I’m a sucker for sound. Years ago, I tried my hand at screenplays and you’re limited to sight and sound. I do enjoy writing a novel where you can work in other senses, especially in situations where a character is deprived of one or more senses.
Such a good reminder to use ALL the senses. On a walk yesterday I was trying to write a haiku about the smell of the wet cement after the rain. Whenever I start writing smell and taste images, I realize I need a bigger vocabulary!
I'm a blind author and I find myself leaning into the other senses in my writing for that reason. When I focus on "sight" driven things it's usually the physical movements of the characters more than what they see, so itwas really interesting hearing the perspective from the other side lol.
Its interesting to hear about it from YOUR perspective! My brain was so tired as I typed this post last night but what I wanted to add but failed to was that we really get so much more of a fuller dimensional feel when we use the other senses and sight isn’t as necessary as sighted authors might assume.
I like your example of physical movement in description. Maybe that falls under “feel” and “sight” because it can be both depending on the reader’s interpretation. Hmm, what do you think? You’ve given me much to think about! Thank you.
I had to stop myself from writing touch instead of sight in my first comment so I think movement definitely can bridge that gap of sighted descriptors that are more 3 dimensional. I feel like when we write with all the senses in mind it flows better too. I remember trying to just go off sight when I started, hitting major road blocks and then being like whatever I'll write how I experience the world lol.
Crushed it, Bethany!!! I love the idea of leaning into the other senses. This is definitely something I have to do more of in my own writing. I can hear my developmental editor coming in with the complaints. Anyway, I love this, along with the breakdown of the Maya Angelou passage. I live for that stuff! Anyway, thanks for sharing!
This is fantastic! My thanks to Garrett for helping you explore the other senses and then teaching us to turn to them as well! I never quite thought about this in this context and now I think I will not be able to 'unsee it' when I write.
Thinking back to my own writing, touch is very big for me. I always mention textures, smoothness or roughness of something, the way the fabric meets the body. I loved the examples you provided, your own and Angelou's. Both so inspirational and simply beautiful writing.
The samples from Angelou's novel are excellent and well interpreted, thank you for that. Though not a movement per se, I enjoy the interpretation of movement. The sound, speed, velocity, impact, weight, aftermath of a movement. I suppose it could be deemed visual but there is a weightiness, a mood, fear freedom all transmitted through movement. I must return to my writing and expands the senses. Thank you, many of us look forward to your novel. Put the first pages out here so we can all gorge ourselves on your sensory perceptions. This community is one of support
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Kevin! I was wondering about this the other day. Would movement fall under feel/touch maybe? It’s definitely a bodily sensation.
And thanks for your encouragement about sharing my words! My debut novel releases next year and my publisher said I can share the first chapter during release month for free in my newsletter, so that will be fun. I am going to share a few other short fiction pieces I’m working on in the meantime though!
The breakdown of I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings is brilliant. I just realized I use a lot of sight in my sensory descriptions. I will try to diversify after reading this!
Great reminders to make our writing more interesting! I think the children’s book, The Wind and the Willows, speaks to these sensory experiences as well!
Great post! Thank you for this.
I’m a sucker for sound. Years ago, I tried my hand at screenplays and you’re limited to sight and sound. I do enjoy writing a novel where you can work in other senses, especially in situations where a character is deprived of one or more senses.
Such a good reminder to use ALL the senses. On a walk yesterday I was trying to write a haiku about the smell of the wet cement after the rain. Whenever I start writing smell and taste images, I realize I need a bigger vocabulary!
Oh I love all of these!!! Well done!
Taste is a hard one. We use taste to describe the other senses but not the other way around. How did your haiku turn out?
Gosh you are so sweet to ask! I have three iterations. :)
1) The gray day smells green
like grass, decaying leaves, dirt—
living things washed clean.
2) What does wet cement
smell like? Rain-washed ozone, paint
drying in the damp.
3) Walking after rain
makes the sidewalk seem like a
living thing. Smell it.
I'm a blind author and I find myself leaning into the other senses in my writing for that reason. When I focus on "sight" driven things it's usually the physical movements of the characters more than what they see, so itwas really interesting hearing the perspective from the other side lol.
Its interesting to hear about it from YOUR perspective! My brain was so tired as I typed this post last night but what I wanted to add but failed to was that we really get so much more of a fuller dimensional feel when we use the other senses and sight isn’t as necessary as sighted authors might assume.
I like your example of physical movement in description. Maybe that falls under “feel” and “sight” because it can be both depending on the reader’s interpretation. Hmm, what do you think? You’ve given me much to think about! Thank you.
I had to stop myself from writing touch instead of sight in my first comment so I think movement definitely can bridge that gap of sighted descriptors that are more 3 dimensional. I feel like when we write with all the senses in mind it flows better too. I remember trying to just go off sight when I started, hitting major road blocks and then being like whatever I'll write how I experience the world lol.
Crushed it, Bethany!!! I love the idea of leaning into the other senses. This is definitely something I have to do more of in my own writing. I can hear my developmental editor coming in with the complaints. Anyway, I love this, along with the breakdown of the Maya Angelou passage. I live for that stuff! Anyway, thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading it! And especially for your encouraging words.
Not sure how I stumbled upon this post but - instant subscribe! So good. Thank you.
Oh my gosh your comment is so sweet! 🥹 thank you! I’m intrigued by your substack as well. Also subscribing.
Awesome! Hope you enjoy. Looking forward to getting to know you better through our writings!
Same!
This is fantastic! My thanks to Garrett for helping you explore the other senses and then teaching us to turn to them as well! I never quite thought about this in this context and now I think I will not be able to 'unsee it' when I write.
Thinking back to my own writing, touch is very big for me. I always mention textures, smoothness or roughness of something, the way the fabric meets the body. I loved the examples you provided, your own and Angelou's. Both so inspirational and simply beautiful writing.
Oh thank you! It brings me so much joy to help others so your comment here is truly appreciated. 🥹💕
The samples from Angelou's novel are excellent and well interpreted, thank you for that. Though not a movement per se, I enjoy the interpretation of movement. The sound, speed, velocity, impact, weight, aftermath of a movement. I suppose it could be deemed visual but there is a weightiness, a mood, fear freedom all transmitted through movement. I must return to my writing and expands the senses. Thank you, many of us look forward to your novel. Put the first pages out here so we can all gorge ourselves on your sensory perceptions. This community is one of support
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Kevin! I was wondering about this the other day. Would movement fall under feel/touch maybe? It’s definitely a bodily sensation.
And thanks for your encouragement about sharing my words! My debut novel releases next year and my publisher said I can share the first chapter during release month for free in my newsletter, so that will be fun. I am going to share a few other short fiction pieces I’m working on in the meantime though!
Not one of the senses, but I've been getting into using 'odd' specifics when describing.
For instance, to describe just how much a character was crying, I put it as " tears gushed out of my eyes like a dam built by an incompetent beaver "
Oh, that’s a fun aspect of voice!
The breakdown of I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings is brilliant. I just realized I use a lot of sight in my sensory descriptions. I will try to diversify after reading this!
I’m glad it was helpful! That makes me so happy.
Great reminders to make our writing more interesting! I think the children’s book, The Wind and the Willows, speaks to these sensory experiences as well!
It’s been so long since I read it. I need to reread.
Yes, I need to read it to my grandkids!