100 Actions for Characters in a Scene
Humans are rarely still creatures
Humans are rarely still creatures, even when sitting in a chair or at a desk. Our actions define us as much as our thoughts and characters should reflect that. When writing a dialogue heavy scene or a section full of internal thoughts, it is easy to focus solely on the words being said or a characters reflections, but mentioning or even highlighting the actions a character is doing can reinforce characterization, provide variety to a scene, or remind readers of a setting.
Are they doing something without thinking about it? Are they trying to distract themselves from a conversation with a task? Is this a habit that is part of their daily life or something out of the ordinary for them? Unusual activities, habits, or how they seek to distract themselves can tell the audience something about the character. They can also interrupt the flow of thoughts naturally to change the subject of the character’s thoughts or dialogue organically. Check out some suggestions and consider if any of these possible activities for a character in a scene might reveal something new or reinforce a characteristic of the characters.
Assembling a puzzle
Baking something for themselves or someone else
Biting their nails (Is this common for them or unusual?)
Browsing in a bookstore or library
Brushing their hair and styling it
Building something large (what kind of project are they working on? Is it necessary or is this just for pleasure?)
Caring for a pet such as feeding or giving them water
Changing a light bulb (is this something they’ve been putting off or did it just stop working)
Changing the sheets on their bed
Checking the doors and windows in their home to make sure they are locked
Chopping wood
Cleaning a gun (are they trying to be threatening or is this a nervous habit? Has the gun been used recently)
Cleaning a room that isn’t theirs or in their home (are they are nervous cleaner or trying to avoid the conversation)
Cleaning a spill or the pieces of a destroyed object
Cleaning out a junk drawer (think about what items they may have and chose to keep or throw out)
Cleaning their bathroom or kitchen
Cleaning out their car
Coloring in a book
Commuting via car, public transportation, walking, or biking.
Completing a task on a computer at home or the office
Counting money
Cuddling or stroking a pet
Dancing to music
Deliberating breaking something
Digging a hole (What is the hole for? Are they physically struggling?)
Doing a handicraft like knitting, crochet, or embroidery
Doing laundry
Entering information into their phone
Exercising at home or at a gym
Feeding an infant or child
Fidgeting while scrolling through social media
Filling out paperwork at an office
Filling pill cases for the week (Is it a lot of prescription pills or only vitamins?
Fixing their clothing while wearing them
Following their morning routine
Following their night routine
Gambling at a slot machine (Is this something they are familiar with?)
Going for a run
Hauling boxes and items out of a building
Helping a child get ready in the morning (Are they patient with the child or not? Is that their usual reaction?)
Hiking alone or with someone else in a new location
Hanging up decorations for a holiday or celebration (Do they have a lot of decor? Is there a usual layout they are following?)
Loading a car for a trip
Looking through or organizing a photo album
Making coffee or tea
Making or tending a fire
Mending clothing by hand or with a sewing machine
Mixing paints and painting
Organizing bookshelves (Did they get new books? Did they get rid of books?)
Organizing their attic
Organizing tools for a job
Packing a suitcase for a trip with what they think they’ll need
Packing up a box to send someone
Painting their nails
Performing maintenance on their car
Playing a board game
Playing a sport
Playing an instrument (Are they just learning or proficient?)
Playing a video game
Preparing a meal
Putting on makeup
Raking leaves
Reading a map
Repairing a broken object of sentimental value
Riding a bicycle
Sailing on a boat or paddling a canoe
Searching a library card catalogue
Searching for an object
Setting the table for a meal (Are people coming over or is it just the regular people in the household?)
Setting up a campsite
Sharpening a knife
Shopping Online
Showering or taking a bath
Shoveling snow
Shopping for or putting away groceries
Shredding old documents
Sitting in a waiting room for an appointment
Smelling the contents of jars and bottles
Sorting personal items for donations
Sorting through the mail
Sorting trash and recycling
Swinging on a swing
Taking a walk alone or with someone else near home
Taking down decorations in their home
Taking out the trash
Taking photos (Are these photos they should be taking or not?)
Taking medications or vitamins.
Tending to a wound on themselves or someone else
Tending to their garden with actions like planting, weeding, or harvesting
Trying on clothing at a store
Attending a yard sale or shopping in a thrift store (What items are they attracted to? What do they dismiss?)
Walking through a museum (What interests them most? What do they ignore others to look at?)
Washing the dishes or loading a dishwasher
Watering houseplants
Watching a storm
Watching wild animals
Window shopping in a familiar or new location
Wrapping a gift
Writing appointments on a calendar
Writing in a notebook
Remember to add some action to your dialogue or introspective scenes to keep the story from becoming physically still and static. With luck, some of these ideas will help you illustrate details about your character’s life or spur on some ideas of your own. Happy writing!
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It all begins with an idea.
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Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Blog Post Title Three
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Blog Post Title Four
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.