Back in September, I published Emotional Beats: How to Easily Convert your Writing into Palpable Feelings. As promised, I will be posting the book on my blog. So, here is the next installment, listing beats you can use to convey:

Joy

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Hopefully, our characters will also know joy every once in a while. 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.
• He quirked a smile.
• A grin creased his face.
• She smirked.
• An involuntary twitch cracked the edges of his mouth.
• His lips curled upwards.
• “Yes?” she prompted, smiling beatifically [blissful happiness, ecstatically].
• He flashed her a grin.
• A smile creased his face.
• He wore a wide grin.
• She cracked a grin.
• He shot me a roguish grin.
• Damn if that frown didn’t turn upside down.
• Her brittle smile belied the sentiment of her words.
• His smile fell away.
• …coaxing a grin from him
• A cocked smile appeared on his thin lips.
• In a flash, her pouting lips stretched into a beaming smile.
• A smile tugged a corner of her mouth upward.
• His smile widened.
• His mouth twisted into a smile/grin.
• She favored his words with a barely visible upturn at the corners of her mouth.
• He allowed himself a grin.
• She winked as she left, winning her a broad grin from him.
• His lips spread and his eyes crinkled in a grateful expression.
• A ghost of a smile crossed his lips.
• His grin returned.
• A smile warmed his lips.
• A satisfied smile raced across her face.
• He pursed his lips together in a faint smile and nodded.
• His grin got caught up in the dim light.
• His laugh came soft, almost girlish.
• Her smile came warm and dreamy.
• A grin curled around her full lips like a lazy cat settling in a puddle of midday sunshine.
• His grin softened into a genuine smile.
• A smile quirked her lips.

Next week: sadness. View all posts on the subject, or buy the book on Amazon – free on KU!

Emotional Beats: Ways to Portray Joy

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