I'm still in recovery mode from the big PASIC conference in New York this past weekend. So many new experiences... train ride, cabbies, huge buildings, crowds....
Here are the top ten things I got from my weekend:
1. If a taxi driver asks for directions, you're in trouble. Never get into a cab unless you know exactly where you want to go and how to get there.
2. Lines on the road are suggestions. And only light ones at that. If there's a six inch space, a cabby - or a bus! - will take it.
3. there are almost as many bikes and rickshaws in the streets as there are cars and buses - and they go places cars and buses don't so watch your feet!
4. It can be snowing like crazy outside the 35th floor, but it's rain by the time it gets to the ground.
5. If you go out with someone else, make sure at least one of you is tall so you can spot them when you get separated - and you will.
6. Ignore the guy on the corner who swears his purses are gen-u-ine Gucci. He swears on his mother's grave. The woman standing nearby is probably his mother!
7. There weren't as many sirens as I expected, but there was definitely a lot of noise.
8. You can often get places faster on foot than in a cab. Five of us left a restaurant, three took a cab, two walked (and no, they weren't wearing jogging suits). They beat us back to the hotel - and we even jumped out of the cab a half-block away from the hotel. (refer to # 1)
9. Always carry small bills for tips. Everyone expects it. And they don't like to change 20's. Or 10's.
10. Everyone should go to New York at least once in their lives. Did I want to go? No. I was scared to death. But I am glad I went. It was an experience I'll never forget.
More on my trip later. :)
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Friday, March 06, 2009
Body Language Tags
I've been watching a show on TV called "Lie To Me". It's all about people giving off body language tags that reveal their inner truth. The shows aren't all that exciting, but they are fascinating - which is why I continue to watch. The science behind the concept is intriguing.
What is interesting in a coincidental way, is that the class I'm currently taking is also talking about this. About how we reveal ourselves through body language. The class is not a psychology class - exactly - but a class about revealing character emotions in our writing.
According to the instructor (Margie Lawson), most writers use the same tags: running hands through hair, arching an eyebrow, chewing lips, rubbing jaw, narrowing gaze, crossing arms across chest, shrugging, and a couple of others.
I have to admit, I do use these. The why is not easy to answer. Probably because they are easy gestures. But to really do my characters justice, I should be doing more.
All we have to do is watch someone - anyone - at any point in our day and see what their body language is. In that meeting - do you see the woman playing with her pen? Endlessly twirling it between her fingers? Or the man who keeps tugging at his mustache or lip? Do you see someone walking with their shoulders back, head held high? Or slumped over, as if they carry the weight of the world on their shoulders? These are all indications of inner emotions.
It's one of the big problems with communicating over the internet. We do not get to see the other person's body language and we miss so much. That's why emoticons were invented. :) So we have a visual tag to go with our words.
As you go about your day, watch out for the various tags people use. If you're a writer - jot them down so you can use them in a future story.
What is interesting in a coincidental way, is that the class I'm currently taking is also talking about this. About how we reveal ourselves through body language. The class is not a psychology class - exactly - but a class about revealing character emotions in our writing.
According to the instructor (Margie Lawson), most writers use the same tags: running hands through hair, arching an eyebrow, chewing lips, rubbing jaw, narrowing gaze, crossing arms across chest, shrugging, and a couple of others.
I have to admit, I do use these. The why is not easy to answer. Probably because they are easy gestures. But to really do my characters justice, I should be doing more.
All we have to do is watch someone - anyone - at any point in our day and see what their body language is. In that meeting - do you see the woman playing with her pen? Endlessly twirling it between her fingers? Or the man who keeps tugging at his mustache or lip? Do you see someone walking with their shoulders back, head held high? Or slumped over, as if they carry the weight of the world on their shoulders? These are all indications of inner emotions.
It's one of the big problems with communicating over the internet. We do not get to see the other person's body language and we miss so much. That's why emoticons were invented. :) So we have a visual tag to go with our words.
As you go about your day, watch out for the various tags people use. If you're a writer - jot them down so you can use them in a future story.
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