Writing Tip: Using Sensory Perception
In order to place your reader in the middle of the scene we need more than just visual cues. We need references to all the five senses. This sensory spectrum anchors the reader in the setting, creating a much more vivid experience. We should never lump all five senses into just one sensory perception. Each of the senses create a unique narrative memory. Sight, Sound,Taste, Smell, Touch all need to be evoked as appropriate to the story.
Without the sensations the narrative can be a barren experience.
What is the best way to evoke the senses in a descriptive narrative?
For one, we need to try and avoid using the actual words of sensation such as saw, tasted, heard, felt and smelled if we can.
‘ The bird fluttered across the room creating a dash of blue across the dull beige of the wallpaper’ has more of an impact than ‘ Bob saw the bright blue bird fly across the room’
‘The heady aroma of rose essence and spices wafted as he stepped into the market’ is surely more assured than’ Bob smelled rose essence and spices’?
The axiom, show don’t tell, works well with describing the sensations. The more we show the characters reaction, perception and impact of the sensation, the more engaged the reader gets.
Sensation can also give some interesting character quirks. Like someone who gets turned on by fresh coffee aroma or one who has a phobia for the clangour of church bells!
Many writers tend to overwhelm with visual descriptors and scrimp on the other senses.It is worth cycling through the five to get a balance of detail.
Another problem with sensations and perceptions is the overuse of modifiers. These create an adjective and adverb overload.
A bright, yellow, burning sun is surely a sensory overload. The sickly, stinky, slimy smell is laboring the point.
It is also better to handle the modifiers with caution, avoiding as many -ly words as possible.
For example, ‘John threw the plate across the room angrily’ is unnecessary unless you think John is going to throw the plate across ‘happily’! ( I am sure the smart aleks will point out that he could do that in a Greek feast!)
By: Docomo
