As appealing to a sense of hearing when writing, you may want to include the sound itself. For example, if describing the sounds of insect-like aliens in the distance as writing a science fiction novel, you might write something like The buzzing grew louder.

Buzzing is an example of onomatopoeia, or a word that imitates the sound it represents. Other examples of onomatopoeia include: clang, kerplunk, pow, purr, splash.

Using onomatopoeia creates “imitative harmony” in your story, enhancing the reader’s sense of being there, experiencing the events. To achieve this, you must ensure that the word accurately mimics the sound and doesn’t instead come off as campy.

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My name is Rob Bignell. I’m an affordable, professional editor who runs Inventing Reality Editing Service, which meets the manuscript needs of writers both new and published. I also offer a variety of self-publishing services. During the past decade, I’ve helped more than 300 novelists and nonfiction authors obtain their publishing dreams at reasonable prices. I’m also the author of the 7 Minutes a Day… writing guidebooks, four nonfiction hiking guidebook series, and the literary novel Windmill. Several of my short stories in the literary and science fiction genres also have been published.