tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012878468524630950.post5389536490947035153..comments2024-03-12T21:28:10.242-04:00Comments on That's Another Story: Use Smells and Tastes for Powerful WritingAndrea Mackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250681746122381149noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012878468524630950.post-810058332593039302013-03-14T08:23:09.388-04:002013-03-14T08:23:09.388-04:00Hi Aakira,
That sounds so challenging! As for th...Hi Aakira, <br /><br />That sounds so challenging! As for the smell, most writers seem to compare other smells to ones they already know, or even a combination of smells they know, e.g. It smelled worse than...whatever you think smells really horrible.<br /><br />In terms of nonverbals, I think there are lots of ways you could show a reaction - how about shrinking away, even if he doesn't want to; turning his head; hiding his nose in his collar, etc. A good resource to check out is The Emotion Thesaurus (find out more at The Bookshelf Muse) for unique ways to show disgust or even horror.Andrea Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250681746122381149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012878468524630950.post-9062457320661331172013-03-13T23:45:31.958-04:002013-03-13T23:45:31.958-04:00Hi Andrea - I am also an "Andrea"! I fo...Hi Andrea - I am also an "Andrea"! I found this page through an exhaustive search on trying to find some help with writing for a character who experiences a truly awful olfactory experience. He is at a murder scene and, well, dead bodies...<br /><br />How do you 1) describe a smell that you, as the writer, can only imagine (or theorize based on other authors' work) but can take a good guess at and 2) if you're writing in a Deep POV mode - you *are* the character - how the heck do you show him/her reacting to this disgusting stench?<br /><br />Showing a facial expression doesn't work if you're in Deep POV - the character can't see his/her own face. Having them say something like "Yuck!" doesn't work - it's out of character and insufficient. I'm stumped.<br /><br />Any suggestions?<br /><br />aakirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07186930320933526258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012878468524630950.post-59282047585145389052012-01-23T09:02:29.997-05:002012-01-23T09:02:29.997-05:00Great post, especially your thoughts about filteri...Great post, especially your thoughts about filtering sensory details through what a character would notice. Thanks for another great post!Cheryl Reifhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01717232463223093632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012878468524630950.post-83868622034728187522012-01-19T21:17:08.895-05:002012-01-19T21:17:08.895-05:00These are all so excellent, especially BE SPECIFIC...These are all so excellent, especially BE SPECIFIC.Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10006966091789130047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012878468524630950.post-8634297478032413912012-01-19T14:18:18.499-05:002012-01-19T14:18:18.499-05:00Smell is such an under-rated sense, I think. Smell...Smell is such an under-rated sense, I think. Smells can evoke a whole memory, unleash an entire scene. And smell reminds us of things. It can be powerful when used.<br /><br />Taste. Now there's one I don't use much. I have characters eating, but I don't pay much attention to the sensory part of eating.Barbara Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06547166495514562286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012878468524630950.post-58211375465237947702012-01-19T06:36:28.468-05:002012-01-19T06:36:28.468-05:00Yes, and it lets you give your character unique de...Yes, and it lets you give your character unique details that set them apart. I'd think the comparisons of some smells and tastes that a character makes would be specific to them.Andrea Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250681746122381149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012878468524630950.post-13129145770890315822012-01-19T06:34:21.666-05:002012-01-19T06:34:21.666-05:00Yeah, getting the writing to a point where the rea...Yeah, getting the writing to a point where the reader doesn't recognize the technique is always the hardest part!Andrea Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250681746122381149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012878468524630950.post-40540672686213740872012-01-19T06:33:30.419-05:002012-01-19T06:33:30.419-05:00Thanks Kate, this is very useful. It could be subt...Thanks Kate, this is very useful. It could be subtle way to layer in details of mood or emotional state in a particular situation.Andrea Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250681746122381149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012878468524630950.post-55826800675324597062012-01-19T06:31:40.458-05:002012-01-19T06:31:40.458-05:00Deb, I need to work on including more of this too....Deb, I need to work on including more of this too.Andrea Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250681746122381149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012878468524630950.post-43033407719135821152012-01-19T06:30:48.895-05:002012-01-19T06:30:48.895-05:00So true. And I was thinking about how, for setting...So true. And I was thinking about how, for settings, people's cars and homes all have a unique smell.Andrea Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250681746122381149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012878468524630950.post-11160183215588080892012-01-19T06:30:08.023-05:002012-01-19T06:30:08.023-05:00Stina, I've been thinking lately about other s...Stina, I've been thinking lately about other situations besides eating where taste is involved! Watch for an upcoming post on that.Andrea Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250681746122381149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012878468524630950.post-35673853235334131942012-01-18T23:29:15.107-05:002012-01-18T23:29:15.107-05:00These are two senses I really don't use. I lov...These are two senses I really don't use. I love your tip about specificity -- this is what always draws me in. Especially food! Ha, ha.Karen Stronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08697785820907711723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012878468524630950.post-9399982855318446632012-01-18T22:02:21.420-05:002012-01-18T22:02:21.420-05:00What a great post of important reminders. It all s...What a great post of important reminders. It all should flow in naturally, so much so that the reader doesn't even recognize it. Great links too!Christina Farleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03459203755170266842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012878468524630950.post-180538701399140922012-01-18T20:04:27.461-05:002012-01-18T20:04:27.461-05:00You've made some wonderful points, Andrea. I m...You've made some wonderful points, Andrea. I might add use taste and smell to highlight your character's state of being at the time. Emily points out that smells heighten a character's state of being in love. The smell of his shampoo--intoxicating! Use taste to show your character is depressed or sick. I'm trying to remember that my hungry character is going to find any food smell appetizing, and may connect and compare other smells to food because she hasn't eaten.Kate Fallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12856887940900664692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012878468524630950.post-88480364532190496692012-01-18T15:26:30.231-05:002012-01-18T15:26:30.231-05:00Wow-great post. Esp. your thoughts on food and emo...Wow-great post. Esp. your thoughts on food and emotions! You know this is something I've not included enough in my writing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012878468524630950.post-56436697135350398852012-01-18T12:13:52.710-05:002012-01-18T12:13:52.710-05:00Oh, I love this! Smell is one of my favorite tools...Oh, I love this! Smell is one of my favorite tools to use in writing, especially when I'm talking about another person. We all smell differently, and because I write romance, this comes into play a lot... usually in a "he's-so-dreamy" way. : )Emily R. Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03892444969625637064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012878468524630950.post-1814321204522178312012-01-18T08:01:20.438-05:002012-01-18T08:01:20.438-05:00Taste is the one I struggle with most, because unl...Taste is the one I struggle with most, because unless I'm eating (or bleeding into my mouth), it's not something I think about. <br /><br />Great post, Andrea!Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.com