For the next few months, weekly writing tips will include word choice suggestions. That includes:

• colorful and original descriptions
• pithy words and phrases
• picture nouns and action verbs
• writing that draws a reader in and addicts them to your voice

I keep a  collection of descriptions that have pulled me into the books. I’m fascinated how authors can–in just a few words–put me in the middle of their story and make me want to stay there. This one’s on how to describe character ticks.

A note: These are for inspiration only. They can’t be copied because they’ve been pulled directly from an author’s copyrighted manuscript (intellectual property is immediately copyrighted when published).

General

1. Eating binges
2. A tell
3. Tongue licking lips quickly
4. Whistles on and off
5. Hums under his breath
6. Smooth both eyebrows at once with fingers while talking
7. Snorting after making a joke or a controversial comment

What would you add…