Smirky face

Flirting is a natural part of life. It can be between people who have serious crushes on one other or friends with playful chemistry. Strong characters in your story should also flirt with each other to help make a story interesting, fun, and realistic. But it can be difficult to nail down that tingly interaction and turn it into words on a page. Here are some actions to consider that will convey to reader what's going on without having to say, "He likes her."

Sitting next to the person. Close proximity is essential for effective flirting. When you like someone, it's only natural to try and find ways to be near them. This opens opportunity for side conversations, leaning close to one another, and subtle touching.

Speaking of, another flirting action is unnecessary touching. A playful shoulder knock or a hand on the knee are each ways to get just a bit closer to someone.

Sometimes it just feels like you can't sit still or you don't even know what to do with your limbs anymore. Fidgeting, playing with the hair, cracking knuckles, and tapping feet are all things people do to settle nerves around a love interest.

In terms of conversation, one of the most fun ways to flirt is through verbal sparring. There are few things more fun than being sarcastic, giving your crush a hard time, and trading quick quips and comebacks.

However, not everyone is so smooth around their love interest. Some people clam up and feel like their personality just flew out the window. Have your character get tongue-tied or feel like they can't think of anything remotely interesting to say. Maybe they do something random and/or embarrassing instead. Your character can also experience physical reactions. Sweaty hands, a wobbly voice, or a pounding heartbeat are all annoying, uncontrollable things that happen when we've got a crush. Averting eye contact is also common. Sometimes it's hard to look your crush straight in the eye for too long. They're just so cute!

Feigning interest in something random is a classic flirting move. Once I had a crush on someone who played both Magic the Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons. I pretended to LOVE this stuff, even though I literally could not have thought it was any lamer. Giggling or laughing too hard at stupid jokes are also things that a character can do to show how much they're crushing.

Above all, a major tell is that if you like someone you will single them out. If your character is interested in another, they will make any effort to spend time with that character and make them feel special and seen.

What about you? How do you flirt?