Back in September, I published Emotional Beats: How to Easily Convert your Writing into Palpable Feelings. As promised, I will be posting the book on my blog. So, here is the next installment, continuing Part 3 of the book: Other Beats. This chapter deals with:
Walking and moving (I)
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There are so many ways of describing walking, each of them conveying a certain emotion. For instance, consider the differences between the following: walk; tread; stride; stroll; saunter; march; amble; stagger; perambulate; ramble; meander; wander; dawdle; mosey; roam; rove; travel; journey; tramp; trudge; slog; plod; lumber; scramble; journey; shuffle; hobble; shamble; waddle; trundle; limp.
Here are some more examples:
- He swung around/spun around.
- She slinked over to him
- She hurtled into the room with all the momentum of a tidal wave, slamming the door behind her.
- He rushed to his feet.
- He barreled into the room
- Snake: I look up at the silhouette snaking towards me
- He lumbered down the hall.
- He fled the room.
- He stalked off.
- He stormed out of the room / he stormed off.
- He stomped down the hall.
- He rushed down the corridor.
- She sashayed off behind the curtain.
- She tottered along, unsteadily in her high heels.
- He tumbled down the alleyway.
- They followed her as she wove through the room.
- I’d better scurry.
- He flew out of the room.
- He slogged his way back into the room.
- Their boots crunched across the snow as they walked.
- His head lowered, he watched his feet step one after the other, his hands clasped behind his back to keep from trembling.
- His feet kicked up small drifts, ribboned by the wind. He needed this trek to sober up, his head feeling stuffed with wool and crowded with too many thoughts.
- He shooed her from the room.
- She stomped down the hallway to her bedroom and slammed the door behind her.
- He dawdled for a while, alone in the empty room.
- He made a beeline for the bar.
- He hoisted the satchel farther up his shoulder and continued walking.
- He fell into step beside her.
- He headed past her.
- He stepped off the elevator with purpose.
- He took four ground-eating steps.
- She backpedaled, heading for her boots.
- She slinked down the darkened corridor.
- They made their way through…
- He propelled me toward the far wall.
- She marched up to him.
- She stalked into the kitchen.
- She strode past him.
- He stormed across the parking lot.
- He made a break for the door.
- He loped forward into the thick fog.
- She picked her way over the rough ground.
- She slogged through a quicksand jungle.
- She strode forward.
- He thrust past him, shouldering him roughly aside and flinging hard against the palisade.
- He walked towards her, cresting the shingle ridge.
- She stepped away.
- She drew nearer.
- He leaned closer.
- She inched forward.
- He loomed closer.
- The children bounded down the stairs for dinner.
Next week: Walking and Moving (II). View all posts on the subject, or buy the book on Amazon – free on KU!
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‘Cresting’ – what a great word, Nick… Too many of these are being lost these days, perhaps because we interact with the natural landscape so little!
I love that one 🙂
Great list, Nicholas! Thanks for sharing! ?
Thank you so much, Janice 😀
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A great list, Nicholas. I think you should add beetleypete’s to your list.
Lol – I’ll be sure to do so 😀
Thanks again, Nicholas for another great list of Emotional Beats. 🙂 — Suzanne
Thank you so much, Suzanne 🙂
Great examples — thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you 😀
This was me, last Sunday. A snippet from my blog post about the day.
” I was walking in the style familiar to anyone who has ever had too much to drink. One step to the side, one step back, then a lurch forward. It took me at least three tries to complete one forward step.”
Best wishes, Pete.
Lol – sounds like you had a monster hangover on Monday…
I avoided the hangover, but still have the injuries from various falls! 🙂
I hear good things about a treatment called the dog’s hair. Erm, where’s Ollie by the way?
He was on his lead, being managed by Julie. (Along with me) 🙂
More great examples of ways to mix up and step up verbs to create different visuals and enhance emotions. 🙂 Awesome, Nicholas.