A forced smile, laugh or verbally agreeing/disagreeing in a way that does not seem genuine is common. This is usually because of so-called cancelling gestures: smiling but stepping back; saying no but reaching out, etc. Other things that may indicate false smiles include a lack of eye contact or purposefully ignoring someone or something.
A closed body posture is also a tell: body shielding, arms crossing chest, using the hair to hide the face, etc.
Nervous people may increase their personal space, e.g. by withdrawing from a group, sitting alone etc.
Some may try to place furniture (e.g. a chair) between them and whatever scares them.
A person’s hands may fiddle with items, clothing and jewelry, or smooth out items. A person may also perform self-soothing touches to comfort.
People may hide their hands in some way (e.g. put them in their pockets). This may be because their hands are shaking.
A stiff posture and movements is common, as the person will remain too still and composed.
Alternatively, they may rush away (the flight instinct kicking in), or make excuses to leave or avoid a situation.
Sweating or trembling is common, as is a tautness in the muscles or jaw line.
Nervous people may either grow inanimate and contribute less to conversation, or else talk non-stop and faster than usual.
Passive-aggressive responses are common; for example verbal responses that seem to have double meanings or sound sarcastic.
People may attempt to intimidate others into dropping a subject.
Overreacting to something said or done in jest is also a common tell of nervousness.
There may be tightness around the eyes or mouth. This betrays the strain of keeping emotion under wraps.
Fear can make a person yawn, although this may also suggest boredom.
The skin reacts. There may be goose bumps. The little hairs may stand up in some places. Often, there's an itch, most commonly on the head, though it can occur anywhere. This itch may be very inconvenient when someone tries hard not to move.
The stomach may clench, churn, or feel like it's filled with ice.
Smokers may desperately crave a cigarette.
Some people feel fear in strange places; e.g. the fillings of their teeth hurt.
During prolonged apprehension, pressure on the bladder builds, resulting in an urge to use the bathroom. In moments of panic, the bladder may open. In a state of terror, the bowels may loosen.
It might sound like a cliché, but you can see your life flash before your eyes.
People in dangerous situations may have a bitter taste in their mouth. Their sense of smell may be amplified, and they open their nostrils as much as possible to try and catch any whiff of danger. In the face of danger, people may freeze at first, then react aggressively a moment later.
The heart beats faster; harder; louder. The person may hear or feel their own heart beat in unusual places: in their ears, in their throat, in their mouth.
Breath is loud in one’s ears.
People may feel stiff, frozen, or unable to move.
People may flatten their back against a wall, trying to make themselves invisible.
Their stomach may tighten and feel twisted up inside.
Shivers
The sound set off an avalanche of uncontrollable shivers.
He fidgeted as though chills were running up and down his spine.
Trembling in her grief, she stared blindly away, wiping errant tears.
A feverish chill tingled down his spine.
A chill touched the base of her spine and travelled all the way up to her scalp.
A shiver spiraled down his spine.
Goose pimples shivered down her spine.
A chill tiptoed down her neck.
Chills chased up his back.
An icy chill curled up his spine.
She felt a tingle up her spine.
A chill sauntered down his spine.
Fear skittered up his spine.
A rush of fear mingled with his blood.
Smile
He scoffed.
He smirked.
The corners of her mouth curled upwards into a sneer.
Bloodless lips twisted in a mockery of a smile.
A thin-lipped mouth curled into a sneer.
The thin line that was his mouth curled with sadistic pleasure.
She plastered on a smile.
He chuckled halfheartedly, a forced smile playing at the corner of his lips. The mirth didn’t reach his eyes.
A little cocky smirk appeared on her face.
He sneered [made a mocking grimace].
His mouth twisted into a smirk.
She managed to turn the corners of her mouth upward and give half a nod.
His face divided into a nervous grin.
His smile fell away.
She offered one of those forced smiles meant to conceal disdain.
His grin came lopsided, like the two sides of his face couldn’t agree on any one particular expression.
His grin went snakelike.
A nervous smile played along the edges of her full lips.
He hung a lopsided grin on his face.
He twisted his grin into a smirk.
The tip of his tongue traced his lips, toning down his grin to a fool’s smirk.
Wicked grins curled around serpentine lips; forked tongues tasted the air: a mouse had wandered into their nest.
Rage murked his gaze.
A smirk most evil bent his lips.
A nervous smile broke on his face.
Stomach
Bile bubbled up from his stomach.
Sick rose to her mouth.
Gorge rose to his mouth.
He had to suppress a wave of nausea.
The ball of worry and foreboding twisted in his stomach like a fist trying to bury itself into his ribcage.
His stomach tightened.
His stomach flopped.
She felt a little rush of butterflies in her stomach.
She stood there, the butterflies turning to knots.
Vomit started to bubble from her stomach.
Tendrils of terror curled into her stomach.
A ball of fear formed in his stomach.
His stomach knotted.
His stomach swelled with fear.
His stomach tightened.
A million butterflies took motion inside my belly, their gossamer wings stroking my soul. Then, he spoke and every one of those happy butterflies went still.
Her belly went tight with knots strong enough to hold back even the wildest of horses.
Her belly turned to water.
Panic jabbed hard at her stomach.
Sweat
A sheen of sweat was visible on her brow.
Sweat clung to his brow.
A fine sheen of sweat shone on his upper lip.
Beads of cold sweat formed on his forehead.
Beads of sweat popped out on his forehead.
Her brow perspired.
He wiped the moisture developing at his brow.
Cold sweat glued his shirt to his back.
Cold sweat trickled down her sides.
The lack of expression on his face belied the sweat trickling down his spine.
Sweat erupted on his forehead and he shuddered, gripping her arm to keep from stumbling.
Sweat beaded on his forehead and broke out on his back as he swallowed hard.
Sweat beaded around his hairline.
An achingly lonely bead of sweat skittered down my spine until it disappeared against the snug waist of my dress.
Sweat rushed down her back.
A lonely drop of sweat sashayed down her spine. It danced with her attention just long enough for her to glimpse him unguarded.
Sweat trickled down her neck, beaded up along her spine.
A bead of sweat like a lover’s fingertip traced her spine beneath her blouse.
Throat, neck and shoulders
She tensed her shoulders.
The sight made the back of his neck tingle.
Panic clawed at his throat.
His breath audibly hitched in his throat.
Her neck was flexing.
Her face shook as pink rose up her cheeks.
Bile burned the back of his throat. He inhaled deeply against it.
Fear clogged his throat.
His pulse pounded in his throat.
She felt her sweaty neck.
He spat to clear the rasp from his voice.
He swallowed the sudden lump in his throat.
She swallowed hard at a tangle of words stuck in her throat.
Angry bile stung her throat.
A lump got caught in her throat and promised to choke off air.
Her throat squeezed down on a scream.
Indifference
* * *
Indifference can be hard to convey through a beat, because you’re really describing the lack of a physical reaction. And your characters can only shrug so much before they start looking like they're having a seizure. Some useful beats are:
She looked down at him through laced fingers.
She steepled her long fingers together.
He absent-mindedly cracked his knuckles.
He dismissed her with a commanding gesture.
She pressed her hands to her cheeks.
She made a steeple of her fingers.
She sent an indifferent glance about the room.
He cast only the slightest of glances to the woman before focusing back to [object].
He yawned.
Shrugs
She gave a one-shoulder shrug.
She gave a half shrug.
He lifted his shoulder in a half shrug.
She sloughed off a lame shrug.
She sloughed off that hint of doom.
A flinch issued from her shoulder.
A quick shrug usurped her intended nod.
His shoulders flinched a tight/nervous shrug.
Waves
He waved a hand to indicate he understood.
He waved at him dismissively.
He brushed off her complaints with a dismissive wave of his hand.
With a flick of her wrist, she waved away the question.
Accepting the inevitable, he nodded to proceed with an unenthusiastic flourish of his hand.
She gave a dismissive wave of her hand.
He waved off her words like they were mosquitoes.
Interest
* * *
Commonly used in a romantic setting, these are some nice ways to show interest between characters.
Eyes
She anchored her attention on…
For a moment, his eyes hung on the [object].
He shifted his gaze to the [object].
His eyes retraced their path to…
Her eyes darted toward…
His dark-eyed gaze tugged at her heart.
Hands & Feet
She spread her arms wide.
He held out his arms.
She raised a hand in greeting.
He snapped to attention.
He leaned forward, his fingers laced before him on the tabletop.
He gestured a little too excitedly and nearly toppled off the couch.
Her index finger made tight circles in the air while she considered his words.
He pulled himself to his feet.
He jumped to his feet.
He waved.
She held up her hands.
She gesticulated.
He waved his hands.
She clapped her hands.
He snapped his fingers.
She held up a finger: Wait!
She gestured with a thumb.
He jerked his thumb toward [object].
She held out her hand.
He extended a hand.
She spaced her index finger and thumb a quarter of an inch apart to show him how much she liked him.
Head
He cocked his head.
She bobbed her head in agreement.
He responded with a wink and nod of acknowledgment.
She raised her chin.
He lifted his chin.
She nodded.
He bobbed his head.
She tilted her head.
She inclined her head.
He jerked her head in the direction of…
He responded with a curt nod.
She tucked a long, loose strand of black hair behind her ear.
Relaxation
* * *
In a sense, this category is the flip side of fear and anger. Whereas people experiencing fear tighten their muscles and adopt a closed-body stance, untroubled people have relaxed muscles and an open-body posture:
He unclenched his fists.
Her arms dropped at her sides.
He unclutched his chest.
He leaned against the wall.
She folded her hands in her lap.
She clasped her hands behind her back.
He propped his chin on his hand.
She rested her chin on her palm.
She crossed her ankles in front of her.
She stretched.
He yawned.
He puffed out his chest.
She thrust out her chest.
She set her palms down flat on the table.
He rested his hands on the table.
She set her hands on the table, palms up.
He leaned back in his chair.
She hooked her feet around the chair legs and leaned backwards.
She put her hands behind her head.
He put his feet on the desk.
He uncrossed his legs.
She stretched out her legs in front of her.
He sprawled out.
He waited until the door had closed behind him before exhaling a deep and relieved breath.
A relieved look washed over his face.
She made a shushing sound to reassure him.
His toes and fingers burned as they thawed in front of the fireplace.
Ankles crossed, his long legs stretched out in front of him.
His hands resting on the saddle, he relaxed into the ambling ride.
She swung her short legs.
She folded her calves under her thighs and scooted back.
She tucked one leg under her.
He sat, an ankle across his knee.
He spoke in a relaxed sort of way, his words drawn-out and low.
Her breath fell out softly from her lips.
Her chin took rest against her chest.
Neck and shoulders
She rolled her shoulders to ease the tension in the back of her neck.
She tried to massage away the knots of painful tension glued to her shoulders.
She rubbed the base of her neck where her pulse beat in hard spasms.
He rubbed the back of his neck.
She rubbed her shoulder.
He kneaded his shoulder.
She rolled her head stiffly to work out the kinks in her shoulders.
He massaged the back of his neck.
She squared her shoulders.
Joy
* * *
Hopefully, our characters will also experience joy every now and then. Here are some creative ways to portray it.
Feet
She bounced on her toes.
She jumped up and down in glee.
Hands
He gave a wave for the merriment to commence.
She threw her arms open.
He threw his hands in the air.
She brushed her palms together.
He rubbed his hands together.
Laughter
He let out a guffaw that echoed throughout the great room.
The silence broke when he broke out into hysterical laughter; a sort of half chuckle, half splutter.
He laughed; a hearty, genuine chortle.
A laugh broke from his chest.
She pressed a hand to her mouth to stifle her giggles.
She held back her laughter by a hair.
Giggles tucked neatly into the nooks and crannies of her words.
She breathed off an easy laugh.
A burst of giggles stirred her belly and mingled with a thousand butterflies.
Of course, there are plenty of other verbs available. Depending on the context and the intention, you can use any of these with the above beats:
Tittered.
Giggled.
Guffawed.
Chuckled.
Cackled.
Chortled.
Howled.
Snickered.
Snorted.
Smile
The corners of her mouth curled upwards into a smile / into a wide grin.
The corners of his lips quirked into a light smile.
A small grin stole across the stranger’s full, red lips.
An impish smile made his mouth twitch.
He smiled a lopsided grin at her.
The flicker of a smile passed his lips.
She flashed a huge grin at me.
He beamed a smile at her.
He gave a little whisk of a smile and continued on.
His lips parted in a grin.
…flashing an innocent smile.
A wide smile spread across his face.
A smile parted his lips.
The smile grew wider until it reached his eyes.
She smiled from ear to ear.
A smile broke through his lips.
He bit his lower lip, trying not to laugh.
An amused expression quirked up the side of her mouth as she studied him.
The corner of her lips tugged up in an inviting smile that refused to let him walk away.
Her usual crooked smile quirked up one side of her mouth.
A crooked smile touched her lips despite the wistful eyes.
Emotional Beats Page 3