Using the Five Senses

Sensory language is a vital part of writing. It’s what separates an outline from the finished product. While some writers incorporate little of the element and find success, there’s something to be said for a writer that implements an abundance of sensory language to capture your attention.

As usual, all things in moderation, but here are some tips for utilizing the five senses in your writing.

Sight

It’s one of the first things that comes to mind when writing: what does the character see? It’s much more than “He saw the sea” or “She saw the sandy beach.” Take a moment to envision these places. What does the setting really look like?

For example, using the beach as our reference, how do the individual grains of sand look? Imagine the sea brushing the horizon line in the distance. Every crest of the waves signals the inevitable break before it slams into the shore.

Sight is more than just surface level. It’s more than just what the eye can see at face value. Sight, in creative writing, is what is perceived by each individual character. One who loves the ocean would describe it as “gorgeous waves cresting over the horizon as the golden sun dips below it.” One who loathes the beach might describe it as “an abysmal sandbox littered with sharp shells and vile gulls that patrol the skies.”

Sound

Characters talk, and that creates sound, but what else can we do to describe sound in our writing? The way the birds chirp or the way the coffee maker sounds can have a great impact on our work.

For example, as mentioned earlier, it’s all about perception. If your character is set to have a good day, they may revel in the sound of bacon sizzling on the stove, the sound of the toaster popping, or the sound of coffee being poured into their cup.

Likewise, a character with a headache may feel quite differently. The sizzling bacon becomes scathing, the toaster pop becomes an insufferable ring, and the coffee being poured turns into horrid drips and splashes. It’s all about how the character feels in the moment and what their experiences are. This will shape how we can utilize sound around them in our writing.

Smell

Aromas are everywhere, and they have a magnificent impact on how we write. Have you ever been out running errands and then—suddenly—the smell hits you, and you’re back in your kindergarten classroom coloring with your favorite crayon while the static of the TV buzzes in the corner of the room?

The human sense of smell is directly related to our memories. When you describe smells through the eyes (or should I say nose?) of your character, it’s important to remember these connections. Regardless if they are brought up, we can mention the way their favorite candles smell, the way that dinner permeates the room with an alluring scent of herbs and the way that one’s partner can smell like sea salt and peaches despite being far from the ocean.

While smell doesn’t always need to be included, the inclusion of it can be used to signal something important. For example, in Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher series, the unforgettable Yennifer of Vengerberg is always noted as having the scent of lilac and gooseberries around her. Even if she is nowhere to be seen, that particular aroma lets Geralt know she’s been there—an example of how scent is tied to memory.

Touch

Characters are, more than likely, going to touch something at some point. Whether it’s an object they pick up, a person they grab, or the clothes on their back, something will come into contact with your character. What then?

Think about the texture. Some sweaters are scratchy, but others are soft. What materials appeal to the character and what do they feel like? Using these details can make our writing come alive. Once again, we can include perception in our word choice to magnify the imagery.

For example, when two people touch, the “spark” that can be felt between two lovers can be the actual heat rising. Faces get warm, as do hands. Temperature can play an important role in imagery as well. Is someone’s hand as warm as a hearth or is it icy and frigid? There’s much more to touch than just the action alone.

Taste

Most often one of the most important and ignored senses in creative writing is the sense of taste. No, I don’t mean the instances where it’s used to describe eating. Going into detail about a roast chicken that gleams with butter and seasonings is not the issue. The issue comes from where else we can use our sense of taste to build character.

Some writers choose to write what a kiss tastes like, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, you don’t really want to hear what one person taste’s in another’s mouth. More poetic phrases like “tastes like freedom and solace” are eloquent, but still a little off. Using the sense of taste in writing can be tricky, but essential to rounding out your work.

Instead of describing the inside of someone’s mouth, taste can include the way the air has a bitter sting to it or the way that the beach tastes like salt on the wind. There are subtleties to taste, similar to smell, that you can tap into to fully flesh out your writing.

Putting It All Together

Every writer has a unique style, and every writer can do as they please. That being said, it cannot be denied that in creative writing, sensory language is key. It sets your work apart from technical writing and it immerses the reader into rich descriptions that keep them reading.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with your diction to capture the scene as you need to.