Terminology for Violence in Zombie Apocalypse Novels

Creating a gripping and engaging zombie apocalypse novel involves more than just describing the undead; it also requires a detailed and nuanced approach to violence. The following is a comprehensive guide to various violent acts you could incorporate into your narrative, ensuring that the descriptions are both vivid and evocative. This guide includes a chart of violent words and examples of how to use them effectively.

A Handy Chart of Words Relating to Violence

Here's a handy chart of words relating to violence, which you can use to describe the gruesome end of a zombie. Whether you opt for the sharp and sudden, the brutal and precise, or the indiscriminate and chaotic, these terms will add layers to your storytelling, making each scene more memorable and impactful.

Slashing – A sudden and brutal method, often leaving wide and deep cuts. Slicing - The clean and quick separation of flesh. Stabbing - A quick and sharp thrust, often delivering internal damage.

Shooting – A range of actions, each with its own effect and tone. Broadcasting - A broad and expansive discharge, often causing widespread damage. Blazing - An intense and rapid discharge, leaving little room for error. Tracing - A methodical and controlled discharge, aimed at a specific target.

Slaughtering and Murder – The unsparing and ruthless end to a zombie’s existence. Slaughtering - A chaotic and messy approach, with no concern for exactness or subtlety. Murdering - A precise and methodical end, often carried out with a single, decisive blow.

Descriptions and Examples

Using specific and vivid language can help readers visualize the violent scene. Here are some examples to illustrate the descriptions.

Impaling: You could write, "You impaled one in the heart, the sound of bone piercing flesh ringing in your ears." This action conveys a sharp, sudden violence, leaving no room for the undead to recover.

Strangling: The next method could be, "You snapped one's neck in an abrupt and decisive motion, the crunch of vertebrae under your fingers leaving no doubt of its end."

Slitting: For a more fluid and repetitive action, consider, "You slit one's throat with quick, deliberate slashes, the gurgling sounds of blood spurting out signaling the warmth of the hunt."

Suffocating: A more chilling method might be, "You crushed one's windpipe, the scream a muffled, strangled sound trapped inside the corpse."

Battery: For a more chaotic and disorganized approach, you might write, "You made one do the death, a messy and frenzied thrust of barbed wire into its flesh, eliciting a horrified gasp from the cadaver."

Descriptions of Different Weapons and Their Impact

Each weapon has its unique sound and impact, adding depth and texture to the violence.

Firearms: Depending on the weapon, the scene can be different. Shotgun: "You blew its head off with your shotgun, the blast a deafening explosion, spraying fragments of bone and flesh in all directions." Machine Gun: "You mowed it down with your machine gun, the rapid volley a relentless din, each bullet tearing through flesh and bone."

Blades: Each weapon delivers a unique and chilling effect. Fire Axe: "You chopped it in the head with a fire axe, the sharp blade cleaving through muscle and bone, the thud of impact echoing in the dystopian silence." Sword: "You stabbed it in the head with a sword, the steel piercing through skull and brain, a final and decisive blow, sealing the nightmare."