I... actually use lip biting infrequently, that I'm aware of. I usually do something more along the lines of 'bites the inside of his/her' lip, rather than just chewing down. I do the nostril flare thing quite a lot.
But I have to admit that I haven't used the butt clenching. >>
Hmm, I thinking biting the inside of the lip actually falls under the same rubric as lip-biting in general. It seems to have the same feel, at least to me.
But I have to admit that I haven't used the butt clenching. >>
But you'll be thinking about it now won't you? *laughs*
While I agree that lip biting says something iconic, I find it's generally way over used. And once you notice it, you realize it's REALLY REALLY over used. :P
So, in the interest of sharing the wealth of other ticks, some of which are just as evocative, I spam you with a link to a question my friend asked. The question? What are you ticks and quirks? What do you do when stressed?
I love it. I use it as reference whenever I need something evocative of stress, but am trying not to fall back on lip biting (or neck rubbing, which is another common one.)
Um, also, sometimes lip biting/head rubbing really is good, especially if it's done in an unusual way--several of the examples you had up there were not 'normal' lip biting, for instance. Don't mean to imply that it's always bad, just that it can be over used. ;)
Yeah I was actually surprised at the diversity of lip-biting I was able to find in really a very cursory search through a limited number of threads on Scarlet Spiral. Just shows how awesome it is to work with really good writers, I think. *grin*
Funny -- off the top of my head I can't ever remember writing a character biting their lip in situations like those, but I use it often when a character is having a thoughtful, "let me try to remember..." type moment, i.e. trying to give somebody directions or something. I think it's just because I use the gesture often myself in that kind of situation.
....which I realize is not actually helpful. XD; ah well.
I actually scanned some Spiral threads looking for Kakashi and lip biting-your Kakashi doesn't do it.
The thoughtful/trying to remember lip bite is another one I should have mentioned in my analysis. Didn't find an example of it, but that's a very good point, And again, yeah, we write it because it's a natural human behavior, We do it ourselves, so of course our characters do, too.
This is quite awesome, and I'm really glad you put the time into working all this out. I can appreciate, "Don't bite your lip till it bleeds, it's dumb AND it's cliche!" (especially when I have never personally bitten my lip bloody except on accident when I'm chewing), but it's really nice to see all your thoughts about it laid out so beautifully
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OOh thank you! I'm glad you found this insightful.
I think you're quite right, our characters use the gestures that are most familiar to ourselves. I, too, chew the insides of my cheeks, right at the corners of my mouth. In fact I have a pair of permanent scars on either side where my canines have over a lifetile created little bumps just perfect for gnawing on in moments of thought or stress of idleness. Now I wonder what other unconscious gesture of mine I should or already do tend to give my characters. No, the butt-clench isn't one of them.
Icons are interesting things, because they really can transcend cliché. But they can also swing back and become, as you say absurd. Overuse robs them of the very meaning they once had.
Semiotics and symbology is a field of study my dad wanted be to pursue at one point; I wonder what he'd think of this analysis?
Excellent, I'm so glad. I was actually surprised at the wide range of types of lip-biting I found in my brief search. You do tend to use it, but you don't use it just one way, which
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But I have to admit that I haven't used the butt clenching. >>
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But I have to admit that I haven't used the butt clenching. >>
But you'll be thinking about it now won't you? *laughs*
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So, in the interest of sharing the wealth of other ticks, some of which are just as evocative, I spam you with a link to a question my friend asked. The question? What are you ticks and quirks? What do you do when stressed?
I love it. I use it as reference whenever I need something evocative of stress, but am trying not to fall back on lip biting (or neck rubbing, which is another common one.)
Here!
Um, also, sometimes lip biting/head rubbing really is good, especially if it's done in an unusual way--several of the examples you had up there were not 'normal' lip biting, for instance. Don't mean to imply that it's always bad, just that it can be over used. ;)
JB
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Yeah I was actually surprised at the diversity of lip-biting I was able to find in really a very cursory search through a limited number of threads on Scarlet Spiral. Just shows how awesome it is to work with really good writers, I think. *grin*
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....which I realize is not actually helpful. XD; ah well.
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The thoughtful/trying to remember lip bite is another one I should have mentioned in my analysis. Didn't find an example of it, but that's a very good point, And again, yeah, we write it because it's a natural human behavior, We do it ourselves, so of course our characters do, too.
And you are definitely helpful <3
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You were saying something about Crossroads?
(On a unrelated note, holding your tongue JUST RIGHT is usually a sign of concentration that I don't think is used enough.)
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Yes, Crossroads. *feels guilt well up* Can we work on it Wednesday?
Totally right about the tongue, There are some truly hilarious photos of me doing exactly that while drawing. I'm fact here is one
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Try, thurs or friday night?
And I'm not whining. I'm just. prodding at that was the first serious co-lab thing i could think of we have going.
I suppose rough-sex has already had ass-clenching.
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And oh god, I suppose Rough Sex did, at that.
Another one we really ought to finish. I'm so bad at not finishing things. *sigh* *clenches ass in consternation*
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I think you're quite right, our characters use the gestures that are most familiar to ourselves. I, too, chew the insides of my cheeks, right at the corners of my mouth. In fact I have a pair of permanent scars on either side where my canines have over a lifetile created little bumps just perfect for gnawing on in moments of thought or stress of idleness. Now I wonder what other unconscious gesture of mine I should or already do tend to give my characters. No, the butt-clench isn't one of them.
Icons are interesting things, because they really can transcend cliché. But they can also swing back and become, as you say absurd. Overuse robs them of the very meaning they once had.
Semiotics and symbology is a field of study my dad wanted be to pursue at one point; I wonder what he'd think of this analysis?
Excellent, I'm so glad. I was actually surprised at the wide range of types of lip-biting I found in my brief search. You do tend to use it, but you don't use it just one way, which ( ... )
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