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Body Beats to Build On: A Fiction Writer's Resource
2,500+ templates for constructing endless unique body motions that convey emotion. "My go-to writing tool." -Amazon reviewer"A true lifesaver for those hair-pulling hours trying to edit my overused and tired beats." -Amazon reviewer"This book allowed me to look up an action and find tons of options to choose from, helping to make the writing less predictable and really come to life." -Amazon reviewerBODY BEATS TO BUILD ON is on a mission to nix the same old "he smiled" and "she shrugged," to transform worn-out beats into phrasing the reader won’t flag as been-there-done-that. Need help revolutionizing your tired beats? Now, there’s a resource.It all starts with a gasp. Fifty-seven of them actually. In one manuscript. You probably just gasped. Or maybe you...gulped air, pulled a sharp breath through your teeth, sucked in a lungful of wind, or took a crisply indrawn breathThe truth is, having numerous inhales over the course of a manuscript isn’t so odd—we humans, even the fictional kind, do tend to breathe. The trouble come with repetition, which readers will interpret as a lack of originality or, Muse forbid, laziness. And they’ll be right.Staying inventive isn’t easy, though. Especially when it comes to those actions an author can’t avoid repeating, such as gazing, raising eyebrows, making a fist, and the list goes on. Use this fiction writer’s thesaurus to add variety to repetitive body beats!BODY BEATS TO BUILD ON is an emotion phrase book that provides the bones for fresh, vibrant content. Layer with a little imagination, mix and match, and voilà—endless, unique beats. No more pet phrases. No more wasting time in search of a different way to write "she blushed." Just you and your manuscript climbing to the next level. This easy-to-navigate tool for novelists is a must-have for your fiction self-editing checklist.Bonus --thesaurus of 600+ adjectives used to describe gazes, smiles, and laughter--library of 500 dialogue tags categorized for quick grab
135 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 18, 2019
177 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
April W. Gardner
22 books285 followersAPRIL W GARDNER writes Christian historical romance with a focus on our Southeastern Native Tribes. She is also a military wife and mother of two who lives in South Texas. In no particular order, April dreams of owning a horse, learning a third language, and visiting all the national parks.
You can find April at these locations:
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You can find April at these locations:
Website
BookBub
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 17, 2022
Good but not quite what I was looking for. However, I will refer to it during editing, etc.
March 24, 2022
-Deep breath-
This is the standard.
Good. Golly.
I have an entire shelf of thesauruses, many of them revolving around this book's concept--compiled lists of action/physical beats to use in writing. Ideally, when you're grounded in the scene and have a good understanding of each character's motivations, they come to you without much effort. But, some things get repetitive, and it's worth noting that not everyone moves in the same way. So, having a resource or two is helpful.
Honestly, though, each of the "character movement" thesauruses I've obtained have been relatively useless, though. Why do I keep buying them? I like to examine the way the phrases and words are sorted. And usually, it's in a massive block of text under a subheading that isn't intuitive. The tiers of organization aren't easy to navigate, and it's more of a case study of the compiler's brain than a easy to use rigging to find what I need.
Gardner's formatting is *chef's kiss*. It's well laid out, the information hierarchy makes sense, and the resulting work is something I think I'll actually reach for to fulfill its intended purpose.
We get fifteen chapters plus some bonus material at the end:
-Body Movement
-Frame and Posture
-Skin
-Appendages
-Breathing
-Internal Systems
-Head
-Eyes
-Nose and Ears
-Mouth, Teeth, and Tongue
-Smiles
-Laughter and Frowns
-Jaw, Chin, and Throat
-Non-Facial Emotional Beats
-Thesaurus (Namely organized lists of synonyms for common emotional states)
-Dialogue Tags (Which are a list of verbs to use in place of "said," though I'm generally a proponent of "said" being invisible. I think these lists are still helpful, though, because they're action verbs that describe states of being, and can be easily used as such.)
You might think that some of these chapters fall within the range of others, but you can tell that Gardner put thought into which body beats are most important/commonly used, and her hierarchy reflects that. (Ex: Smiles *does* deserve its own chapter, apart from "Mouth, Teeth, and Tongue" or "Laughter and Frowns" because the content under each is distinct. Also: we get separate lists for when smiles control characters vs. when characters control smiles, which distinguishes between two key emotional states--smiling in spite of yourself vs. smiling with reserve, and that distinction is just one of the many details that sets this book apart.)
Each of these chapters is broken into further subheadings. For example, chapter one has the following:
-Forward Motion (under which is separately labelled, third-tier headings for Slow Pace, Moderate Pace, Jogging Pace, Running Pace, and Legs in Motion).
-Backward Motion
-Stopping
-Turning
-Rising
-Sitting
-Squatting
-Leaning
Within each of these subheadings, we get bullet-pointed lists (not massive blocks of text) that describe that style of motion. Next to each bullet point is a blank line for readers to list their own ideas (because no thesaurus is ever complete). In doing so, it opens up venues for the writer to really make the book their own and facilitate critical thinking rather than dependence, and I appreciate that. The journal feature of this book is part of what makes it so entirely singular in a sea of other options.
Additionally, every single subheading is in the table of contents.
It's compact; it's laid out like a dream. It's the best writer-specific thesaurus I own, and it blows Ackerman & Puglisi out of the water for visual writers (especially those who already have a firm grasp on their characters' internality and physicality) because The Emotion Thesaurus has you looking for what a character might do based on their emotion, while this provides more control and nuance--giving you options/inspiration for describing an action you already know will transpire.
This is a tool for wordsmiths, and it's worth buying in print.
This is the standard.
Good. Golly.
I have an entire shelf of thesauruses, many of them revolving around this book's concept--compiled lists of action/physical beats to use in writing. Ideally, when you're grounded in the scene and have a good understanding of each character's motivations, they come to you without much effort. But, some things get repetitive, and it's worth noting that not everyone moves in the same way. So, having a resource or two is helpful.
Honestly, though, each of the "character movement" thesauruses I've obtained have been relatively useless, though. Why do I keep buying them? I like to examine the way the phrases and words are sorted. And usually, it's in a massive block of text under a subheading that isn't intuitive. The tiers of organization aren't easy to navigate, and it's more of a case study of the compiler's brain than a easy to use rigging to find what I need.
Gardner's formatting is *chef's kiss*. It's well laid out, the information hierarchy makes sense, and the resulting work is something I think I'll actually reach for to fulfill its intended purpose.
We get fifteen chapters plus some bonus material at the end:
-Body Movement
-Frame and Posture
-Skin
-Appendages
-Breathing
-Internal Systems
-Head
-Eyes
-Nose and Ears
-Mouth, Teeth, and Tongue
-Smiles
-Laughter and Frowns
-Jaw, Chin, and Throat
-Non-Facial Emotional Beats
-Thesaurus (Namely organized lists of synonyms for common emotional states)
-Dialogue Tags (Which are a list of verbs to use in place of "said," though I'm generally a proponent of "said" being invisible. I think these lists are still helpful, though, because they're action verbs that describe states of being, and can be easily used as such.)
You might think that some of these chapters fall within the range of others, but you can tell that Gardner put thought into which body beats are most important/commonly used, and her hierarchy reflects that. (Ex: Smiles *does* deserve its own chapter, apart from "Mouth, Teeth, and Tongue" or "Laughter and Frowns" because the content under each is distinct. Also: we get separate lists for when smiles control characters vs. when characters control smiles, which distinguishes between two key emotional states--smiling in spite of yourself vs. smiling with reserve, and that distinction is just one of the many details that sets this book apart.)
Each of these chapters is broken into further subheadings. For example, chapter one has the following:
-Forward Motion (under which is separately labelled, third-tier headings for Slow Pace, Moderate Pace, Jogging Pace, Running Pace, and Legs in Motion).
-Backward Motion
-Stopping
-Turning
-Rising
-Sitting
-Squatting
-Leaning
Within each of these subheadings, we get bullet-pointed lists (not massive blocks of text) that describe that style of motion. Next to each bullet point is a blank line for readers to list their own ideas (because no thesaurus is ever complete). In doing so, it opens up venues for the writer to really make the book their own and facilitate critical thinking rather than dependence, and I appreciate that. The journal feature of this book is part of what makes it so entirely singular in a sea of other options.
Additionally, every single subheading is in the table of contents.
It's compact; it's laid out like a dream. It's the best writer-specific thesaurus I own, and it blows Ackerman & Puglisi out of the water for visual writers (especially those who already have a firm grasp on their characters' internality and physicality) because The Emotion Thesaurus has you looking for what a character might do based on their emotion, while this provides more control and nuance--giving you options/inspiration for describing an action you already know will transpire.
This is a tool for wordsmiths, and it's worth buying in print.
Read
December 18, 2022If you've ever gone back through your writing and found a lot of 'he walked, she turned' this book is a must. It is packed with alternatives to add movement, depth, and takes your writing to the next level. It's one I have multiple copies of because the first copy got so much use.
November 26, 2019
Sometimes you need a little help coming up with new ways to say the same thing (she looked/glanced/eye-balled, ect). Body Beats gives a great starting point for inspiring ideas or coming up with quick fillers during that first draft. I especially like the hard copy, as there are lines for taking notes and adding my own examples. Already, I've used it multiple times.
I have provided an honest review after receiving a copy from the author.
I have provided an honest review after receiving a copy from the author.
January 25, 2020
This book will be invaluable to any writer at any level in their writing career. The author is very talented in writing fiction with vivid description and is very gifted with making every word in a sentence count. In this book, she is sharing her sweat and tears that she pours into her own fiction works. Thank you, April, for making this available for us!! I can’t wait to dig into this as I write and edit my own books.
September 27, 2021
If you're an author and need a great way to figure out how to get your character's mood/thoughts across, this is an excellent resource.
Ms. Gardner has done a marvelous job of putting together lists or ways to convey character by breaking them down to body parts. The division is easy to navigate and will up your game as a writer when applied properly.
It's the book I've been looking for and would be an excellent addition to The Emotional Thesaurus.
A must for every genre fiction writer.
Ms. Gardner has done a marvelous job of putting together lists or ways to convey character by breaking them down to body parts. The division is easy to navigate and will up your game as a writer when applied properly.
It's the book I've been looking for and would be an excellent addition to The Emotional Thesaurus.
A must for every genre fiction writer.
March 9, 2022
Excellent and thorough resource!
I feel like having this book in my library will prevent me from ever over using words again! While that's probably wishful thinking on my part, I no longer have an excuse. The tips and beats in this book will improve any writer's craft. April has done an excellent job searching out more beautiful language and organizing this resource in an intuitive and easy to use way.
I feel like having this book in my library will prevent me from ever over using words again! While that's probably wishful thinking on my part, I no longer have an excuse. The tips and beats in this book will improve any writer's craft. April has done an excellent job searching out more beautiful language and organizing this resource in an intuitive and easy to use way.
April 2, 2023
This collection of alternatives to basic body action descriptors is arranged clearly, so it's really easy to use. It has become my go-to in the final line-editing and polish phase of my writing workflow.
One of the cool things I've noticed about using it, is that even when I don't use one of Gardner's suggested alternatives, her examples often spur my imagination to think of other permutations that work in my particular style. I'm certainly delighted with any tool that helps me as a writer, and I believe this one has already made a positive impact on my skills. I especially enjoy having a physical reference book in my library, not just another editing or grammar app.
One of the cool things I've noticed about using it, is that even when I don't use one of Gardner's suggested alternatives, her examples often spur my imagination to think of other permutations that work in my particular style. I'm certainly delighted with any tool that helps me as a writer, and I believe this one has already made a positive impact on my skills. I especially enjoy having a physical reference book in my library, not just another editing or grammar app.
April 16, 2024
This is another book that I added to my writing reference source bookshelf. When I have a hard time describing something about a character's body this book has come in handy. Also another good book for flipping through when you are either searching for a different word (online thesaurus only does so much), or stuck on how to describe something. Not as useful at breaking writer's block to me as other books on my shelf. YMMV
February 20, 2022
I read this as an e-book and feel it would be better as a physical copy for easier reference.
On the whole, some great and creative ideas. Some examples sounded strange to me, but it could be my preference and the style of my writing.
Different than I expected but still a good reference resource.
On the whole, some great and creative ideas. Some examples sounded strange to me, but it could be my preference and the style of my writing.
Different than I expected but still a good reference resource.
August 22, 2021
Extremely helpful
With such a wonderful interactive table of contents, it’s very easy to find variations and refreshing new ways to say the same thing *without* saying the same thing.
With such a wonderful interactive table of contents, it’s very easy to find variations and refreshing new ways to say the same thing *without* saying the same thing.
November 17, 2021
Body beats s must have.
Thanks April for all of work in compiling the wonderful resource guide.Every writer should have a copy on their go to shelf! Easy to read the data provided. A great variety of information to apply to your work.
Thanks April for all of work in compiling the wonderful resource guide.Every writer should have a copy on their go to shelf! Easy to read the data provided. A great variety of information to apply to your work.
January 10, 2022
Great use and lots of it
Best book like this by far that I've read I'm currently a new novelist and I am writing my first book and constantly looking for different words to use that I normally would in normal speech but get Frozen when writing great job
Best book like this by far that I've read I'm currently a new novelist and I am writing my first book and constantly looking for different words to use that I normally would in normal speech but get Frozen when writing great job
September 30, 2021
I'm loving this great resource to trigger choices. Having the ebook means I can check it from whichever computer I'm working at.
March 22, 2022
Excellent reference book for writers.
June 14, 2022
Reads more like an advert for a course or weekend workshop rather than a reference resource I'd return to time and again.
October 2, 2022
Organized by body parts, this provides various ways to describe basic movements.
Read
April 15, 2024Very useful
This is a very useful resource! It's not meant to be read through but much like a dictionary or thesaurus it can be referred to again and again.
This is a very useful resource! It's not meant to be read through but much like a dictionary or thesaurus it can be referred to again and again.
June 13, 2024
I've been studying this book/guide/resource for a while now and I'm loving it! It's like having an assistant who always has a good phrase for you on hand! I highly recommend it!
May 25, 2022
Another good book to add to my resource list...
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews