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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. Alex J. CavanaughApril 22, 2013 at 10:27 AM

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

    ReplyDelete
  2. cleemckenzieApril 22, 2013 at 12:01 PM

    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. Ink in the BookApril 23, 2013 at 9:18 AM

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

      Delete
  3. VikLitApril 22, 2013 at 1:36 PM

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

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownApril 23, 2013 at 9:06 AM

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

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ink in the BookApril 23, 2013 at 9:19 AM

    Thanks Nikki! Nice to meet you:)

    ReplyDelete

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