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A to Z Challenge: S

S is for Sound

How do you engage audio learners in your story? Many readers are visual people. They like to see things, and thus enjoy reading. (Which, by the way, I am a visual!) Audio people enjoy books on tape, music, and all things connected to the ears!

In order to draw your reader into the world you created on the written page, it is most imperative you entice them with their senses. Engagement of your readers happens with sound words. This is otherwise none as onomatopoeia: words that sound like are written. Please include words with flavor, resonance, texture, aromas, and pictures in the mind. Your readers will come back again and again when they know they can step into your world and feel as though they are actually living in the pages of your book.

Call out to your readers who love sounds in a way they can relate!

Here is a wonderful list of sound words for inspiration:

clink, clang, clatter
boom, burst, explode
crunch, crackle, crinkle
gurgle, garbled, groan
murmur, cooed, whispered
plunk, splash, dripped
sizzle, splatter, splat
rumble, rick-a-shay, echoed
rattle, bang, creaked
whiz, whee!, whoa
thud, ker-plunk, drizzle
zing, zip, zoomed

Do you struggle with sound words? Or do you have some favorite sound words you'd like to share?

Comments

  1. Thud! I like that.
    Smells are toughest for me. I really have to focus on that aspect when writing.

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  2. I think appealing all of the senses is important. Not everyone is a visual learner and even those who are appreciate when they're made to feel, hear, touch or smell things in a book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think this helps a reader feel "in the moment" easier when all the senses are involved.

      Delete
  3. I might just have to bookmark this blog post for future reference with awesome sound words. I've always liked "zizz"... like the fizzling sound a carbonated drink makes when you open the bottle. I don't know if zizz can be a sound or not, but I've used it before. :)

    Happy A to Z!

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a great list of sound words, I'm bookmarking this for future ref!

    ReplyDelete
  5. wonderful adjective list. You are so right, readers need to actually be in the moment, and sounds helps that happen.

    ReplyDelete

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