“I can’t decide,” sighed the child.“How hard can it be — either chocolate or vanilla!”
“But I can’t decide.”
UNDECIDED . Haven’t we all felt undecided. Making decisions is not always easy, even if it’s something as simple as the ice cream flavor we want. Life decisions are even harder.
And harder yet is portraying that undecided character. Body language plays a role here along with the dialogue for this character. Think of someone wavering or vacillating, back and forth between choices.
1. not decided or determined.
2. not having one’s mind fully made up.
Synonyms: indecisive, fluctuating, wavering, vacillating, irresolute.
* * *
Writing dialogue for the undecided character is simpler than building an image of that character in the reader’s mind. The answers of the undecided character easily come to mind. Look at the options in this image.
But it’s the person, the character the writer wants to breathe life into. Characteristics that come to mind are:
- scratching the head
- looking up while holding the chin
- an expression of confusion or perplexity
- agitation shown by pacing or walking around
Images may help portray body language:
If stumped when writing, always search for images such as these and print them out. Tack them on the wall or stand them against something on your desk and use that image to spur your imagination and creative juices along in the development of your undecided character, or any character for that matter.
Image attributions may be found by clicking on the image.
Sherrey – I have loved this series of posts. What about an undecided author? 🙂 Seriously, I’ve got several projects working and can’t decide which one to finish first. I guess that keeps the writing life interesting!
Undecided authors are some of the most undecided among us! 🙂 And I can relate. It does give you something to switch off to when you get bored with one project.
(And I’m not sure how my name was misspelled in the comment!)
Yes, who is Joanoan?????
O those moments of indecision. Sometimes I toss a coin, it gets so bad. Especially when my shoulders take strain from being shrugged, or I develop a scar from scratching my head …Into the file/dossier you go Sherrey thank you so much! Such great ideas – I am indebted to you!
Susan Scott’s Soul Stuff
Susan, I love your descriptive comments about your undecided moments. There’s something rather spy-sounding about the “file/dossier!”
I very often look for a body language image to describe a character. Once I struggled to find a description for one of my more sloppy people. While waiting at the bus stop I studied a young girl and had my description!
A young girl at the bus stop had to be a good study for “more sloppy.” My husband shakes his head at some of the clothing worn today. 🙂
Yes, I’m undecided lots more times than I am ‘decided.’ Doubts … oh, doubts. But somehow, it always works out, or I do ok making it look as if it does. :)BTW, I love the name of your blog.
Silvia @ Silvia Writes
Silvia, I think there are lots of us in the more often undecided than decided group. Thank for taking the time to stop by and for the comment on my blog’s name — I like yours too!
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