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Writing emotional sounds

Discussion in 'Creative Writing' started by EnderofWorlds, Jul 12, 2013.

  1. EnderofWorlds

    EnderofWorlds Versed in the lewd.

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    This seems to be the right thread for this: How would you write something like someone crying in despair? I mean the sound they'd make. Laughter is easy with 'ha-ha" and such; but I have a lot of trouble trying to write someone mournfully crying in despair.

    Suggestions?
     
  2. Biigoh

    Biigoh Primordial Tanuki Moderator

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    I don't think there's an easy way to do so... people cry differently...
     
  3. Hymn of Ragnarok

    Hymn of Ragnarok Well worn.

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    Uh-huh-huh-huh comes to mind, but bii's got the right of it.
     
  4. Selias

    Selias Well worn.

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    Uhh... "Boo-hoo?" "Waaaahhhh?" Maybe *sob*?
     
  5. EnderofWorlds

    EnderofWorlds Versed in the lewd.

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    I know; but it's just annoying having the sound in your head but not knowing how to put it down using letters.

    Closest sound for the aftermath of the cry; thanks.

    All entered my head and were immediately discarded for looking to 'silly' if that makes sense.
     
  6. nick012000

    nick012000 Gone for Good

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    Don't write the onomatopoeia; just describe the heart-wrenching sound of their sobbing, how they're hunched over, the trails of smeared mascara leaving trails down their face, et cetera.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 30, 2014
  7. EnderofWorlds

    EnderofWorlds Versed in the lewd.

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    I wrote both; both the cry and what it was like, I really needed the actual sound being uttered in the narrative to get the scene down the way I wanted to.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 30, 2014
  8. Hymn of Ragnarok

    Hymn of Ragnarok Well worn.

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    Yeah, although if I level a criticism, it feels like Chifuyu reaches 'aftermath' a little too quickly. You had a pretty good sound to Chifuyu screaming her lungs out, I just feel like there should have been a since or paragraph describing time passing, give a sense of her crying herself hoarse and now all she's capable of are little choked sobs.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 30, 2014
  9. EnderofWorlds

    EnderofWorlds Versed in the lewd.

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    Yeah, I'll probably fix that; move the second bit further down. Thanks.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 30, 2014
  10. Hymn of Ragnarok

    Hymn of Ragnarok Well worn.

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    My pleasure.
     
  11. Selias

    Selias Well worn.

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    Really? I thought that it sounded like idiotic chuckling.
     
  12. Hymn of Ragnarok

    Hymn of Ragnarok Well worn.

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    It all depends on the tone. I've heard crying that sounded like that.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 30, 2014