Comments on: Make Sense of the Five Senses http://www.textyladies.com/2009/04/13/make-sense-of-the-five-senses/ Artful adventures in writing Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:47:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sherrie Holmes http://www.textyladies.com/2009/04/13/make-sense-of-the-five-senses/comment-page-1/#comment-2236 Sherrie Holmes Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:17:30 +0000 http://www.textyladies.com/?p=358#comment-2236 Another fine article, Jacquie. Using the senses enriches a scene. You really can't go through a single day without being bombarded by sounds, smells, tastes, etc., so how could anyone think that a story devoid of the senses could "ring true" for the reader? I am a very sensual person in that I am always very much aware of the senses. I walk into a person's home and I can tell if they need to empty the garbage under the sink or if a picture is crooked on the wall, or if the towels in the bathroom clash horribly with the wallpaper. I constantly notice little things that others miss. As a writer, this is a good trait to have, and it makes it easy for me to include the use of the senses in my scenes. My, I sound pompous! Okay, you wanted to see if anyone could describe a smell without using the words scent, aroma, smell, or fragrance. How about this: She brought the lily to her nose and inhaled its perfume. Or how about: The garden was redolent with the musk of rose and lily, borage and lilac. Do I win a prize? Huh? Huh??? Another fine article, Jacquie. Using the senses enriches a scene. You really can’t go through a single day without being bombarded by sounds, smells, tastes, etc., so how could anyone think that a story devoid of the senses could “ring true” for the reader?

I am a very sensual person in that I am always very much aware of the senses. I walk into a person’s home and I can tell if they need to empty the garbage under the sink or if a picture is crooked on the wall, or if the towels in the bathroom clash horribly with the wallpaper. I constantly notice little things that others miss. As a writer, this is a good trait to have, and it makes it easy for me to include the use of the senses in my scenes.

My, I sound pompous! Okay, you wanted to see if anyone could describe a smell without using the words scent, aroma, smell, or fragrance. How about this: She brought the lily to her nose and inhaled its perfume. Or how about: The garden was redolent with the musk of rose and lily, borage and lilac.

Do I win a prize? Huh? Huh???

]]> By: MarthaE http://www.textyladies.com/2009/04/13/make-sense-of-the-five-senses/comment-page-1/#comment-2235 MarthaE Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:59:47 +0000 http://www.textyladies.com/?p=358#comment-2235 Great post!!! I think you are right. I don't think I feel/use all 5 senses all the time! Some take precedence in the given situation. You explain it so well here! Your book sounds wonderful! Great post!!! I think you are right. I don’t think I feel/use all 5 senses all the time! Some take precedence in the given situation. You explain it so well here! Your book sounds wonderful!

]]> By: Judith L http://www.textyladies.com/2009/04/13/make-sense-of-the-five-senses/comment-page-1/#comment-2234 Judith L Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:27:03 +0000 http://www.textyladies.com/?p=358#comment-2234 Great examples, Jacquie! I'm not one of the critique partners who said you had to use all five senses in every scene, by the way. But I do like to prod you when you forget--as long as you agree to prod me in return! Finding ways that are natural for the character to notice the senses often isn't easy to do, but they can so powerfully evoke the character's world, and who that person is, that the effort is worthwhile. Great examples, Jacquie! I’m not one of the critique partners who said you had to use all five senses in every scene, by the way. But I do like to prod you when you forget–as long as you agree to prod me in return! Finding ways that are natural for the character to notice the senses often isn’t easy to do, but they can so powerfully evoke the character’s world, and who that person is, that the effort is worthwhile.

]]> By: Kathy http://www.textyladies.com/2009/04/13/make-sense-of-the-five-senses/comment-page-1/#comment-2233 Kathy Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:28:30 +0000 http://www.textyladies.com/?p=358#comment-2233 I've also been told to use senses other than sight, but while I start off with that intention, I gradually slide back toward my tendency to use just sight. Thanks for the reminder. I'll have to go through my WIP look for places where I missed the opportunity to use my other senses. I’ve also been told to use senses other than sight, but while I start off with that intention, I gradually slide back toward my tendency to use just sight. Thanks for the reminder. I’ll have to go through my WIP look for places where I missed the opportunity to use my other senses.

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