Keep It Sensual

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received about writing was to remember to keep all the senses on the page. And then show the character’s reactions to those sensory experiences. Not only does using the senses of sight, taste, smell, touch and sound make the scenes more real to the reader, but describing how our hero and heroine react can reveal character as well.


Sight is the most used – and perhaps overused – senses in writing. I find it too easy to use the words look, gaze, saw, eyes, etc., but who can deny their descriptive value? When our hero sees the beautiful heroine and remarks about the sparkle in her eyes or the rich color of her hair, the reader can see what the heroine looks like through the hero’s eyes. But when he catches a glimpse of her firm breasts and his body hardens, the reader understands the hero is attracted to her as well.


Touch is another well-used sense, especially in romances. Silky hair. Smooth skin. The soft brush of his lips against hers. The passion-rough embrace as he pulls her soft body against his hard one. As a reader, I know I live for these descriptions in the stories I read. Because I want to experience them with my characters. When we go into sensual detail, our readers will feel the hero’s calloused hands as he tries to be gentle with our high-born heroine, and they not only vicariously experience the erotic scrape of his fingers along their skin but admire the man all the more for his hard-won restraint.


A baby’s cry. A dog barking in the middle of the night. A soft moan. A wicked chuckle. The wind howling as a storm approaches. Sounds are all around us and can be used in a variety of ways to make our scenes come alive. Our readers can relate to the sounds our characters are hearing and picture the scene more easily in their mind. But here again, how the character reacts to the sound can tell the reader a lot. Is he annoyed by the dog barking? Or alarmed? Is our heroine thrilled by the hero’s wicked chuckle or angry? And don’t forget how the quick mention of ragged breathing or that soft moan can add more detail to a love scene.


Smells often call to memories deeply buried in our subconscious. Adding a scent, odor, aroma, stench to your scenes can quickly put your reader in the middle of the action. Who doesn’t recognize the soft scent of baby powder? The foul odor of garbage? The mouth-watering aroma of warm apple pie? The musky scent of arousal? And remember when you add those details to your scene, do it in your character’s point of view, so we know what that smell says to him.


Taste is probably the least-used sense in writing. I mean, if your characters aren’t eating, what is there to mention, right? How about the salt from her tears? Her strawberry lip gloss when he kisses her? The faint hint of mint when she kisses him? The smoke so thick he can taste it on his tongue? Taste is a bit more of a challenge, but when you can add a detail here and there, it can make your reader feel as if she’s right there. And that’s what we want, isn’t it?

Some of this may seem so elementary, but I often find I have to remind myself to go back and add more sensory detail to my scenes. My first draft of a scene is usually heavy on dialogue and movement, and not much else. So I need to layer in not only the mention of the senses, but the characters reactions to them. To me, it can make all the difference for making the story come alive.

What do you think?

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

great blog, natasha. someone once told me when I'm reading over a scene to make sure all five senses were included (that was before paranormal obviously!).

Helen

Carly Carson said...

Love your pics. Senses are so important, not only in providing description, but also, as you say, in revealing character.

Carly

Nicole North said...

Great post!! I agree 100%. In my classes I include info on how to raise sexual tension using the five senses. And how the five senses make love scenes more delicious. I find sensory detail fun and interesting.

Terry Spear said...

Great post, Natasha! Absolutely need the senses. Although lately I've read some historical romances where the people are dirty, stinky, and then make love describing how wonderful the other smells. Huh? No bathing since all the smelly descriptions either. LOL :)

Anonymous said...

Very nice post, Natasha. Terry-very funny! can you imagine trying to make love when the air smells like rotting cabbage? LOL!

Natasha Moore said...

Hey Helen! Thanks for stopping by! I do try to work all five senses into as many scenes as I can.

Thanks, Carly. I have fun surfing around for the perfect images.

Hi Nicole. I love using the senses to heighten the love scenes :)

Natasha Moore said...

LOL Terry. Um, maybe that's why it's called selective detail. Some of those smells we really don't need to know about :)

Rotting cabbage??? I understand the desire to be realistic, but I'd think we could find a better scent to describe during a love scene :)

Abby Niles said...

Great post! Taste comes the hardest to me too. I use smell and touching the most. I love describing textures and how it feels when someone is touching it.
Esme

Carol Ericson said...

Good reminders. The senses really bring a scene to life.

Titania Ladley said...

Hey, Natasha! Great reminder. Including the senses and reactions to them really does enrich a story and allow the reader to *be* there. And wow, now I'm headed to the kitchen... Seeing that apple pie pic really made me hungry! *g*

Titania