Today, we dive into the importance of sensory details in writing, as described in Bite #32, “Sense Appeal,” from my book, Eating an Elephant: Write Your Life One Bite at a Time.
Using our five senses makes our stories come to life for our readers. In Bite #32, I share an example from my own life, recalling the one day I spent as a commercial fisherman with my dad in South Louisiana. Before I wrote that story, I brainstormed much of what I saw, heard, touched, tasted, and smelled. Adding those details made the story so much richer.
Our five senses–sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell.
I encourage you to do a sensory brainstorming exercise on a moment from your own life. Set a timer for just ten minutes. Create a separate section for each sense and place each entry in its corresponding section.
When you begin to write, remember that the first draft isn’t usually where sensory details are added. That first draft is all about getting the story down; you can add the sensory layers later.
But don’t overdo the sensory detail. Make sure what you select is in service to the story and is not the story itself.
Tell us, do you make a conscious decision to add sensory details to your writing? If so, share your techniques and tips with us!
But remember, whether you detail or not, the only way to do this wrong is to not do it at all!
Until next time, happy writing!
That was an awesome open, Patricia!