When you want to write the emotion joy, it's important to "show" the emotion your character is experiencing through their physical reactions and dialogue, rather than "tell" it. In this article we provide you with inspiration so you can avoid showing instead of telling and immerse your readers in your story.

Joy is a feeling of great happiness and pleasure. It is an intense emotion that arises from a sense of delight, satisfaction, or contentment. Joy can be expressed in a variety of ways, such as through laughter, smiling, dancing, or simply feeling a sense of warmth and happiness inside. It can be experienced in response to a wide range of situations or events, from achieving a personal goal to spending time with loved ones or simply enjoying a beautiful day.

Different Types of Joy

Here are some different types of joy:

• Ecstasy
• Delight
• Euphoria
• Gratitude
• Jubilation
• Bliss
• Enchantment
• Rapture
• Elation

Situations Associated with Joy

Here are some situations where a character might experience the emotion of joy:

• Achieving a long-awaited goal or dream
• Receiving good news or a positive surprise
• Spending time with loved ones or close friends
• Accomplishing a difficult task or overcoming a challenge
• Being recognized or appreciated for their efforts or talents
• Engaging in a favorite hobby or activity
• Experiencing a beautiful moment in nature or art
• Helping others or making a positive impact
• Feeling a sense of belonging or connection with a community

Physical Reactions to Joy

Here are some physical reactions a character experiencing joy might have:

• Smiling and laughing
• Bright and wide eyes
• Raised eyebrows
• Open body language
• Jumping or skipping
• Clapping or cheering
• Hugging or touching others
• Dancing or swaying
• Speaking in a cheerful and enthusiastic tone
• Increased energy and enthusiasm
• Playful or silly behavior
• Flushed cheeks
• Tears of happiness or gratitude
• Expressing gratitude or appreciation

Thoughts Associated with Joy

Here are some thoughts a character experiencing joy might have:

• My heart is overflowing with happiness.
• I feel like I'm on top of the world.
• I can't stop smiling.
• Everything seems brighter and more vibrant.
• I'm grateful for this moment and the people in it.
• I feel a sense of peace and contentment.
• I want to savor this feeling and hold onto it forever.
• I feel energized and ready to take on anything.
• This is what life is all about.

Atmosphere of Joy

Here are some ways that you might reflect the emotion of joy in the atmosphere of your scene:

• Use bright and vibrant colors to create a lively and cheerful environment.
• Describe the warmth of the sun on the characters' faces, or the cool breeze on a summer day.
• Incorporate elements of nature, such as blooming flowers or singing birds, to create a sense of renewal and growth.
• Include music, laughter, or other sounds of happiness to enhance the joyful atmosphere.
• Show characters engaging in activities that bring them pleasure, such as dancing or playing games.
• Use sensory details to convey the pleasure of eating delicious food or drinking a refreshing beverage.
• Show characters expressing gratitude or appreciation for the good things in their lives.
• Use joyful memories or experiences from the characters' past to enhance the present moment.

Verbs Associated with Joy

Here are some verbs commonly associated with the emotion of joy:

• Laugh
• Smile
• Rejoice
• Celebrate
• Delight
• Thrill
• Jump
• Dance
• Sing
• Radiate
• Shine
• Glow
• Grin
• Chuckle
• Play
• Exult
• Cheer
• Enjoy
• Jolly

Emotions Before Joy

Here are some emotions that may come before a character experiences joy:

• Sadness
• Disappointment
• Frustration
• Anxiety
• Fear
• Despair
• Grief
• Loneliness
• Resentment
• Anger
• Envy

Emotions After Joy

Here are some emotions that may come after a character experiences joy:

• Contentment
• Gratitude
• Satisfaction
• Serenity
• Peace
• Love
• Excitement
• Enthusiasm
• Anticipation

Telling Joy Examples to Avoid

Here are some examples of telling the emotion joy in a sentence. You should avoid things like this:

• She felt happy to see her old friend again.
• He was overjoyed to hear the good news.
• The family rejoiced at the arrival of their new baby.
• She was delighted with the surprise party.
• He couldn't help but smile at the sight of the beautiful sunset.
• The children giggled and laughed as they played together.
• She felt a sense of elation after completing the marathon.
• He was thrilled to receive the job offer.
• They were ecstatic when their favorite team won the championship.

Practical Examples of Showing Joy

Here are some examples of showing joy in a sentence:

• She twirled around the room, her skirt billowing out like a blooming flower.
• He threw his head back and laughed, the sound echoing off the walls.
• The sun warmed her face as she strolled along the beach, taking in the beauty around her.
• She hugged her friends tightly, tears of happiness streaming down her face.

Exercises for Showing Joy

Here are some writing exercises to practice showing joy:

• Write a scene where your character is experiencing pure, unbridled joy. What are they doing? Where are they? Who are they with? What physical sensations do they experience?
• Think of a moment in your own life where you experienced intense joy. Use that as inspiration for a scene in your writing. How can you recreate that feeling for your character?
• Write a character who is trying to hide their joy from others. Why are they hiding it? What tactics do they use to conceal their emotions?
• Create a character who is struggling to find joy in their life. What obstacles are they facing? How can they overcome them and find happiness?
• Write a scene where two characters share a moment of joy together. What brings them together? What makes this moment special?
• Think about the physical manifestations of joy - smiling, laughing, jumping up and down. How can you use these actions to show your character's emotions?
• Write a character who experiences joy in unexpected places. For example, maybe they find joy in the sound of rain on a tin roof or the smell of freshly baked bread. How can you use sensory details to convey this joy?

Want more help with showing emotion instead of telling? You find more help in our full emotions thesaurus.