115 Words for “Walks” / 90 Words for “Looks”

“Walks”. “Looks”. Come on, folks. We can do much better than that.

Other than poetry, there may be no narrative platform where every word choice is as critical as it is in a screenplay. Whenever we write a scene, we use words to create images… because movies are primarily a visual medium.

So when I teach and work with writers, I stress the importance of loving the language. Use it. Vivid descriptors… and especially active verbs.

To that end, I was pleased when GITS reader Alan Donahue put together lists of alternates for two verbs I see overused in scripts waaaaaaaaaayyyy too much: Walk and Look. There are times when they are appropriate, but honestly, why have a character walk when they can stumble, shuffle, stride, or strut?

Why have them look when they can ogle, leer, stare or glare?

Motion. Pictures. Both words imply the imagematic nature of the medium. Therefore use your words!

You can download the PDF 115 Words for “Walks” here and 90 Words for “Looks” here.

What other verbs can use an upgrade? Write a RESPONSE and maybe we can add to the list of verbs which deserve the synonym treatment.