EMOTION THESAURUS

EXCITEMENT



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HELPFUL TIP:

The inner landscape of your characters (especially your protagonist) is the lifeblood that runs through your story. Emotions, and how they're expressed, are tied deeply to a character’s personality and which positive traits and negative traits will manifest. To bring your readers in deeper through shared experience, consider filtering the setting descriptions through your character’s emotions while also exploring important colors, textures, and shapes through his or her senses.
DEFINITION:
The state of being energized or stimulated and provoked to act

PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS:
A wide grin
Eyes that sparkle and gleam
Laughing
Bouncing from foot to foot
Squealing, hooting, yelling
Telling jokes
Chest bumping with others
A loud voice
Singing, humming, chanting
Slam-dunking trash into a barrel after a game or event
Babbling or talking over one another in a group setting
Fanning oneself
Pretending to faint
Verbalizing thoughts and feelings without hesitation
Lifting someone up or swinging them around
Trembling
Acting hyper, immature, or foolish out of a sense of fun
A ruddy complexion
Moving about, being unable to stay still
Good-natured shoving and pushing
Waving the arms, using grand gestures
Drumming one's feet against the floor
Hugging, grabbing onto someone's arm and holding it
Bumping shoulders
Raising up or bouncing on tiptoe
Phoning or texting to share news or pass on the excitement
Speed-talking with others, heads close together, gossipy
Throaty laughter
Getting the giggles
Friendly demands such as "Tell me!" or "Let's go!"
A body that's constantly in motion (nodding, bobbing, weaving, pacing)
A distinct walk, a fast-paced strut
Making eye contact with others, confidence
Displaying affection with friends or loved ones

INTERNAL SENSATIONS:
Lightness in the chest
A fast pulse
Dry mouth
Heightened senses
Breathlessness
Adrenaline rush

MENTAL RESPONSES:
Camaraderie with others
Imagining what could happen
Enjoyment of the communal energy
Impatience

CUES OF ACUTE OR LONG TERM EXCITEMENT:
A need to run, jump, scream, whoop it up
An intense desire to share the feeling with others
A beaming face
Racing heartbeat
Sweating
A hoarse voice from screaming, yelling, or shouting
A loss of inhibitions

MAY ESCALATE TO:
AMAZEMENT, HAPPINESS, ELATION

CUES OF SUPPRESSED EXCITEMENT:
Controlling one's movement with intent
Biting down on a smile
Swallowing a laugh or shout of glee
Feeling like one's insides are vibrating
Smoothing down clothing
Eyes that glow with inner light
Nodding rather than speaking

MAY DE-ESCALATE TO:
SATISFACTION

ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS:
Rouse, dazzle, electrify, interest, flame, thrill, clap, jump up, scream, squeal, ignite, waken, stir, pump up, animate, grin, revive, buzz, fuss, tune in, join, fuse, hop, skip, dance