Free Screenwriting Resource: 115 Words for “Walks” / 90 Words for “Looks”

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.

Go here to access links to all of the select group of Free Screenwriting Resources from Go Into The Story.

Each day in August, I’m going to highlight a screenwriting resource available on the blog. Why? Because with over 15,000 posts and 70+ archive topics, I want to make sure readers are aware of the many, many assets available here for reading and research. And they are all free!

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