: Is consonance good or bad in fiction? Example from my own writing: I cupped my nose—when I should have covered my ears. To block the wicked mocking of my classmates. I was told by

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I'm fond of consonance I find in prose when it reads fluidly. I don't understand why things that are considered useful tools in poetry should be avoided in prose.

And no one has mentioned it so far, but I like the consonance in your first sentence--cupped & covered--the similarity of the sounds goes nicely with the parallel structure of the thought.

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I agree with Mark. I also don't care for your example. I don't have the full context, but it seems to me "wicked" is too strong a modifier for "mocking", which I tend to think of as harmless ribbing. But I grew up in an unforgiving neighborhood, so perhaps I am more callous than most.

If consonance in general appeals to you, I'd suggest it could be a character trait for one of your actors; sometimes funny, sometimes awkward: That's who she is, it could give her a distinct "voice". You can point it out by sometimes having other characters make fun of her for her more strained efforts at consonance.

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There is not a 'rule' about it being right or wrong, any more than there is one about alliteration. Judge what effect it has in a particular situation and then decide whether you want that effect or not.

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