This is different from just 'figurative language'. It's setting the scene, such as choosing between "snicker" and "cackle"(yes these two words are very different between but this was a word decision I ended up making in my story LMAO no judgement). When you have a verb or adjective you're going to use, think of the connotation it has and the meaning it'll add to the sentence and further, the scene itself. The context of a word can make or break many aspects of a creative story, just as it can in an essay.
