my channels
business · cars · dieting · diy · dogs · etiquette · fitness · frugal living · green living · health · home business · home improvement · jobs · parenting · self help · travel
more

writing, blogging, descriptive language, sensory writing, showing not telling, using your senses,
writing
blogging
more...

Using your senses to be a better writer


RELATED ARTICLES
Using writer's guidelines effectively
Basic tips for lousy writers--or good ones who want to get better
Overcoming Writer's Block - from an amateur writer

They say the best way to write is to write what you know. This isn’t always true - an female writer who has never left from their small town in rural British Columbia can write beautiful stories about a young child in Africa, a dying man in England, an Arctic explorer who just suffered a traumatic divorce. But, somewhere in the human experience, the female writer identifies with the characters she has imagined. There is a commonality between all humans that makes stories that are farfetched, situated in places we’ve never heard of or visited, somehow ring true despite us never having experienced them. I find there is one thing that can ground any story, any place you set it, and that’s injecting it with all five of your senses.

This is showing, and not telling.

I’m going to continue with 5 sentences that tell, and 5 sentences that show, using the five senses.

Smell.

  • As soon as I pushed open the door, a disgusting smell escaped the room.
  • As soon as I pushed open the door, the smell of decay, mold and rodents overwhelmed me.

In the first sentence, we are told there is a smell, and an unpleasant one, but it doesn’t give us any understanding of why the smell is coming from the room. It could be anything. In the second one, the smell described tells us something about the room. It has been left to rot, old and unused, it is derelict.

Taste.

  • Lorraine clinked her glass against Bill’s and took a sip of the champagne.
  • Lorraine clinked her glass against Bill’s and savored the green apple sensation as the champagne bubbled over her tongue.

The first sentence is plain cloths. They are drinking champagne. The second sentence describes the sensation and taste of the champagne, putting the reader more in the moment with the character than the first.

Sound.

  • Collette froze when she heard a loud sound in the dark alley.
  • Collette froze when she heard feet pounding and splashing on the wet cement of the dark alley, moving closer and closer.

The first sentence tells us that something is going on in the alley. The second sentence shows us that the sound is human, and that the day is wet.

Touch.

  • He sat and she lay there, holding hands above the stark hospital blanket covering her.
  • He sat and she lay there, her hand a rough and lined contrast against his small and delicate hand above the stark hospital blanket covering her.

In the first sentence, nothing is indicated about the characters except that the woman is sick, and the man is visiting her. The woman could be a child, the man could be a child, they could be anyone. The second hand shows us by the texture of their hands how old they are.

Sight.

  • The sun was setting.
  • The sun was setting gently into the Pacific ocean, slowly pulling it’s orange and pink fingers over the nearly unruffled sea.

In the first sentence there is no indication as to where to sun is setting, or the type of weather. By including color and descriptive words regarding location, the reader gets a better sense of where they should imagine they are.

To show rather than tell, a writer must first look at their five senses and encorporate  that into their writing.

Happy writing!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Erin Maher
Awesomeness Consultant
Vancouver, BC

MY STATISTICS
Level : Fz Maven  [?]
72 Factoids published
52 followers & subscribers
+ 106 positive votes
MY EXPERT RANKINGS
#6 in style
#3 in blogging
#24 in business
ABOUT THIS ARTICLE
3 comments
Published 10 months ago
+ 9 positive votes
SHARE THIS ARTICLE



NEW ARTICLE ALERTS
Sign up for notifications when new knowledge articles are published in topics relating to this article:
 writing
 blogging
 descriptive language
 sensory writing
 showing not telling
 using your senses
Email address:

Get published. Earn money. Gain Web cred.
Apply for a writer's account on Factoidz.

Related Articles
Be a Successful Writer for Factoidz, and More

Guide to becoming a freelance writer

You Too can Become a Magazine Writer

Tips - Supporting Yourself as a Freelance Writer

The steps to becoming a freelance writer

The freelance writer's online bookshelf: Strunk and White's Elements of Style turns fifty-two

How many thesaurusi do you have on your reference bookshelf?

StartLogic Review: Discount Web Hosting With Real Human Customer Service

Republish this article [?]
You may republish this article with proper attribution to the author and Factoidz.
Click to highlight the text, then press Control+C to copy to your clipboard
Popular in Writing
Using writer's guidelines effectively

Which is the best article writing company to write for?

9 Common Problems and Conditions That Could Affect Writers and Their Writing Careers

Finding Freelance Jobs for a Work-at-home Mom Like Me

How to Write Stand-up Comedy

Develop your writer's voice in 5 easy steps

View more Writing articles
Popular in Blogging
A Real Example of Search Engine Optimization

Tips to Earning Income from Factoidz

What skills and education do you need to become a professional writer?

Blogging as a business tool

Factoidz.com channel promotion and social bookmarking

How to get other bloggers to write your posts

View more Blogging articles
More Related
How to Write Stand-up Comedy

What you need to know to write an effective email query letter

Factoidz.com: Internet writing tips for newbies

Writing thought provoking, controversial content

Print on demand publishing: Is it right for you?

How to optimize your "Google resume"

How To Earn Money By Writing And Selling Ebooks Online

Study Tips: How To Succeed In Large English Writing Projects In College

Comments & Questions
Amanda Bradbury  Moderator: Frugal Living - 131 Factoids | + 338 votes

Very good writing tips. I agree. :)
posted 10 months ago

I AM SMART! THIS IS GOOD! I think.......

posted 3 months ago - delete

BUM BUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

posted 3 months ago - delete
Leave comment
You can sign in to comment under your Factoidz account.

Your name:

Email address:

Homepage (optional):

Comment:

Notify me of new comments