Nevada Bailey's Blog
August 3, 2024
Evoke the 5 basic senses
Here’s a bit of advice I thought I’d share with other aspiring authors.
Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
When writing, authors are constantly asking the Journalist’s Questions. It’s a great strategy, and it helps narration. By asking these basic questions, your story will flow and shape itself into a meaningful tale of intended purpose.
Additionally, I would like to suggest another set of questions to ask yourself when writing. Do your scenes evoke the five basic senses: Sight, Smell, Sound, Touch, Taste?
When writing scenes, the author can become the characters they are writing. For example, if your character is helplessly watching their house burn, become that character and imagine what’s happening. You would have a salty and ashen taste in your mouth, feel the heat against the side of your face, or even hear the crackle of wood that is still burning. You may even choke on the smell of gas or smoke. Evoking these senses can enhance the narration and place the reader inside the story.
However, don’t use all five senses in every scene. To do so would be an overuse of this strategy. Use with discretion.
Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
When writing, authors are constantly asking the Journalist’s Questions. It’s a great strategy, and it helps narration. By asking these basic questions, your story will flow and shape itself into a meaningful tale of intended purpose.
Additionally, I would like to suggest another set of questions to ask yourself when writing. Do your scenes evoke the five basic senses: Sight, Smell, Sound, Touch, Taste?
When writing scenes, the author can become the characters they are writing. For example, if your character is helplessly watching their house burn, become that character and imagine what’s happening. You would have a salty and ashen taste in your mouth, feel the heat against the side of your face, or even hear the crackle of wood that is still burning. You may even choke on the smell of gas or smoke. Evoking these senses can enhance the narration and place the reader inside the story.
However, don’t use all five senses in every scene. To do so would be an overuse of this strategy. Use with discretion.
