“Show, don’t tell” is the first lesson of Fiction Writing 101, and one of the easiest and quickest fixes is to replace the emotional adverbs and adjectives with some body language.
For example, instead of “He said, sadly,” you could write, “He said with tears welling in his eyes.” Or, for a deep point of view, skip the “he said” and just write “Tears welled in his eyes” instead of a dialogue tag.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes when writing I get stumped. What body language goes, with, say, exasperation? So I Google it and spend half an hour going down a research rabbit hole. So I started assembling a cheat sheet I could refer to quickly, without getting distracted.
This is that cheat sheet.
Aggression
Shaking fist
Pointing finger
Stabbing with finger
Slamming fist on table
Face flushed
Veins throbbing in neck
Jutting chin
Clenched fist
Clenched jaw
Eyebrows lowered
Eyes squinted
Teeth bared
Wide stance
Tight-lipped smile
Invading personal space
Touching or rattling someone’s belongings or drink
Rapid breathing
Sweating
Unwanted touching or flicking
Moving one leg back into a fighting stance
Invading personal space
Flared nostrils
Puffed chest
Lowered, gravelly voice
Insulting gestures
Mock attacks
Sudden movements
Wide, exaggerated gestures
Pursed lips
Red face
Slamming or punching things
Anticipation
Rubbing hands together
Licking lips
Unable to sit still
Grinning
Amusement
Throwing head back
Slapping thighs
Clapping hands
Shaking with laughter
Shaking head with a grin
Anger
Shaking fist
Pointing finger
Stabbing with finger
Slamming fist on table
Face flushed
Veins throbbing in neck
Jutting chin
Clenched fist
Clenched jaw
Eyebrows lowered
Eyes squinted
Teeth bared
Wide stance
Tight lips
Flared nose
Annoyance
Lips pressed together
Eyes narrowed
Rolling eyes
Exasperated sigh
Anxiety
Fidgeting
Twisting a ring
Chewing on a pencil
Biting lip
Swallowing
Quickened breathing
Holding breath
Eyes darting
Sweating
Clammy hands
High-pitched laughter
Hunched posture
Pacing
Stuttering
Playing with hair
Attentiveness
Furrowed brow
Leaning forward
Sitting up
Taking notes
Mimicking body language
Awe
Jaw dropped
Frozen in place
Fixed gaze
Boredom
Yawning
Avoiding eye contact
Tapping feet
Twirling pen
Doodling
Fidgeting
Slouching
Confidence
Clasping arms behind body
Lifting head
Chest pushed out
Standing tall
Making firm and precise movements
Confusion
Head tilted
Narrowed eyes
Furrowed brow
Shrugging
Contempt
Lifted chin
Pursed lips
Sneering
Stretching
Turning away
Waving hand dismissively
Cynicism
Lips twisted
Half-smile
Shaking head
Lips pressed together into a slight frown
Rolling eyes
Deception
One-sided shoulder shrug
Looking down
Scratching nose, ear, or neck
Feet kicking out
Shuffling feet
Sudden change in demeanor
Hesitation in speech
Shifting eye contact
Long blinks
Shrugging
Inappropriate smiling or laughter
Shaking head “no” while saying “yes”
Licking lips
Covering or touching mouth
Defensiveness
Crossing arms or legs
Placing something in front of body
Hands in pockets
Holding hands palms up
Desire
Winking
Looking up through eyelashes
Glancing over shoulder
Making eye contact
Touching hair
Touching clothing
Straight back
Thumbs in belt loops or pockets
Dilated pupils
Arching
Stretching
Women crossing and uncrossing legs
Disbelief
Eyes open wide
Eyes narrowed
Twisted mouth
Crinkling nose
Creased brow
Disgust
Crinkling nose
Curled lip
Flinching
Turning away
Covering nose
Gagging
Eyes squinted shut
Displeasure
Fake smile
Pouting
Frowning
Crossing arms
Distress
Rubbing neck
Wide eyes
Rapid breathing
Hitting a wall
Huddling in a corner
Clasping hands over head
Rocking
Wringing hands
Running hands through hair
Adjusting cuffs
Men holding hands in front of crotch
Dominance
Chin up
Chest out
Shoulder back
Hard handshake
Leaning back with hands behind head and feet up
Steady eye contact
Hands on hips
Straddling chair
Eagerness
Leaning forward
Nodding
Wide eyes
Steady eye contact with raised eyebrows
Hand on heart
Double-handed handshake
Feet pointed inwards
Embarrassment
Blushing
Stammering
Covering face with hands
Bowing head
Looking away
Looking down
Blinking back tears
Fatigue
Rubbing eyes
Staring into space
Yawning
Stretching
Nodding off and jerking awake
Gritting teeth
Closing eyes
Moving slowly
Slouching
Delayed reactions
Fear
Sweating
Shaking
Eyebrows raised and pulled together
Wide eyes
Mouth slightly open
Grief
Curling into fetal position
Contorting face
Slumping
Covering face or head with hands, arms, or pillow
Staring
Shaking
Sobbing
Trembling
Turning away
Difficulty swallowing
Drooping eyelids
Happiness
Smiling
Laughing
Humming
Crinkling eyes and nose
Swinging arms
Spinning
Dancing
Jumping
Hugging
Giggling
Hate
Shaking fists, hands twisted into claws
Bared teeth
Throbbing vein in neck
Sweating, red face, tightness in skin of face
Flared nostrils
Scathing tone
Shouting or screaming
Turning away or leaving when the other person arrives, changing plans to avoid them
Honesty
Maintaining eye contact
Smiling with whole face
Looking up
Palms up
Open arms
Impatience
Nodding quickly
Tapping fingers
Sighing
Checking the time
Tapping feet
Increasing voice pitch
Looking away
Jealousy
Tight lips
Sour expression
Narrow eyes
Crossed arms
Love
Physical closeness to someone, leaning against each other, sitting together so legs touch
Obsessively checking for messages, constant texting
Doodling love interest’s name with a heart
Improving appearance, dying hair, exercising more
Affectionate touches, playful shoving
Smiling at nothing, beaming, silly grid
Using pet names, terms of endearment
Listening to love songs
Overwhelmed
Palms to forehead
Splayed fingers over eyes
Staring into space with wide eyes
Gripping something
Passion
Leaning forward
Nodding
Wide eyes
Steady eye contact with raised eyebrows
Hand on heart
Double-handed handshake
Feet pointed inwards
Playfulness
Winking
Waggling eyebrows
Nudging
Smiling
Tickling
Pleasure
Head tilted back
Slightly parting lips
Eyes wide
Eyes closed
Slow, languorous movements
Stretching
Arching back
Flushing
Rapid breathing
Fast pulse
Possessiveness
Handshake with arm clasp
Hands around shoulders, neck, or waist
Placing hands on a wall around someone
Standing in their personal space angled towards them
Running a knuckle down someone’s cheek
Staring at people if they get too close
Pride
Chin up
Chest out
Shoulder back
Hard handshake
Leaning back with hands behind head and feet up
Steady eye contact
Hands on hips
Straddling chair
Relief
Shaky laughter
Letting out a huge breath
Looking up in silent prayer
Raising hand for a high five
More at Writers Helping Writers and even more here by Kathy Steinemann.
Reluctance
Arms crossed
Hands in fists
Dragging feet
Pinching nose
Hands over ears
Sadness
Droopy body
Bowed body
Wrapping arms around yourself
Hesitating movements
Bottom lip jutting out
Quivering lip
Crying
Sobbing
Shaking
Dragging feet
Secretiveness
Tight-lipped smile
Hands in pockets
Looking away
Covering face
Looking down
Shame
Slumped shoulders
Looking down and away
Burying face in hands
Bowed head
Straight mouth
Shock
Hands over mouth
Mouth open
Gasping
Freezing
Staring with wide eyes
Raised eyebrows
Smacking palm against forehead
Stepping back
Shyness
Blushing
Avoiding eye contact
Keeping distance from others
Backing away if others come too close
Arms folded
Head bent
Hugging the walls
Smugness
Slight close-lipped smile
One raised eyebrow
Slightly tucked chin
Enigmatic smile
Raised eyebrows
Steepled fingers
Surprise
Wide eyes
Wrinkled forehead
Slack or open jaw
Suspicion
Narrow eyes
Glancing sideways
Raised eyebrow
Rubbing eyes
Shaking head
Blowing out cheeks
Frowning
Tightening lips
Thoughtfulness
Steepled fingers
Pinching nose
Closed eyes
Tugging on ear
Stroking beard
Stroking chin
Furrowing brow
Narrow eyes
Tilted head
Lips pressed together
Chin resting on hand
Leaning back and looking up
Threatening
Shaking fist
Pointing finger
Stabbing with finger
Slamming fist on table
Face flushed
Veins throbbing in neck
Jutting chin
Clenched fist
Clenched jaw
Eyebrows lowered
Eyes squinted
Teeth bared
Wide stance
Tight-lipped smile
Invading personal space
Rapid breathing
Sweating
Unwanted touching or flicking
Moving one leg back into a fighting stance
Invading personal space
Flared nostrils
Puffed chest
Touching or rattling someone’s belongings or drink
Triumph
Holding hands together above head
Tilting back head and yelling
Pumping fist in air
Jumping
Roaring
Whooping
Other Resources
A couple of years ago, I bought a copy of a book titled The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression, part of the Writers Helping Writers series.
For a while, I forgot I had it. It was in e-book format, rather than print. I just rediscovered it though on my Kindle bookshelf and have begun using it several times a week. It’s currently my most-used reference book.
I would still prefer a print version, though, to keep it on my physical bookshelf for easier and faster access.
Another book that covers some of the same ground is The Writer’s Lexicon: Descriptions, Overused Words, and Taboos by Kathy Steinemann.
Do you have any other suggestions for how to convey emotion through action or body language? Let me know in the comments and I’ll add it to the list!
And if you want more writing advice, I do a weekly round-up of the best writing advice articles from all around the web. Check it out!
Edited by Charles Hand
MetaStellar editor and publisher Maria Korolov is a science fiction novelist, writing stories set in a future virtual world. And, during the day, she is an award-winning freelance technology journalist who covers artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and enterprise virtual reality. See her Amazon author page here and follow her on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and check out her latest videos on the Maria Korolov YouTube channel. Email her at maria@metastellar.com. She is also the editor and publisher of Hypergrid Business, one of the top global sites covering virtual reality.
This is a great list. Thank you for sharing this. I did notice one type of emotion that could be helpful to have.
What would be some good options for a serious character? It becomes a bit repetitive to say that the characters are serious, especially if readers would already know this from what is being discussed.
I have thought of locking eyes, a narrowing of the eyes, leaning forwards and taking a deeper breath. Would there be any others you would recommend?
Depends on what you mean by serious. If you mean thoughtful, then you’ve got all the actions that does someone is thinking — taking off their glasses, looking up, furrowed brow, frowning, adding things up on their fingers, making notes, etc.. If you mean serious as opposed to playful, there’s frowning again, tapping your foot, etc… But if you want to show that someone is a serious person, just have them do hard things effectively.
This is wonderful, thank you!
Thank you for sharing this!! There are so many facial gestures and/or expressions I don’t know how to describe…this is awesome! Thank you!