Touch is a sense most of us take for granted – until we’re lying on satin sheets, or picking glass and gravel out of a knee – but touch is sensed through the skin which is the largest organ of our human bodies. The sense of touch is based on detection of mechanical energy, orContinue reading “Exploring the Senses – Touch”
Category Archives: Writing Exercises
Exploring the Senses – Taste
Smell and taste are frequently stimulated together. The smell of food, for instance, greatly enhances its flavor. However, taste is a distinct sense from smell and should not be overlooked when describing your characters’ sensory perceptions. There are five well recognized types of taste receptors. These sensations are categorized as sweet, bitter, salty, sour andContinue reading “Exploring the Senses – Taste”
Exploring the Senses – Olfaction: The Sense of Smell
The sense of smell, more than any of the other senses, can trigger strong emotional memories. The olfactory system is physically wired for it. Unlike the other sensory pathways, the olfactory bulb has a direct connection to the amygdala (emotion) and hippocampus (memory consolidation). When you want to trigger your fictional character’s memory, you mayContinue reading “Exploring the Senses – Olfaction: The Sense of Smell”
Exploring the senses – Hearing
Auditory stimuli have the ability to trigger physical reactions. The calming sound of rolling waves, or the alarming jolt caused by a popped balloon can influence how we act and feel. Sounds, especially music, can also trigger memories. Exercise: To explore hearing, each member of writing group brought a song to listen to. As weContinue reading “Exploring the senses – Hearing”
Exploring the Senses – Vision
I apologize for the neglect. I was hibernating. Now, with spring on my doorstep, I return to sharing my writing life with the world of internet content seekers. Over the next five weeks I’ll share explorations and exercises I did with my writing group in an attempt to incorporate all five senses (vision, hearing, smell,Continue reading “Exploring the Senses – Vision”
First Story of the Lake Spirit
When she was younger, her favorite moments were swimming toward the full moon on a dark summer night. She would follow the trail the moon reflected on the lake, revealing another small part of the golden path after each smooth, silent stroke. She focused on the light, keeping her head above the water and movedContinue reading “First Story of the Lake Spirit”
Experience Writing 