Unforgettable Writing: Use all 5 Senses to Add Emotion

Welcome to Twitter Treasure Thursday! Today’s gem comes from @OrlyKonigLopez, the founding president of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. In her blog post, Unforgettable Writing: Use all 5 Senses to Add Emotion, she offers great advice on how to “show” your story, rather than “tell” it. This is something I’ve always struggled with as a writer. Finding ways to make a story 3-D, rather than 2-D, isn’t always easy. However, after reading this post, I’ve learned the easiest way to overcome this writing hurdle is to rely on the 5 senses. 

Don’t just paint a nice visual picture, use all 5 senses.

Sight

I know, I know, as a good writing soldier you’ve been holding tight to the “show, don’t tell” rule. And writing is, after all, about drawing a visual picture. So yes, you’ll still be writing mostly visual descriptions. But, make sure every word counts. Include only what strengthens the image and look for fresh ways to describe things.

▪ Instead of white sand, sand like iridescent crushed pearls

▪ Curly hair can become corkscrew curls that a character has the sudden urge to tug and watch them bounce back

To read the entire post, click here!