Sensory Details: The Magical Key to a Vivid and Emotional Reading Experience
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| Come for the fun...Stay for the romance. |
A gentle breeze blew my hair across my cheek (TOUCH) as I walked along the uneven trail (TOUCH). Leaves rustled (SOUND) above me, and a lone crow gave several loud caws (SOUND) overhead. I took a deep breath. The smell of decay and leaves (SMELL) made me wary, and the coppery taste of fear coated my throat. I scanned my surroundings to ensure I wasn't being followed (SIGHT).
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| Connie's personal photo |
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| Canva created collage |
Every writer knows that The Five Senses also sets the story's mood/tone/genre.
While my first example lets the reader know this story isn't a straightforward romance.
The reader will expect a murder mystery/suspense/or even a Gothic novel.
The second photo, a collage, evokes a romantic or light-hearted story with a holiday vibe.
Therefore, during a first draft, the focus is on the story's setting, time, and tone, which are vital. Dialogue and characterization are also essential.
I have discovered (in my reading and professional writing) that not including a wide range of sensory details is, in fact, cheating your reader.
Cheating? I would never cheat my readers!
đč Sensory details draw your reader into the story, trigger emotional responses, and, most importantly, make them feel a part of your story world.
Since I'm an introvert and tactile, adding these details/emotional reactions is natural to me. In contrast, a more analytical person's writing might focus on the visual and take a more detective approach to/reaction to the sensory clues.
Now, one step further: How your character processes his/her sensory details enriches the story. (Obviously, a hard-boiled detective's vocabulary would be different from that of a giddy teenager.)
đ„đșExamples from Television and Movies:
This is for fans of Star Trek (original series: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and Forest Kelly) and the Cinema movies that followed (Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban).
Mr. Spock was my favorite character. Though I observe, analyze, and retain facts and can relate details decades later, I am not, and will never be, "Mr. Spock."
Captain Kirk was a physical, in-your-face kind of guy. He yelled, punched, and bled. First, on the scene or to make a scene, the man didn't seem to ever sleep.
Then there was "Bones," Doctor Leonard McCoy. He grumbles and points out injustice, holds his ground for what is right, and saves his patient's life. He has empathy, compassion, and wit.
So, the first key to successful sensory details in a story is to know your character. How does your character look at the world? What lens does your character use?
Does this sensory detail become vital to the story, or define your main character? Or the clue to solving a murder/mystery?
Excerpts from Gumbo Ya Ya (an anthology)
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| 4 stories and one book! |
A Slice of Scandal
She ignored his question and continued with her narrative. "Instead, the scenes are shot according to where they are set. The cooking, naturally, will be here on the sound stage. But Harvey wants some location work, too."
Sebastian felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. "Location work?" How would he investigate a murder and a smuggling ring if he wandered over to some tourist site? He flipped through the script. "My contract doesn't say anything about location work."
Julia glanced over her script, making eye contact. "You're joking, right?"
Think fast, Beaux, just stall her. "I'm not ready."
"You're not ready?" she asked, her voice heavy with disbelief. You've lived in a swamp, caught and eaten alligators, frogs, snakes, and fish... and you don't want to appear at a local shopping mall?"
"I'm not ready; you told me that. I still get nervous...in large crowds."
The look she shot in his direction clearly labeled him a liar, but she kept silent...
Love Potion No. 9
"Don't shake your finger at me, Simone Basso. I know what I'm doing." Persia Richmond said, holding a pipette to fill a crystal half-ounce atomizer with perfume. The top notes of peach blossoms, bergamot, and mid-notes of gardenia, honey, and tuberose tanalized. The tuberose, being the most carnal of the floral notes and high-ticket natural essence for her fragrance compound, merged with peony and orange blossom to temper the intoxication properties. The base notes lingered while a hint of something unnamed and mysterious beguiled and skimmed across the narrow processing room, saturating her senses.
The fragrance was New Orleans, culture at its most upscale moments, and Mardi Gras at its naughtiest.
The imported essence oils of the tuberose had nearly emptied her bank account, leaving Persia only one egret. Her Grandpapa hadn't lived to experience her mastery of perfumery.
Holding up the bottle, she allowed the light to shine through the tempered vial for a moment before she ensured the stopper was tight.
Simone leaned over Persia's shoulder, "I done warned and warned you about messing with love potions."
The statement sent Persia's heart thundering in her chest. Snagging a steadying breath, she regained her composure. "You worry too much, Simone. This is a perfume. Nothing more, nothing less."
Now, back to me đ
And the scent of my favorite fragrance?
A creamy, sweet-fruity fragrance starts with dahlia, then fades into pear.
Notes: Velvet, Dahila Petals, Crisp Pear, Praline Musk, and whipped Tonka Bean.
I hope you've enjoyed this month's post :)
Happy Reading!
Connie
Books are available via online book sellers:
https://bwlpublishing.ca/vines-connie/
https://www.amazon.com/Connie-Vines/e/B004C7W6PE
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/brede-connie-vines/1115934010
https://books.apple.com/us/author/connie-vines/id624802082
and more!
Where's Connie?
https://www.facebook.com/ConnieVinesAuthor/
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https://substack.com/@connievines
