Body Language - Not everything is conveyed in dialogue
Body Language:
Body language can communicate a lot. Showing what people are doing to explain how they are feeling can add depth and personality to a story.
TRIUMPH
[Holding hands together above head] ♦[Tilting back head and yelling] ♦[Pumping fist in air] ♦[Jumping] ♦[Roaring] ♦[Whooping] ♦
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] ♦
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] ♦
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] ♦
HONESTY
[Maintaining eye contact] ♦[Smiling with whole face] ♦[Looking up] ♦[Palms up] ♦[Open arms] ♦
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] ♦
HAPPINESS
[Smiling] ♦[Laughing] ♦[Humming] ♦[Crinkling eyes and nose] ♦[Swinging arms] ♦[Spinning] ♦[Dancing] ♦[Jumping] ♦[Hugging] ♦[Giggling] ♦
EAGERNESS
[Leaning forward] ♦[Nodding] ♦[Wide eyes] ♦[Steady eye contact with raised eyebrows] ♦[Hand on heart] ♦[Double-handed handshake] ♦[Feet pointed inwards] ♦
SMUGNESS
[Slight close-lipped smile] ♦[One raised eyebrow] ♦[Slightly tucked chin] ♦[Enigmatic smile] ♦[Raised eyebrows] ♦[Steepled fingers] ♦[Neutral] ♦
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] ♦
SURPRISE
[Wide eyes] ♦[Wrinkled forehead] ♦[Slack or open jaw] ♦
SHYNESS
[Blushing] ♦[Avoiding eye contact] ♦[Keeping distance from others] ♦[Backing away if others come too close] ♦[Arms folded] ♦[Head bent] ♦[Hugging the walls] ♦
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] ♦
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] ♦
CONFUSION
[Head tilted] ♦[Narrowed eyes] ♦[Furrowed brow] ♦[Shrugging] ♦
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] ♦
ATTENTIVENESS
[Furrowed brow] ♦[Leaning forward] ♦[Sitting up] ♦[Taking notes] ♦[Mimicking body language] ♦
AWE
[Jaw dropped] ♦[Frozen in place] ♦[Fixed gaze] ♦
SHOCK
[Hands over mouth] ♦[Mouth open] ♦[Gasping] ♦[Freezing] ♦[Staring with wide eyes] ♦[Raised eyebrows] ♦[Smacking palm against forehead] ♦[Stepping back] ♦
RELUCTANCE
[Arms crossed] ♦ [Hands in fists] ♦ [Dragging feet] ♦ [Pinching nose] ♦ [Hands over ears] ♦
DISBELIEF
[Eyes open wide] ♦[Eyes narrowed] ♦[Twisted mouth] ♦[Crinkling nose] ♦[Creased brow] ♦
SECRETIVENESS
[Tight-lipped smile] ♦[Hands in pockets] ♦[Looking away] ♦[Covering face] ♦[Looking down] ♦[Negative] ♦
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] ♦
SUSPICION
[Narrow eyes] ♦[Glancing sideways] ♦[Raised eyebrow] ♦[Rubbing eyes] ♦[Shaking head] ♦[Blowing out cheeks] ♦[Frowning] ♦[Tightening lips]
SADNESS
[Droopy body] ♦[Bowed body] ♦[Wrapping arms around yourself] ♦[Hesitating movements] ♦[Bottom lip jutting out] ♦[Quivering lip] ♦[Crying] ♦[Sobbing] ♦[Shaking] ♦[Dragging feet] ♦
SHAME
[Slumped shoulders] ♦[Looking down and away] ♦[Buring face in hands] ♦[Bowed head] ♦[Straight mouth] ♦
OVERWHELMED
[Palms to forehead] ♦[Splayed fingers over eyes] ♦[Staring into space with wide eyes] ♦[Gripping something] ♦
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] ♦
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] ♦
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] ♦[
CONTEMPT
[Lifted chin] ♦[Pursed lips] ♦[Sneering] ♦[Stretching] ♦[Turning away] ♦[Waving hand dismissively] ♦[
FATIGUE
[Rubbing eyes] ♦[Staring into space] ♦[Yawning] ♦[Stretching] ♦[Nodding off and jerking awake] ♦[Gritting teeth] ♦[Closing eyes] ♦[Moving slowly] ♦[Slouching] ♦[Delayed reactions] ♦
EMBARRASSMENT
[Blushing] ♦[Stammering] ♦[Covering face with hands] ♦[Bowing head] ♦[Looking away] ♦[Looking down] ♦[Blinking back tears] ♦
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] ♦
DEFENSIVENESS
[Crossing arms or legs] ♦[Placing something in front of body] ♦[Hands in pockets] ♦[Holding hands palms up] ♦
DISGUST
[Crinkling nose] ♦[Curled lip] ♦[Flinching] ♦[Turning away] ♦[Covering nose] ♦[Gagging] ♦[Eyes squinted shut] ♦
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] ♦
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] ♦
FEAR
[Sweating] ♦[Shaking] ♦[Eyebrows raised and pulled together] ♦[Wide eyes] ♦[Mouth slightly open] ♦
DISPLEASURE
[Fake smile] ♦[Pouting] ♦[Frowning] ♦[Crossing arms]
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] ♦
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] ♦