Shannon here: Tara Johnson shares insight into her writing process, plus a chance to win a print copy of her Historical Romance, To Speak His Name. Comment or answer the question in the post to enter the drawing, U.S. only. Deadline: Nov 2nd, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Tara:
Body Language in Romance by Tara Johnson
One of my favorite shows is The Behavior Panel on Youtube. Four body language experts who are psychologists, served in law enforcement, or worked in the military analyze the body language of celebrities, politicians, and criminals. Some of their notable observations revolve around people like Scott Peterson, Meghan Markle, Michael Jackson, Amanda Knox and more.
What I find fascinating is how the smallest flicker of body language, the hold of a gaze, a half-hearted shrug can scream a world of information to these experts. Whether it’s insecurity, deception, false bravado, joy or anger, these guys see it all.
Once a baseline is established (a regular pattern of behavior for each person they analyze), the experts can then use changes in a person’s normal pattern to figure out what they are thinking. For example:
~A hand on the hip denotes confidence and readiness to connect
~People who stand with their feet close together are often shy and/or feel insecure
~As stress grows, blink rate increases, as does use of adaptors and barriers, like crossing the arms over the stomach or massaging the arms.
~People who lie often keep steady eye contact on the person they are talking to (instead of looking away) because they want to gauge if the listener is buying their story.
On and on the list goes.
I eventually received my certification in body language and, during the process, noticed my own writing grew by leaps and bounds. I found a deeper understanding of how to express the motives and emotions behind my characters. Even better, I learned how to write toe-curling romance in an authentic way.
With my latest release, To Speak His Name, I had fun layering in bits and pieces of body language that showed the growing romance between Avalina and Josiah.
Mirroring– When two people are romantically interested in each other, they tend to mirror each other’s body language. Leaning in, smiling, using the same hand to hold their coffee cup, etc. (Synchrony is harmony.)
Extra grooming– Men tend to stand a little taller and adjust their clothing more often. Women tend to arrange their hair more often.
Proximity– Even if a man and woman aren’t talking with each other, if they are romantically interested, they keep each other within their line of vision.
Facial Relaxation: Being in the presence of our romantic partner causes the facial muscles to relax.
Shifting eye contact: Although men and women might make initial eye contact, if there is an attraction between the two, they will quickly shift between looking away and seeking more opportunities for eye contact.
Pupil dilation: Our eyes dilate when we see something we like.
Smell: It might sound funny to say outright, but people who are falling in love often smell each other. Our bodies emit pheromones and our brains are constantly seeking that connection. Ironically enough, our brains tend to prefer natural scent rather than artificial pheromones like colognes and perfumes.
Vocal change: When there is less than a meter between a couple, heart rate increases, as does our internal temperature as the voice quality changes. Vocal inflections grow softer and deeper.
Head tilt: Head tilts show empathy for another person. As humans, we tend to expose our necks only for those we trust.
Object touching: When a couple is sitting close together, one partner or both may touch nearby objects as a way to soothe nervous energy. This releases oxytocin into the brain.
Breath rate increases as lips become fuller. This is because the vascular system is kicking into overdrive. This also causes flushing around the ears, cheeks and neck.
Lowered chin and playful shoulder shrugs.
Increased hair touching for both men and women, as well as increased blink rate.
Armed with this new knowledge, I applied it to my story, and my, what a difference it made. Here is an excerpt from To Speak His Name:
Josiah drew close, achingly slow, nuzzling his face against mine. I flushed hot, then cold as his lashes, his lips traced the contours of my face.
“Avalina.” He breathed my name like a sacred benediction. “I’ve tried to stay away. Tried to give you freedom with no expectations.” His lips brushed the hollow of my throat. “Tried to let you go.” His voice was husky as he pulled away ever so slightly, studying my face with tenderness. “But I can’t. Don’t you know it is your smile that forms my own? Your face that fills my dreams? The touch of your hand that begs mine to forever remain entwined with yours—body, mind, and soul?”
Question for Readers: What fascinates you about body language? What other behaviors have you noticed related to romance?
About Tara: Tara Johnson is an author and speaker, and loves to write stories that help people break free from the lies they believe about themselves.
Tara’s debut novel Engraved on the Heart (Tyndale) earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly, and was a finalist in the Carol and Christy awards. Tara has been published by Tyndale House, Annie’s, and Guideposts. In addition to being published in a variety of digital and print magazines, she is a certified body language expert and has been on radio, television and podcasts. She, her husband, and children live in Arkansas. Learn more & connect:
Tara’s Website Tara’s Facebook
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About the book – To Speak His Name:
Avalina is a woman trapped in silence. Stolen from her home in Ireland and sold as a slave to a Barbados plantation owner, the trauma of her past has left her mute, wrapped in a prison of loneliness and isolation amid an island of beauty. Though she longs to be free from the cruelty of her overseer, her heart yearns for a greater freedom…something just beyond her grasp.
Josiah Holland has been born into a South Carolina slave-holding family but all it takes is one trip to the island of Barbados to open his eyes to the ugly cruelty that abounds beyond the confines of his plantation. With the aid of fiery abolitionist Benjamin McGee, Josiah forges a new future, fighting the very ideals he was once a part of.
When Avalina and Josiah’s lives entwine, will their spark engulf them in destruction, or ignite a revolution?
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To Speak His Name Tara’s Books
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So helpful. Writing clean romance is sometimes difficult. Other books use many different parts of the body when discussing bod language. These are very real reactions of couples. By the way, I am loving “To Speak His Name.”
Thank you so much, my friend!
Fascinating! I’ve heard about body language but never studied it in depth.
It’s a super fun field and it can be applied to everything!
Hey Tara. You should write a book on body language for writers.
I have a winner! Marilyn Leach won the drawing. I appreciate Tara for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.