Don’t tell readers that your character was angry. Show it by revealing what the anger looked like in actions, expressions, and tone of voice.

You want to move beyond simple smiles and tears, and describe the expressions, posture, and actions that give meaning to what is said.

  1. Aggression: eyes intense, hands on hips, pointing the finger, aiming a hand in the form of a gun, raised fist, finger poked in someone’s chest, a push, finger drawn across the throat like a knife, sitting on someone’s desk, leaning into someone’s space, raised voice
  2. Anger: clenched lips, flared nostrils, glaring eyes blinking less than normal, reddened face, furrowed raised voice, slammed fist, sudden change in position, thrown objects, stomped foot, voice is high pitch and volume, spoken at a fast rate; brow, eyebrows lowered and drawn together, clenched fist, tightened jaw. lips tightened and turned downward, smile is forced, hands on hips
  3. Anxiety: furrowed brow, tense cheeks, trembling lips, raised eyebrows drawn together, raised eyelids, showing whites of the eyes, quivering stomach, chest tightness
  4. Approval, attentive: body leaning forward, eyes in constant contact, head nodding, lips with a genuine smile, open palms
  5. Bad Smell: pinched nose, head turned away
  6. Blame Accepted: open hands pulled inward, pointing at one’s chest
  7. Bored, Closed Mind: crossing legs, leaning back, arms closed across the chest, looking elsewhere, lowered head, finger drumming, foot tapping, picking imaginary lint from clothing, hands in pockets, smug lips, yawning
  8. Concentrating: furrowed brow, focused eyes, stroking the chin, hand touches or rubs the lips, hand scratches the head
  9. Confident: arms locked across the chest, hands clasped behind the head, measured pace, walking erect, chin high, head and hands move in a hair toss, lips give an occasional, genuine smile with crow’s-feet crinkle outside the eyes, arms relaxed at ones side, body leaning forward, steady eye contact, hands clasped behind back, erect posture
  10. Confusion: shrug with outstretched arms and open palms, hesitation, averting the eyes, lips raised in a sneer, lips tighten, wrinkling the nose, voice is low pitch and volume, spoken at a slow rate, clearing the throat
  11. Controlling: finger pointing, hand makes a chopping motion onto the other hand, palms turn forward as if pushing away, body pushes forward, invading personal space, hands on hips, folded arms, intense eyes
  12. Deception: averting the eyes, turning head to the side, scratching back of neck, stroking the chin, faked cough, lips in a frequent, rubbing the nose, faked smile with no crinkle outside the eyes, short and incomplete responses, vague answers with few details, sweating, swallowing
  13. Disappointment: sighing, averted eyes, grimace, blank stare, forced smile, quiet
  14. Disapproval: body leaning back, eyes looking away, fingers drumming, head shaking, folded arms, averted eyes, lips in a smirk
  15. Disbelief: wide eyes, tight lips, raised eyebrows
  16. Disgust: wrinkled nose, raised cheeks, lowered brow, averted eyes, lips narrow with a frown, lips tightened in a scowl, stiffened chin, voice is low pitch and volume, spoken at a slow rate
  17. Dread: furrowed brow, tense cheeks, trembling lips, raised eyebrows drawn together, raised eyelids, showing whites of the eyes, shifting weight from one foot to the other, eyes blink more than normal, licking lips, shrugging
  18. Eager: eyes intense, hands on hips, pointing the finger, aiming a hand in the form of a gun, raised fist, finger poked in someone’s chest, a push, finger drawn across the throat like a knife, sitting on someone’s desk, leaning into someone’s space, raised voice
  19. Embarrassed: biting lips, face reddens, speechless
  20. Excited: faster pulse rate, voice raised in pitch, fast talking, can’t sit still
  21. Fearful: furrowed brow, tense cheeks, trembling lips, raised eyebrows drawn together, raised eyelids, showing whites of the eyes, shifting weight from one foot to the other, eyes blink more than normal, licking lips, shrugging
  22. Forgetting: slap on the forehead, a raised finger, scratching the chin
  23. Frustration: tense cheeks, trembling lips, raised eyebrows drawn together, raised eyelids, showing whites of the eyes, pacing, eyes blink more than normal, licking lips, shrugging
  24. Good News: thumb raised, fist thrust forward and down, slapping someone’s open palm
  25. Gratitude: a kiss, shaking hands, pat on the back, applause
  26. Guilt: eyes, tears down the cheeks, subdued frown, dropped chin, eyes staring downward, silence, crying, choking on words, resting head in hands, voice is low pitch and volume, spoken at a slow rate
  27. Happy: smile, adding wrinkles outside the eyes, exposed teeth, bright eyes, sparkle in the eyes, chronic genuine smile, voice is high pitch and volume, spoken at a fast rate, light-footed, dancing
  28. Hatred: clenched lips, flared nostrils, glaring eyes blinking less than normal, reddened face, furrowed raised voice, slammed fist, sudden change in position, thrown objects, stomped foot, voice is high pitch and volume, spoken at a fast rate; brow, eyebrows lowered and drawn together, clenched fist, tightened jaw. lips tightened and turned downward, smile is forced, hands on hips
  29. Honest: holds steady eye contact, hand motions with open palms, lips acquire a slow, genuine smile
  30. Hopeful: smile, adding wrinkles outside the eyes, exposed teeth, bright eyes, sparkle in the eyes, chronic genuine smile, voice is high pitch and volume, spoken at a fast rate
  31. Impatient: eyes toward the clock or the door, rubbing hands, finger drumming, foot tapping, pacing
  32. Insecure: touching the mouth while speaking, brushing hair with fingers, biting fingernails, tapping fingers or other unconscious repetitive movements, trembling voice, rapid clearing of throat, sweating, weak voice
  33. Intolerant: hand playing an imaginary violin
  34. Listening: tilted head, on the edge of the seat, leaning forward, arms separated, cupping a hand behind the ear
  35. Lying: averting the eyes, turning head to the side, scratching back of neck, stroking the chin, faked cough, lips in a frequent, rubbing the nose, faked smile with no crinkle outside the eyes, short and incomplete responses, vague answers with few details, sweating, swallowing
  36. Money Needed: rubbing thumb against fingers
  37. Nervous: touching the mouth while speaking, brushing hair with fingers, biting fingernails, tapping fingers or other unconscious repetitive movements, trembling voice, rapid clearing of throat, sweating, weak voice, swaying body, jingling car keys, averting eyes, drumming fingers, chewing fingernails, tapping feet, chewing on something, lips show a rare, faked smile
  38. Pain: touching the stomach or some place that hurts, real or imaginary
  39. Puzzled: wrinkled brow, straight lips
  40. Recognition: body leans forward, eyebrows rise, eyes hold contact, head nods
  41. Relief: hand wiped across the brow
  42. Resignation: stepping back, bowed head, turning away, hands in the pockets, silence, shrugging
  43. Sadness: furrowed brow, droopy eyelids, watery eyes, tears down the cheeks, subdued frown, dropped chin, eyes staring downward, silence, crying, choking on words, resting head in hands, voice is low pitch and volume, spoken at a slow rate
  44. Sexual Interest: moving closer, eyes make contact longer than normal, shift away, then back, smoothing one’s clothing, tossing the hair, head tilts in a sideways glance, shoulders push back, legs cross and uncross
  45. Shame: eyes, tears down the cheeks, subdued frown, dropped chin, eyes staring downward, silence, crying, choking on words, resting head in hands, voice is low pitch and volume, spoken at a slow rate
  46. Shock: stone faced, blank stare, glassy eyes, raised eyebrows
  47. Sincerity: hand over the heart
  48. Stupid: rotating finger pointed at one’s temple, slapping the forehead, slapping the side of the head
  49. Superiority: raising the chin, steepling the fingers, placing hands on hips, looking down the nose, lips show a condescending smirk, shaking the head in denying respect of others
  50. Surprise: raised eyebrows, wide eyes, dropped jaw, open mouth, hint of a smile, voice is high pitch and volume, words spoken at a rising rate
  51. Thinking: hesitation or pause, scratching the scalp, rubbing the chin, walking with hands clasped behind the back, closed eyes, resting chin on hand
  52. Trustworthy: steady eye contact, submissive shrugs, tilted head, lips give a slow and genuine smile, hand gestures are made with palms up, sits and stands tall and straight
  53. Uncomfortable: squirming, repetitive movements
  54. Yes: thumb raised, fist thrust forward and down, slapping someone’s open palm