How to use sound in your story writing

Crash! Bang! Wallop!👊

We’re all probably a bit fed up with these types of onomatopoeic words in story writing.🤔

So, how else do we incorporate sound into our story writing? 🗣

We can use two types of noise: 1) background noise and 2) action noise.

Background noises ☕️🥢🚄✈️

These are useful in setting descriptions and are an excellent way to create an atmosphere. For example, background noise can be added just as a character is about to say something – this will create a contrast between the upcoming action and the predictable background setting.

Examples:

• A boiling kettle (an adult is having a tea break, maybe relaxing)
• A keyboard clacking (someone is busy with work or something pressing)
• A washing machine sloshing away (suggesting mundane everyday life)
• A fire crackling in a grate (cosy, evening time, warmth)
• A train accelerating with a low growl (shows the effort of the train’s departure)

Sentence: A fire crackled in the grate in the small living room.

Action noises ⚽️🦵👩‍🚒🧟‍♀️🧌🐯

When a character interacts with the setting (e.g., run, fight, gasp), there will probably be a sound. Describe this sound. It works well for action-packed scenes (generally in the ‘rising action’ or ‘problem’ section of a story).

Examples:

• He sank into the armchair, and it squealed under his weight.
• Stones crunched under her feet.
• He marched out, slamming the door behind him.
• She gasped as the window flew open.

Sentence: There was a heavy thrum of boots on the creaky floorboards; he was in the room above them.

Task:

Describe the room that you are sitting in now. Imagine you are the main character, and you are waiting for something. What is in the room? What everyday background noises can you hear?