Writing Onomatopeia usage

[BernKatstel]

Just something I have been wondering about

 

[SRB]

I use them very, very rarely, usually in tense scenes.
For example: character sneaks around someone else's house, everything is wrapped in a veil of shadow. They take a cautious step forward, slowly shifting their weight onto their leg and-
Creak.

 

[RepresentingDesire]

When I write I describe the scene but I have seen how that stylistic device was used to enhance immersion.

 

[HungrySheep]

I heavily favor descriptions, but a lot of readers tend to enjoy onomatopoeia instead. This is particularly relevant toward younger readers, so adjust accordingly to your audience.

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

Just something I have been wondering about

I've received feedback from my readers that it is awkward and immersion-breaking, so I avoided using it ever since.

 

[Tempokai]

It's fine for sudden things outside the vision (like unexpected explosion or whatever), but not fine for things the MC probably can see

 

[ArchlordZero]

But of course, the Dark Young were much faster than human beings.

Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat.Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat.Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat.Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat.Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat.Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat.Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat.Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat.Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat.Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat. Splat.

The sounds of humans being crushed to death and turned into chunks of meat went on and on.
Overlord - Volume 9 Chapter 4

 

[laccoff_mawning]

I would suggest that there is not problem using it, so long as you use it well.

Second, you don't need to use it "outside" of your sentence structure. "...thunderous booms echoed around the..." is onomatopeia. Anytime you use "boom", "clang", even "rattle"- thats always onomatopeia.

 

[MatchaChocolate69]

In my style, I tend to use them.
I try not to abuse them by varying with longer descriptions, but as BOI says they work well in the more tense scenes.

 

[l8rose]

I occasionally use them. Mostly it's only when writing out the sound would have more impact than describing it.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

There are times when it's more fine to use them, but it depends on your writing style. I don't use them most of the time. Except for the mother in VP who often does the “fufu”.

 

[LilRora]

That depends if things like "a bubbling sound" or "a loud creak" count as onomatopeia. I use those really often, but I avoid sounds by themselves, things like creak, or even worse tatatata, by themselves. It breaks immersion and it can be unclear what they mean. From my experience, even writing "the door opened with a creak" is already way better.

 

[AYM]

I use onomatopeia whenever I channel the divine power from within Invisible Dragon Scripture.

 

[LesserSarcasm]

Just something I have been wondering about

During draft only then replace them with descriptions,

 

[ThrillingHuman]

*bop* *bop* *bop* that's me bopling your nose, waga miko yo

 

[Echimera]

Some of my favourite exasmples.
All the same webcomic and for some reason also all from wereperson-transformations.
EMBIGGEN, ENFUZZEN, ENWOLFEN
KA-BUN
EN-DIGITIGRADEN

 

[Bartun]

Clap. Clap. Clap.

 

[Mortrexo]

Sudden sounds that take around a sentence to describe are good to substitute with an onomatopeia. For example, in a battle scene, when two swords collide, using a "CLANG!" and then commenting about the exchange can aid in the immersion.
But ultimately, this is one of those things that end up being a subjective preference. Some authors never use them and are good without them; others use them so much during fights that they might as well write the entire fight through onomatopeias.
...
...
...
During R-18 scenes, adding a few extra ones can also give a sense of rough sexual intercourse.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

flarp

 

[BearlyAlive]

Either for comedic effects or in case you need some repetition to sound especially psycho. It's been pretty effective in (older) ADV Visual Novels, especially Denpa, so it can work well in written form. Also works with shorter sentences.

Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab.

He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her.
He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her.
He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her.
He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her.