Hi all. Don't come this way very often-but... I need help. My character has to smile, but doesn't really want to; and 'I forced a smile.' seems slightly cliched. So my question is this.. If I write 'I grimaced a smile.' Does this make sense and is it grammatically correct? Help!
Thanks.

Glyn

Hi Glyn

I prefer 'forced' even if it is slightly cliche. I think it's pretty invisible, where the other is distracting.

I would say that 'grimaced' is incorrect. Grimace cannot have an object.

I wouldn't say that 'I forced a smile' was too much of a cliche, but as an alternative how about 'I managed a smile'?

Chris

I use 'half-smiled' quite a lot.

Smiled, but not with their eyes.

Fixed a smile on their face.

I don't think 'grimaced' works, because it's not a verb which normally can have a direct object - if we're being technical, it's intransitive.

So you can't grimace a something, you can only grimace.

I actually think 'forced' is fine. Yes, it's not the first time on the planet that someone's written that, but then the same applies to "I love you".

A cliché is something which was once amazingly fresh and vivid, and has been overused ' "I love you" isn't a cliché but "My love is like a rose" is... Plain things, almost always, can't become really badly clichéd because they were never that commanding in the first place.

I rather like 'managed', although it comes from a slightly different emotion from 'forced'. You might find that thinking a little more closely about exactly why the character is smiling when they don't feel smiley - what they're trying to do with the smile and what, internally, is getting in the way - helps you to find the right word.

Thank you all for your advice. All very useful. I have been thinking about what my character is thinking Emma, and why she can't manage a genuine smile at that precise moment. I'll let you all know what I decide on. Thanks again.Your comments are appreciated.

Glyn

Been thinking. Maybe cliche wasn't the right definition for 'forced a smile.' maybe I meant uninspired and what Emma said, 'plain', maybe even a little telling instead of showing.My character was shocked by the situation she was in, so I decided she shouldn't even force a smile.
Here's what I decided,'I couldn't persuade my mouth to smile.'
Thanks again all.

I agree that 'forced' is okay but I like the line you came up with!

Thanks Caroline.

Glyn