A way with worlds: 42 - Without Words

Keep in mind how characters in your world regard and use expression, and much like gestures, take a look sometime at people communicating and notice the role it plays.

CLOTHES AND APPEARANCE:
Clothes say a lot. Maybe you can't judge a book by its cover, but clothes can be used as tools of communication. A smartly-pressed business suit can tell someone you're a professional (of what sort may be a question, admittedly). Casual clothes may say you don't care or that you're relaxing. A soldier's uniform communicates a great deal about him or her, especially if its formal with a display of medals.

What clothes say and how varies widely with culture (if clothing is even used much at all). Think over the role of appearance in your world, of the meaning of uniforms and particular parts of clothing. Are gloves a symbol of aristocracy? Are boots seen as crude footware for the working class?

Also, hairstyle, jewelry, and other ways to alter ones appearance can be used for communication.

SUMMARY:
When designing a world, think about more than language and speech when working out and writing how characters communicate. Consider all the other ways people can say something, even if they don't want to. It'll make your world and your writing a richer and more believable place.

A Way with Worlds is hosted at:

• fanfiction.net

• lit.org

• sffworld.com

The complete works are archived at the Way With Worlds archive.
A German translation is in the works at Christian Spliess's Page