And so, when I’m writing, my characters do the same thing.
Of course, there’s always this fun expression:
I tend to be on the receiving end of the eye roll more often than not, now that my daughter has reached the ripe old age of seven. And I apologize to my mom for giving her the same when I was growing up.
But it’s such a useful expression, right? I mean, is there a better way to convey disdain or complete “put-outedness?” Apparently not, because I’ve had editors ask me to remove a few from past manuscripts. Oops. (They might have gotten an eye roll while I contemplated what else to use, but I’ll never admit it for sure.)
Okay, one more, because I like making faces. I was reading back through something I wrote the other day and noticed my hero kept giving a grin that was higher on one side than the other. Is that even possible?
Um, yes. It is.
See?
I’m sure it looked much better on him than it does on me, though. Ha! But at least I know it’s possible.
That’s right. Sometimes, when I’m trying to describe how a facial expression should look, I practice by looking at my reflection making that face.
And sometimes, when I’m reading, I catch myself making the faces the characters are pulling, too. Because it’s just fun.
So, let’s chat. I’m going to give away a kindle copy of one of my books (winner’s choice) to one of you (US only right now). Have you ever tested a facial expression you read about to see if it’s actually possible? Can you raise one eyebrow higher the other? Do you still roll your eyes? What’s a favorite facial expression of yours–to read about or make or both? Comment by the 15th to be entered.
Amy R Anguish grew up a preacher's kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.
No, I have never tested a facial expression and we got in trouble if we rolled our eyes so I don’t do that either. I do think it helps us when reading a book and facial expressions are mentioned.
I got in trouble for rolling my eyes, too, but for some reason it stuck. Oops. Thanks for commenting!
When I was a brand-new teacher, helping kids with articulation skills, I would sometimes let them “be the teacher” so they could become aware of how others used their sounds. THAT’S when I found out that I rolled my eyes when they didn’t say it right! Little mini-me showed me how I did it.
This post made me LOL! And I love your demo photos!
Love this post! I think I’ve made all those facial expressions! I have to say I love it when a character raises an eyebrow or rolls their eyes.
Mini-mes are great at showing and saying things we never realized we did. I have two, so I should know. 🤣
I am SO glad I could give you a laugh this morning. I wanted something lighthearted and fun. And I had fun making those faces. 😉
I obviously do, too. My characters do those quite a bit. They must get it from me. 😉
What a great post! Typef with a grin on my face! Love the photos, haven’t practised expressions before and courtesy of selfie lens I now know I am unable to raise one eyebrow. Thanks.
And now there’s a grimace as I just saw the typo, lol! Sleep time now for me, thanks for sending me off to sleep with a smile on my face :)
Isn’t technology great? I am pretty sure I read somewhere it’s hereditary. I can only do my right eyebrow. Interesting random fact of the day. 😊
I’m definitely guilty of eye rolling.
I think most of us are!
Yes, I do this pretty often! Especially the wrinkling nose, or one eyebrow higher than the other, haha. :)
I’ve never tested any of the expressions I’ve read about. I know I can’t raise one eyebrow above the other. I do eye rolls A LOT, and must admit one good thing about masks was that you could smirk behind them and no one knew!
Have you ever tested a facial expression you read about to see if it’s actually possible? LOL many times. I will actually go to the mirror and try it out. LOL
Can you raise one eyebrow higher the other? Yes my left one. Mom did her right one. and myself and my four siblings knew when mom did this to back track a few minutes and reason why. Once long ago, our kids were then 7 and 9 my husband lost his job. So the four of us along with my parents went on a trip to the Dells in WI. I dont remember now why mom and I disagreed on but I reaised my left eyebrow at her and she raised her right eyebrow at me and said “Dont give me that, I am the one that taught you” LOL well that totally broke the ice and we laughed and went on with our day.
Do you still roll your eyes? yes, but I am careful not to do it to someone else
What’s a favorite facial expression of yours–to read about or make or both? I like to read about a lady or man who uses facial expressions with their lives.
One my kids still giggle at with me (they are now 36 and 34) is when I am deep in thought or thinking about something, I have a tendency to put my lips together and move my whole mouth to the side.
I like reading about the characters facial expressions because so much can be said by a facial expression that words aren’t always needed. I haven’t ever tried to mimic one I’ve read about though.
Glad to know I am not the only one! 😊
I think the eyebrow thing might be hereditary. And I agree about the smirking behind a mask thing! Just don’t let your eyes give you away. 😉
This is so great! I have caught myself doing the lips to the side thing, too.
I agree about expressing things without words. One of my favorite actors is Cary Grant, and in part because of his facial expressions.
I haven’t tested them.
I think it’s just the way my brain works. I want to see what it looks like in real life. 🤣
Never tried facial expressions that the mention in books. no I can’t raise one eyebrow higher than the other.My ten year old sister is into Rolling her eyes if she doesn’t want to do something that she has to do.
Girls start rolling their eyes at a very young age, I have discovered. My seven-year-old has it perfected!
I enjoyed your faces. I’m sure I’ve done that while writing but never while reading.
It’s hard not to test something out when writing it, isn’t it? Glad you enjoyed!
haven’t tried
I dare you! LOL!
When reading about characters and their appearance or characteristics, I enjoy reading a description that includes the look in their eyes, along with eye color, hairstyle and hair color, and the overall adjectives for their whole being – warm, tender, confident, etc. Definitely, descriptions need to include their facial expressions – and their smile – full grin, shy smile, grateful expression. As I read these descriptions, along with their clothes descriptions, it makes me feel that I am there with friends – the characters.
Great comment. Yes. All of it helps us know them better. :)
I enjoy reading books where the characters are expressive with their looks. It adds a lot to the characters’ personalities.
I completely agree!
No I haven’t, I sure was making the faces you were making while I was reading your post! Facial expressions are actually pretty neat Have a great weekend and stay safe. (not entering this ebook giveaway, but thank you. I don’t read ebooks at all, I am not tech savvy)
Thanks for making faces with me, anyway!
I do not remember practicing facial expressions or doing them while I am reading a book. I do admit that I do eye roll. At least by doing that, I am not opening my mouth to say something. Thanks for sharing God bless you.
True words! Sometimes when letting our eyes roll, we can say it more succinctly, too. 🤣
I do all kinds of funny facial expressions
I know how to do different ones but people think it’s cool that only one eye crosses
not sure I can raise just one eyebrow (It hurts to try) cos I have constant headpain mainly over the right side I squint a lot so if I raise eyebrows its both but I know the right one droops slightly.
I am not sure I have really tried to do the actions. sometimes hiding behind sunglasses is a help.
Me, too! 😊
Oh my goodness! I think that would freak me out a little.
So sorry you have constant pain. That’s no fun at all. Maybe since your eyebrow droops naturally, the other one looks raised?
Funny 😆
I found myself trying these expressions.
Usually, when I read I don’t do that…I only imagine them.
I’m rubbing off on you! 🤣
No, I’ve never tried to make an expression in a mirror to see how it looks, but I know I roll my eyes quite often. It’s funny that I was recently talking to my sister about the expressions her 3-year-old granddaughter makes when she watches movies she enjoys.
Kids definitely make the best faces. I think they’re less worried about what people think about how they look and so they’re more natural. :-)
I don’t usually test out the faces, but sometimes I don’t know what to think of the faces that the characters are making
I agree! Sometimes, it’s hard to imagine. I think that’s why I catch myself trying to match it with my own.
I like to read about the smirk, half smile/half smug look. It always makes me laugh imagining what that looks like on the hero or heroine face! :-) Another favorite is the one raised eyebrow because I do that a LOT…lol!
I asked an author one time if they ever made the face they write about in the story and surprisingly they said yes. I guess if you’re going to write what it looks like, it’s best to practice it in the mirror! HAHA!
We’re supposed to write about what we know, right? 😊
I’ve never tried out making faces but I do struggle with trying to write different faces since I tend to use many of the same in my writing.
I think that’s a common problem for a lot of us.
When I was a kid (30+ years ago) I really wanted to be able to raise just 1 eyebrow as I thought it was so cool when my older brother and uncle did it. So after many many hours in front of the mirror I can now raise my left eyebrow :). Still can’t do my right though or wiggle them independently lol. Maybe I better start practicing again.
Let me know if that works. I can only raise my right eyebrow. Love your story. Thanks for sharing.
It’s ironic, but I find myself rolling my eyes as a parent of a teen and tween even more than I did when I was a teen myself.
Oh good. Something for me to look forward to. 🤣 Isn’t life funny?