@absolutelynotclassicusernam-blog asks:Hello,Your post about blushing has been a great help to me, especially the suggestion that blushing need not be the default way to show embarrassment and the list of other ways a writer might do it. Do you by any chance have a similar post about nervousness and the frequent use of a character turning pale when they are nervous? In the specific instance I am currently writing my character is from India, but any advice you have for any character of color would be welcome.Thank you. Why, yes, let me undust my Emotion Thesaurus! I will provide a quoted list from the handy book at the end of this post, but here are some other things to keep in mind.Portraying nervousness Nervousness often shows up in how people move. As opposed to going still, they generally get physical, jittery, and jerky. Think of their movements. Such as:Hand movements (e.g., twiddling thumbs, fingers shaking, scratching head and neck)Leg movements (Think a jittery leg, bouncing a foot up and down)Shaking and quivering (Lip, shoulders, other limbs, eyes darting)Stumbling, stuttering (Getting tongue-tied, words not coming out right, or no words coming out at all)Look into common cultural body languageThere may be common cultural quirks or phrases inspired from the character’s background or region that may make an appearance too. A smile that conflicts with the nervous feelings can be a way people show nerves, for instance.You can research body language + group to find more specific common traits.For your specific character, from India, check into the head wobble, which is common cultural body language. How might that factor into their nervousness, and in their particular situation?More reading: Cracking India’s mystifying ‘nod code’ | BBC article by Charukesi RamaduraiA revisit to the blush conversation: use sensationAs mentioned in the previous post on “Black characters and blushing” anyone can or may physically blush, whether it’s visible or not. Still, it can be an overused way to rely on solely to indicate embarrassment and related emotions.You’ve actually inspired me to make a major update to that post, so go check it out! BIPOC characters and blushing (updated Oct 2026)Nervous quirks unique to your characterHow do they express their nerves?I will be sharing the list of traits soon, but avoid just peppering different actions in willy-nilly. In what ways does your character react when they’re nervous? What makes sense to them? If they care a lot about their appearance and always have a fab manicure, biting nails may not make the most sense for them. Or maybe that just shows how stressed they are, that they can chip it away in a particularly nerve-wracking situation.Inherited traitsLike one can pick up traits from their culture, people may inherit/take on quirks from parents or siblings. A shrug of the shoulders and dismissive head shake instead of engaging in further argument. Grinding of the lip and flaring of the nose in anger that makes them look just like their father… The same could be the same of a nervous habit.Going back to my nail biting example and inherited traits, most/all my sisters do it or actively fight against the habit, including my mother!All that said…There are so many other ways to show nervousness sans using blushing:Showing nervousness in writingPassages from the Emotion Thesaurus by Becca Puglisi“PHYSICAL SIGNALS: Short, jerky movementsPacingRapid blinkingRubbing the back of the neckUnbuttoning the top button of a shirtScratching or rubbing skinBiting at lipsJumpinessFlighty hand movements, fidgetingClumsinessRubbing hands down one’s pant legsA lack of eye contactScraping a hand through the hairQuick breathsCrossing and uncrossing arms or legsEyeing the exitsBouncing a knee (while sitting)Repeated gestures (tie straightening, touching an ear)Increased sweat, particularly on the handsTingling fingers and toesPupils appear dilatedBiting or picking at one’s fingernailsShaking out the handsClearing the throatFacial ticsStuttering, stumbling over one’s wordsQuick, high-pitched laughterRestlessness (sitting, then standing)Laughter that goes on for longer than normalClosing the eyes and taking a calming breathRapid speaking, babblingA change in the pitch, tone, or volume of the voiceTackling a task to distract (cleaning, waxing the car)INTERNAL SENSATIONS:Acute sensesNauseaSensitive skinFaintnessAn empty feeling in the pit of the stomachQuivering, twitchy musclesA rolling or fluttery feeling (butterflies) in the stomachLoss of appetiteDry mouthHeart palpitationsHeadacheMENTAL RESPONSES:  The desire to fleeErratic thought processes, irrational fearsOverreacting to noiseThe mind going to the worst-case scenarioWishing time would speed upCUES OF ACUTE OR LONG-TERM NERVOUSNESS:VomitingFatigue or insomniaPanic attacksWithdrawalIrritabilityUlcers and other digestive disordersWeight loss or gainNegative thought patternsIndulging in alcohol, drugs, or chain smoking to take the edge offMAY ESCALATE TO: INSECURITY, ANXIETY, FEAR, DREADCUES OF SUPPRESSED NERVOUSNESS:A pasted-on smileFlexing the fingers, curling and uncurlingClasping one’s hands togetherAn unnatural stillnessEyes that blink too much or don’t blink enoughNot meeting anyone’s gazeChanging the topicAvoiding conversationWRITER’S TIP: Body movement and external reactions alone will not create an emotional experience for the reader. Pairing action with a light use of internal sensations and/or thoughts creates a deeper emotional pull.”- Quoted directly from The Emotion Thesaurus by Becca Puglisi Hope this helps!~Mod Colette