Punctuating mysterious scream

Skabr · Jul 29, 2014

Hi,

Let's say a character hears a sound - a mysterious scream from behind. How would you write the scream.

"Ahhhhhh" (with quotation)
or
Ahhhhhh
or
Ahhhhhh (italics, no quotation)

What would you say about a crashing sound? Would the same rule apply?
Thanks,

Skabr

Bufty · Jul 29, 2014

Everybody knows what a piercing/terrified. drawn out or whatever scream is, or what a crashing sound is...glass, metal, wood?

Describe how the POV character interprets what he hears and his reaction to it, but try and avoid the phonetics.

In passing - a phonetic scream is dialogue and treated as such.

Crashes and Bangs and Booms are not dialogue and italics may help if needed for emphasis, minus the quotation marks. But in all cases it's usually preferable to avoid the phonetics.

Maryn · Jul 29, 2014

I agree with Bufty. Amazing, no?

Editors and readers don't care for phonetics. They'd rather read The baby cried than "Waaaaah!" the baby cried. (Or, as a most memorable baby on a plane cried, "Hawaii!" Swear to god.)

Maryn, who often if not always agrees with Bufty

Skabr · Jul 30, 2014

Hey Bufty and Maryn,

Thanks a lot for your help!

I'm glad you could help me!

Cheers,

Skabr

Jamesaritchie · Jul 30, 2014

Just describe it, don't try to imitate it.

Punctuating mysterious scream

Skabr

Inspire.Motivate. If nothing, drag!

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

Maryn

Baaa!

Skabr

Inspire.Motivate. If nothing, drag!

Jamesaritchie