Writing Tip: Do You Hear It?
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- 5/29/2008 |
- 10:00 am
Although it can be overdone, I find a particular joy when I discover an author who incorporates sound into their stories. So, take a few moments to see how sound can affect your writing, too...
We've covered the senses in previous Big Brain Club writing tips and posts. This time we focus on one sense in particular, and it's one that can add everything from humor to horror to your writing.
It's easy to write everything from a standpoint of the visual. When describing a scene or action, many authors think only of what is observed, and neglect the power of sound.
When a character is alone in the house, isn't it usually a sound which invokes fear? A creaking floorboard, a moan, a sinister laugh?
Word choice can be very powerful, too. Onomatopoeia is more than a funny word to say; it can - in small doses - create a hook that your reader latches on to, giving them a subtle feeling of "oh, yeah, that's exactly what that sounds like!"
For your next piece of writing, make a conscious effort to utilize sound in your descriptions. You'll appreciate how it builds a deeper connection with your readers.
