Involve Your Senses in Your Writing

Whether you are writing fiction or non-fiction, a memoir or an article, you can utilize all five of your senses to help with descriptions and feelings. For example when writing of the beach, you can use the sensation of sinking your toes into the hot sand to find cooler damper sand underneath, the smell of the ocean and the sound of the waves breaking, the colors of sun, sand, birds and water all together. Even the most basic descriptive paragraph can be made more realistic by getting in touch with your senses.

Imagine writing an article about how to make a roast chicken. You need to include the basic directions but you can make it even better for your readers by describing the crisp roasted skin, the flavor and aroma of the herbs and seasonings you added, and the way the scent will float through the house making everyone's mouths water. Explain the juicy richness of the tender chicken and the texture of each piece of meat.

No matter what you are writing, take a few moments to see how you can involve your senses to make the image really come alive. Consider some of the greatest books in history are those filled with details that make readers feel as if they are experiencing the same things as the characters, from odors to tastes and sights to sounds. What would classics such as Sense and Sensibility be without the descriptive turns of phrase that made readers feel as if they were sitting in the parlor with the characters?