Evocative Words Generate Emotion

As fiction writers know, readers prefer reading material that evokes a feeling. But it may escape our attention that this also applies to the nonfiction promotional materials we write like book covers, introductions, flyers, author websites and bios. This promo material doesn’t need to be dry or boring. Like we do with fiction, we can use evocative words to make our promotional text more interesting, even captivating.

Evocative words give our readers the desire to keep reading. This applies to both fiction and nonfiction, especially prose written to promote our books. Our book covers and blurbs should also tug at the reader’s heart.

Powerful words can make a dull line zing. Some power words make us smile while others make us cringe, but the reader will remember the emotions those words stirred. Powerful words stimulate the senses like a fragrant aroma, flavorful taste, or memorable encounter.

When we use powerful nouns and verbs we won’t need to use adjectives and adverbs that merely tell. Evocative nouns and verbs are more powerful than worn-out or over-used modifiers.

Check out the power verb list below. See which of these words would fit your website or promotional materials, including your subtitle and summary. Jazz up the pages on your website, your author bio, your book’s back cover and elevator pitch. For both your new and existing projects, take a few minutes to list ten emotional words you can use to energize the message.

Browse these word lists to spark your own imagination into writing some exciting metaphors.

A: abort, abduct, abound, abscond, accuse, adore, advance, afflict, aim, amass, amputate, annoy, applaud, apprehend, arouse, attack

B: babble, badmouth, banish, bamboozle, bare, bash, bask, bawl, bay, beat, bedazzle, beguile, behead, belch, bellow, betray, blab, blame, bleed, bless, bloat, blubber, blush, blur, bluster, bolt, botch, bounce, boycott, brandish, brave, break, bristle, bruise, bubble, burn, burst, bury, buzz

C: calculate, cancel, capture, caress, capsize, chant, chafe, challenge, censor, cheer, chase, chew, cheer, chisel, choke, chomp, chuckle, churn, clash, climb, clench, cleanse, clobber, club, coerce, collapse, collide, commandeer, commiserate, commit, compel, compete, compose, complain, compress, concoct, concentrate, condemn, confer, confess, condense, confide, conflict, confiscate, confuse, congeal, connive, consecrate, conspire, construct, contrast, converge, convict, corrode, covet, crack, cram, covet, create, crawl, creep, cringe, crouch, cruse, cry, culminate, curdle, cuss

D: damn, dangle, dash, daub, dazzle, dare, decay, deceive, decipher, decorate, decompose, defeat, defend, delve, defy, demand, demolish, denounce, deplete, deport, depose, derail, desert, desire, destroy, deter, detonate, devastate, devour, digest, disarm, discern, discover, dislocate, dispute, dissolve, distort, dodge, drag, drift, drown, dunk, dwindle, die

E: eject, eliminate, elope, elude, embalm, embezzle, embrace, enchant, endanger, endure, energize, enhance, enlighten, enrapture, entangle, entice, envelop, erode, erupt, escape, etch, evacuate, evade, evict, evoke, exhilarate, exonerate, expel, explode, explore, expose, exult

F: face, fade, fail, faint, fake, fall, fan, fascinate, fantasize, fend, fence, fester, fight, flail, flap, flare, flash, flaunt, flee, flicker, fling, flip, flirt, float, flog, flounder, flourish, flush, fly, foam, foil, fondle, forage, force, forecast, foretell, forge, forgive, fortify, flounder, fragment, frazzle, frolic, frustrate, fulfill, fumble

G: gag, gallivant, gallop, gamble, gasp, garnish, gasp, gawk, generate, gesticulate, glide, glimmer, glisten, glow, gnash, gnaw, gobble, gore, gouge, graft, grapple, grasp, graze, grill, grind, grope, grovel, growl, grunt, guard, guide, gurgle, gush, guzzle, gyrate

H: haggle, hang, harass , haunt, heal, heave, heckle, hibernate, hide, hike, miss, hit, hoard, hope, hop, horrify, hover, howl, huff, humiliate, hunger, hunt, hurl, hurtle, hush, hypnotize

J: jerk, jab, jam, jangle, jar, jibe, jingle, jolt, jostle, joust, judge, juggle, jump

K: kick, kidnap, kill, kiss, knead, kneel, knock

L: labor, lament, languish, lapse, lash, laugh, launch, leach, launch, lead, leak, leap, leer, levitate, liberate, light, linger, liquidate, loathe, lob, loom, loop, loot, lose, love, lower, lug, lurch, lure, luxuriate

M: maim, make, malfunction, maneuver, mangle, manhandle, manipulate, march, marinate, maroon, marry, marvel, mash, massage, mate, maul, meander, meddle, mediate, melt, merge, mesmerize, miscalculate, misjudge, moan, mob, mock, molest, mollify, mooch, moonlight, mount, mourn, mow, mug, muster, mutate, muzzle, mystify

N: navigate, nestle, nibble, nose-dive, nourish, nurture, nuzzle

O: ogle, ooze, oppose, oppress, oscillate, outnumber, outshine, overcome, overflow, overrun, overshadow, overshoot, overthrow, overwhelm

P: palpitate, pan, pamper, pant, paralyze, pardon, patrol, paw, peak, peel, peer, penetrate, perceive, perch, percolate, perish, permeate, perpetrate, perplex, persecute, persevere, persist, perspire, pervade, petrify, pierce, pillage, pinch, pitch, pit, pivot, play, plead, plodding, plop, plot, plow, pluck, plug, plummet, plunder, plunge, poach, pose, pommel, pop, possess, pounce, pound, pour, praise, prance, pray, predict, prepare, preserve, pressure, pretend, prevent, prickle, probe, proclaim, prod, prolong, propel, prosecute, protect, protest, prove, provide, provoke, prowl, puke, pulsate, pulverize, pummel, pump, punch, punish, purge, purr, pursue, puzzle

Q: quarrel, quell, quench, quiver

R: race, radiate, rage, raise, rally, ream, ramble, rampage, ransack, rant, rap, rattle, ravage, rave, ravish, raze, reach, rebound, rebuke, recoil, recoup, redeem, reek, refine, reflect, refuse, regain, reinforce, reject, rejuvenate, relax, relay, release, relinquish, reminisce, render, renew, renovate, repair, repel, repent, reproach, rescue, research, resist, resolve, resonate, restrict, resurrect, retrace, retract, retreat, retrieve, revive, reveal, reverberate, revert, revive, revoke, revolt, revolve, ricochet, rinse, riot, rip, risk, roam, roar, roast, roast, rock, roll, romance, romp, rot, rotate, roughhouse, rove, row, rule, rumble, rummage, rupture, rush, rustle

S: sail, salvage, sanctify, sanitize, satiate, satisfy, saturate, save, savor, scald, scalp, scan, scare, scavenge, scoff, scold, scoot, scorch, score, scorn, scour, scourge, scout, scowl, scramble, scrape, scratch, scream, screech, scrounge, scrub, scrutinize, scuttle, sear, search, secure, seduce, seek, seep, seize, self-destruct, sense, serenade, sever, shear, shimmer, shock, shred, shriek, shrink, shrivel, shudder, shuffle, shun, sideswipe, sigh, signal, silence, simmer, singe, sink, siphon, sizzle, skate, skewer, ski, skid, skinny-dip, skip, slam, slash, slaughter, slay, slice, slide, sling, slobber, slog, slosh, slug, slumber, slump, smack, smash, smear, smell, smile, smirk, smolder, smooch, smother, smuggle, snag, snap, snare, snatch, sneer, snivel, snoop, snorkel, snort, snuff, snuggle, soak, soar, sock, sojourn, solve, soothe, spank, sparkle, spatter, speed, spiral, spit, splash, splice, split, splurge, spoil, spout, sprain, spray, spring, spur, spurt, squander, squash, squeal, squeeze, squelch, squirm, stab, stagger, stagnate, stain, stalk, stammer, stampede, stare, stargaze, startle, starve, stash, sterilize, stifle, sting, stomp, straddle, strafe, straggle, strain, struggle, stray, strike, stumble, strut, stun, stupefy, submerge, succumb, suffer, suffocate, sulk, suppress, surge, surpass, surprise, surrender, surround, survive, swab, swagger, sway, swear, sweet-talk, swerve, swill, swindle, swing, swipe, swirl, swoon, synchronize

T: tamper, tantalize, tear, tease, tempt, terrorize, testify, thaw, thrash, threaten, throb, thrust, thump, tickle, titillate, topple, totter, track, trail, traipse, tramp, trample, transcend, transform, transgress, transmit, transmute, transpire, transplant, traverse, tread, tremble, trickle, triumph, trot, trounce, tweak, twinkle, twitch

U: undermine, undulate, unleash, unload, uproot, unravel, usurp, utter

V: vacation, vaccinate, ventilate, venture, vibrate, violate

W: waddle, wade, waft, wail, walk, wallop, wallow, wander, wane, warble, warp, waylay, wean, weep, wheedle, whimper, whine, whirl, whistle, wield, wiggle, wish, withdraw, wither, wobble, woo, worship, wrangle, wrap, wreak, wreck, wring

X: x-ray

Y: yank, yell, yelp, yield

Z: zap, zip

Keeping a list like this near your workstation can help you transform your descriptions and other promotional text so it engages your readers. You’ll find that using more dynamic, powerful, emotional words quickly captures your audience’s attention, which can translate into wider readership for your books, stories and articles.