Creative Writing: The Importance of Sensual Writing

For over a month now, I've focused on the disasters that struck Central Philippines: the 7.1 Magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol and Cebu, Philippines, last October 15; and super typhoon Haiyan that devastated a wider portion of Central Philippines, including the islands of Leyte, Samar, Cebu, Capiz, and others, last November 8.

This morning I'm going to take a break and  look at an aspect of Creative Writing -- "Sensual Writing." I'm not talking about sex, dear Readers, rather I'm referring to writing that engages the readers via the five senses. The writer allows the readers to see, smell, hear, feel, taste.

Sensual Writing ties in with a Rule in Creative Writing which is: Show, Don't tell. The writer is giving details so that the Readers can more actively participate in the "fictive world" of the writer.

It makes one's work more compelling and interesting. In a way it forces the writer to think in terms of Scenes, which can be stronger than the Narrative way of writing. Writers say that the Scene is the basic unit of storytelling.

Sensual Writing can be integrated in other forms of writing, not just Fiction Writing.

Let me give you some examples.

1. The following excerpt allows the readers to see, feel, and taste:

"It was a bit of paradise up there, with tenacious succulents in Chinese blue and white pots, a moss-covered fountain, three plantation chairs, and most important, the tambis tree that hung over the back portion of the verandah. They didn’t even have to climb; all they had to was reach out and pluck all the fruit they wanted. They ate while they gathered fruit and Ines remembered the pleasant feel of the waxy cover and the delight of sweet juice when her teeth sank into the spongy pulp." ~ from The Old Mansion Near the Plaza: Novel Excerpt

2. The following excerpt allows the readers to see, hear, and feel.

"The most mournful time in Taytayan was sunset. As the sun sank into the sea, it shot forth brilliant hues of red, splattering the sky, making your soul catch at your throat. Then you blinked and the sun was gone, and the world that had been aflame was suddenly plunged into a somber darkness. The sounds of the crickets would crescendo in the darkness and your spirit quaked at such sadness." ~ from When the Rainbow Goddess Wept 

3. The following excerpt allows the readers to smell, see, hear.

"A breeze wafted in the faint sweet smell of molasses from the distant Sugar Central. They sighed and settled comfortably into their chairs. From where they sat, they could look out at the pool, tennis court and sprawling garden. It was Melisande who saw it first — “Look, Ines! I’ve never seen anything like that before. The tree is glowing.” She was pointing at the ylang-ylang tree that had flickering fireflies all over it." ~ from novel-in-progress 

 

4. The following allows the readers to see:

"In the distance I could see the Eiffel tower, its gray latticed metal gleaming in the early morning sun. Even though it was summer, the trees and bushes of Paris were still in bloom. The paulownia trees surrounding the Eiffel were heavy with purple flowers." ~ from novel-in-progress

 For your own exercise, describe how fresh-baked cookies look, smell, and taste. If you want to post that in this blog, send it to me at cbrainard@aol.com. 
That's our short lesson today about Sensual Writing.
My book Fundamentals of Creative Writing looks at other aspects of writing, and is available in Kindle and Nook. It is also available in hard copy in the Philippines (Anvil), where it is used in many classrooms.

~~
Read also
Explosion and Drawing as Writing Exercises
Your Writing Workspace
The Importance of Keeping a Journal and My Pink Lock and Key Diary
The Importance of Sensual Writing 

Vintage pictures that help me write my novel - Paris, Barcelona, Ubec
How to Write a Novel #1
How to Write a Novel #2
For fiction, read:

Talking About the Woman in Cholon
Old Man, by Brian Ascalon Roley

 Song from the Mountain, by Erlinda Kravetz
The Turkish Seamstress in Ubec 

 Winning Hearts and Minds- another chapter from Brainard's novel Magdalena

The Black Man in the Forest

The Old Mansion near the plaza

Manila without Verna

Flip Gothic

1943: Tiya Octavia 

All for now,
Cecilia