The following reflective example is a response to Bernays' and Painter's (1990) exercise titled Funny - You Don't Look 75. In this exercise, B&P discuss the reader's need to "know" certain basic facts about characters, including their general appearance and approximate age (39). To practice communicating the aforementioned details to readers, B&P challenge writers to list the subtle ways in which basic facts about their characters can be conveyed (41).
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Non-physical markers of age:
-Type of car driven
-Smell(s) inside of house and / or car
-Pictures on display
-Technologies found in home and / or on person
-Furnishings
-Types and styles of food stocked in cupboards
-Medications / health / hygiene items stocked in medicine cabinet / bathroom
-Music displayed / listened to
-Literature displayed / read
-Amount / type of nick nacks
-Presence / amount of stairs
-Stores shopped at
-Social locations frequented
-Activities / hobbies interested in
Physical markers of age:
-Walking speed / gate
-Posture
-Hair color / style / pattern
-Reflexes while walking / driving
-Personal style
-Overall physical shape
-Overall physical health
-Complexion
-Most / least frequent topics of conversation
-Most / least frequent tones of conversation
-Personal lexicon / vernacular
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