Since most expressions are involuntary, how your characters look can be as important as what they say. Since actions speak louder than words, you have interesting characters when they say one thing but look and act like they might intend something else.

• How People Look

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

1. Aggression: hands on hips
2. Anger: clenched lips, flared nostrils, glaring eyes, reddened face, lowered eyebrows, hands on hips
3. Bored: hands in pockets
4. Disbelief: wide eyes, tight lips, raised eyebrows
5. Disgust: wrinkled nose, raised cheeks, lowered brow, stiffened chin
6. Fear: tense cheeks, trembling lips, raised eyelids, showing whites of the eyes
7. Happiness: smile, adding wrinkles outside the eyes, exposed teeth, bright eyes, sparkle in the eyes
8. Pain: touching the stomach or some place that hurts, real or imaginary
9. Puzzled: wrinkled brow, straight lips
10. Sadness: watery eyes, tears down the cheeks, subdued frown, eyes staring downward
11. Shock: stone faced, blank stare, glassy eyes, raised eyebrows
12. Surprise: raised eyebrows, wide eyes, dropped jaw, open mouth, hint of a smile

• What Body Language Can Say about Your Character

Your characters sit, stand, or walk away, but let readers see more and they will be drawn into the meaning and feeling, and want to find out what happens.

1. Aggression: 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
2. Anger: raised voice, slammed fist, sudden change in position, thrown objects, stomped foot
3. Bad Smell: pinched nose, head turned away
4. Bored, Closed Mind: crossing legs, leaning back, arms closed across the chest, looking elsewhere, lowered head, picking imaginary lint from clothing
5. Confidence: arms locked across the chest, hands clasped behind the head, measured pace, walking erect, chin high
6. Confusion: shrug with outstretched arms and open palms, hesitation
7. Deception, Lying: averting the eyes, turning head to the side, scratching back of neck, stroking the chin
8. Forgetting: slap on the forehead, a raised finger, scratching the chin
9. Good News, Yes: thumb raised, fist thrust forward and down, slapping someone’s open palm
10. Gratitude: a kiss, shaking hands, pat on the back, applause
11. Impatience: rubbing hands or other repetitive movements, pacing
12. Insecure, 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
13. Intolerance: hand playing an imaginary violin
14. Listening: tilted head, on the edge of the seat, leaning forward, arms separated, cupping a hand behind the ear
15. Money Needed: rubbing thumb against fingers
16. Relief: hand wiped across the brow
17. Resignation: stepping back, bowed head, turning away, hands in the pockets, silence, shrugging
18. Sadness: silence, crying, choking on words, resting head in hands
19. Sincerity: hand over the heart
20. Stupid: rotating finger pointed at one’s temple, slapping the forehead, slapping the side of the head
21. Thinking: hesitation or pause, scratching the scalp, rubbing the chin, walking with hands clasped behind the back, closed eyes, resting chin on hand
22. Uncomfortable: squirming, repetitive movements