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fingers

Hands and fingers are far easier to write about than facial features. I spend a lot of time observing mechanical detail, when I'm reading; in fact, if I forget to pay attention to the mechanics, that's the primary sign that the author has successfully seduced me into the story. Most especially I'm prone to notice what characters do with their hands while they're talking. In fiction, as in real life, body language gives a lot away.

I'm not talking about describing hands in a general way. How the old man missing three fingers manages to tie his shoes may turn out to be an interesting and well done paragraph, sure. But what I'm talking about here is using hand motions as a layering technique in dialogue/scene.

If you think about all the things hands can do, it seems pretty much impossible to make a list. I did a search through my own novels and came up with the things that I use (and sometimes, if I don't watch myself, overuse):

• "Not another war story! What a bellicose young nation you are. No dinner party seems complete without a discussion of one revolution or another." Her hand made a long corkscrew in the air. "A most untidy business."
• She turned her hand over on the table and wiggled her fingers.
• Elizabeth ran her knuckles over her brow.
• With great deliberation she put down her fork and folded her hands in her lap.
• ... one hand raised in a peaceful gesture.
• She came closer, one long bony finger poking at his chest ...
• Nathaniel rubbed a finger over the bridge of his nose.
• He jerked a thumb toward Anna ...
• ... his great splayed thumb packing down the tobacco ...
• She pressed her palms hard together
• ... she fluttered her hands at them all ...

I'm always telling myself that I should take notes when I'm reading and I come across an interesting bit about the way a character moves his or her hands, but then I always forget, or I'm too lazy to get up and find sticky notes, or I do get up to find something to write on and then get waylaid. But if you can make yourself do it, it's a good thing to have such lists to refer to; not that you need to use them, but they get you thinking along lines that may be unusual for you.