One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was to ensure that I have at least three of the five senses in every scene. In my current reworking of my fantasy novel I am trying hard to ensure I have that.
Why not all five?
There are several reasons for this. It may be that it’s too much, or they just aren’t needed. But you will need at least three to ensure your reader is there with you. It provides a better picture (so to speak) of the scene and what the character is experiencing.
They don’t have to be over the top references either. Sometimes it is the smallest detail that will tell far more about a character and the situation that over describing the scene.
For example:
It was then that the light caught the slender wedding band on her old fingers. (sight)
It almost tickled as he ran his thumb along her jaw line. (touch)
The musty scent of the room as she opened the door was overpowering. (smell)
The constant tapping of the shutter would not let her sleep. (sound)
The strawberry was summer on her tongue. (taste)
Taste is one of the difficult ones that I find I can’t always put in. But putting at least three together you could get a real feel for a place, the interactions of those in it, and it enriches the story. That is where I am now, trying to enrich my story. Trying to give more to the bones of the skeleton I have and hopefully pull my readers into the same place I have in my head, watching the same people I am.
There are some great writers out there who are able to do this really well; much better than I can. But with practice and reading of those great writers then one day I may get close.
Happy Scribbling.
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