Using sound in our writing can be a way to add richness and memorable descriptions to our prose. For this writing, first think of some sounds . . . . a train whistle . . . a fog horn . . . a cat’s meow . . . someone calling for help.
Take a few minutes, if you can, to listen to the sounds around you right now. Think of some other sounds . . . the fizz from a carbonated drink being opened, the intake of breath when someone is surprised.
As Jay Heinrichs says in the October 2011 issue of The Writer magazine, “Onomatopoeia: Words that go splat”:
“The Greeks came up with [onomatopoeia], which means ‘made-up name.’ The ono is an echo, imitating a sound for action.
The ono . . . is a great way of bringing life to your storytelling. Things do not go “oops” in the night; they go bump. A master storyteller uses onos to make an audience feel the action.
Include sound effects in your own stories. Rather than ‘He hit his head on the beam’ use ‘He cracked his head on the beam.'”
Your turn . . . . the first prompt is an idea from Henrichs’ article, use sound in your writing:
Prompt: Pretend to sell a used car or a building or jewelry or clothing or a concept or an idea, or any item using words that match the item.
Prompt: The one that got away.
