why always “said”, but rarely “walked” ?

onefinemess | October 20, 2009

I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen this advice given to aspiring fiction writers:
“Use only said, avoid alternates as much as you can.”
So, you know, “John said x”, “Betty said y”, never “John groused x”, “Betty mumbled y”.  I guess. I think it’s even in On Writing.
Yet, I’ve also seen it suggested that [...]