Writing Tip #1: Use the Five Senses Right Away

June 6th, 2009 by bakerkline

five sensesThe problem of beginning ...

The Southern novelist and poet George Garrett, director of creative writing at the University of Virginia when I was a graduate student there, always said that if you're having trouble getting into a story (or a chapter or a scene) you should use all five sentences right at the start, preferably in the first paragraph:  touch, taste, smell, hearing, sight.  Your scene will jump to life, and you'll have an easier time falling into the dream world of the story.

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  • http://www.lisaromeo.blogspot.com Lisa Romeo

    What a great reminder.

    When one of my kids was diagnosed with Sensory Integration Disorder and it forced me to learn a lot about all of the senses and how much each contributes to typical experiences, and I think it made my writing better.

    I had to think about things like the lint inside a sock, the difference in the texture between a hot dog and its bun, the way water feels inside an ear while showering -- all things my son could at one time not tolerate. It really helped me think about putting more sense information in my work.

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