Authors use onomatopoeia to create sound effects and depict real-life noises in their writing. Onomatopoeia is a literary device where words imitate or mimic sounds. For instance, the word "buzz" imitates the sound of a bee, and "sizzle" imitates the sound of something frying in a pan. Onomatopoeia adds sensory detail to writing and makes poetic descriptions even more vivid and engaging.