tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post7535963003119754398..comments2024-03-28T13:35:16.194-04:00Comments on Author, Jody Hedlund: Using the 5 Senses to Make Our Stories Jump Off the PageJody Hedlundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-6900380353363442762021-07-17T06:37:47.061-04:002021-07-17T06:37:47.061-04:00I am virtually impressed about the data you provid...I am virtually impressed about the data you provide for your article. I have to say am enormously crushed by your whole story. It’s not easy to get such exceptional statistics these days. I sit up for staying right here for a long term.<br /><a href="https://cucotv.co/" rel="nofollow">cucotv apk</a>tejuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09182564791483512588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-13317298688518894672021-06-16T09:08:34.062-04:002021-06-16T09:08:34.062-04:00Thanks for the best share and i really loved it,
c...Thanks for the best share and i really loved it,<br /><a href="https://cinemahdapk.info/" rel="nofollow">cinemahd</a>tejuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09182564791483512588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-15273018298176318642012-10-18T08:23:04.930-04:002012-10-18T08:23:04.930-04:00My introduction to the five senses camed from a tr...My introduction to the five senses camed from a trusted writer friend who knuckle-rapped on my noggin, "get in 'er head, dammit." A wise lesson, but you're correct on how it can get carried away. In an early "liposuck" edit session, where I look for overused words, the number of times I'd referenced sensations in the "gut", you'd have thought I had stomach cancer. Good post, Jody. ThanksDTTarkushttp://www.blameitonthemuse.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-9472870375801593792012-10-16T04:19:12.812-04:002012-10-16T04:19:12.812-04:00I liked your advice about having the senses do dou...I liked your advice about having the senses do double-duty. Make them earn their place in your scene!Carla Gadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793809172905144101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-62364840025186142562012-10-14T17:13:51.744-04:002012-10-14T17:13:51.744-04:00I never do enough of this in the first draft, but ...I never do enough of this in the first draft, but thankfully I add more in subsequent drafts. And then after my betas and agent read through it, I do even more! I run lean on this, for sure.Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-87088049461634984972012-10-13T13:53:05.357-04:002012-10-13T13:53:05.357-04:00Good point, Katie and Jody. Ideally, everything we...Good point, Katie and Jody. Ideally, everything we include in our writing should have a purpose. Every word, phrase, and scene should move the story ahead. Sensory detail just becomes filler if there's no other reason for it being there. But if we're attempting to make an important scene real to the reader, those details can help.Carol J. Garvinhttp://careann.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-86828936302973571562012-10-13T08:19:55.248-04:002012-10-13T08:19:55.248-04:00I live in, the now fall colored, Michigan. I'...I live in, the now fall colored, Michigan. I'm sure I will think of this post as I bounce and vibrate on my tractor. I’ll be driving a hayride of children through the woods. The whole way they will yell for me to go faster. I will think of the post when the wind chaps my face and the leaves reflect the bright and full spectrum of colors back at me in the sunrise. That place where we turn the hayride around smells of buck-scent. Don’t take it personally, but I’ll likely remember your post there. But it's the smoky smell of last night’s bonfire that signals our arrival back on the farm. I can taste the cider and donuts. They are the best donuts around. Mmm. Your blog post was just what I needed to hear (read). Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12869786084892907225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-10608601136364212362012-10-12T13:32:48.774-04:002012-10-12T13:32:48.774-04:00I LOVE this post. The UP is beautiful; I have rela...I LOVE this post. The UP is beautiful; I have relatives who live there but I can't take the mosquitoes ;)<br /><br />The thought of unplugging is SOOOO important. I was just writing a post about keeping a writer's notebook and realized that I don't spend as much time hanging out in coffee shops with just a paper notebook, the way I used to pre wireless internet.Sandyhttp://sandyraymond.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-72543195929054665572012-10-12T12:41:28.516-04:002012-10-12T12:41:28.516-04:00Gah. *hearing and *sight. I need more sugar... Gah. *hearing and *sight. I need more sugar... writingsofrosiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04392844273425725934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-20078475866681350922012-10-12T12:40:44.022-04:002012-10-12T12:40:44.022-04:00Great post, Jody!
I personally struggle with fitt...Great post, Jody!<br /><br />I personally struggle with fitting in touch and taste. I do pretty well with smell, hear, and see though. :)<br /><br />-Rosie<br />writingsofrosie.blogspot.comwritingsofrosiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04392844273425725934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-62672363531837456292012-10-12T12:03:53.481-04:002012-10-12T12:03:53.481-04:00Awesomely tweetable/postable. I especially appreci...Awesomely tweetable/postable. I especially appreciate that you aren't prescribing a per page ratio and that you caution people that randomly plugging in details can result in a "write by numbers" voice. Sharon Lippincotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16269757107845288737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-62669097685944112422012-10-12T11:22:05.422-04:002012-10-12T11:22:05.422-04:00Thank you, Jill! I appreciate your encouragement! ...Thank you, Jill! I appreciate your encouragement! I needed that today after having the Review Galley blues! :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-71925826620994763642012-10-12T08:40:31.048-04:002012-10-12T08:40:31.048-04:00Your girls are so pretty! How fun! One thing I lov...Your girls are so pretty! How fun! One thing I love about your books is exactly this--you have a gift for showing the sensory details. I love your descriptions. :)<br /><br />Just yesterday, I emerged from our quiet library to the very noisy outdoors. The wind had kicked up and seemed to bother the trees. I'm stunned at how loud nature can be!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-24783322896700816852012-10-11T18:55:46.010-04:002012-10-11T18:55:46.010-04:00Nowhere near me, then. Mackinac Island is the half...Nowhere near me, then. Mackinac Island is the halfway point when I head to my parents' near Detroit. Glad you had fun, though. And if you ever head farther west, give me a shout. Don't get too many inspy writers up this way. (And Lake Superior is way cooler than Lake Huron, not that I'm biased or anything.) :-) Naomi Rawlingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02431203734855694561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-49362639157211201762012-10-11T12:16:48.785-04:002012-10-11T12:16:48.785-04:00Very interesting perspective, Katie. I'm not s...Very interesting perspective, Katie. I'm not sure that I agree with her blanket statement, because like I mentioned in the post, some of it depends on your genre and voice. I think readers typically pick up a historical expecting to have more description in order to bring an unfamiliar era to life. They want to learn about an era as they read, and so that means we often have to include more descriptions,etc. <br /><br />But I DO agree that we should try to be strategic in how and when we use the sensory details. We don't just want to stick in a description of a room for no reason, or some other sensory detail just because. We really should think about why we're adding them.<br /><br />Sounds like a great book! Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-73290129095167141792012-10-11T12:13:13.123-04:002012-10-11T12:13:13.123-04:00Hi Naomi!
We were on the southern part of the UP...Hi Naomi! <br /><br />We were on the southern part of the UP along Lake Huron. We wanted to do a day trip to Mackinac Island along with enjoying the beauty of fall in the UP. We don't travel north too terribly often! But I couldn't resist taking this research trip! :-) Sometime, I'd love to get together!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-62593628348338473012012-10-11T11:49:45.960-04:002012-10-11T11:49:45.960-04:00Not only great reminders for writing, but life in ...Not only great reminders for writing, but life in general. To live fully in the moment, experiencing it - not just passing through it on the way to someplace else. Thanks!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15615035905042738222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-63551363584644118092012-10-11T11:22:59.884-04:002012-10-11T11:22:59.884-04:00Awesome, awesome insights, Jody. I've heard th...Awesome, awesome insights, Jody. I've heard the advice to show your scene through the character's eyes, based on your character's mood. So someone that was in a good mood would notice the flowers blooming and the vibrant colors all around. Someone in a bad mood might see that same scene and think about how the flowers blooming meant allergy season. Ugh, and why all the bright colors? It could hurt a person's eyesight. <br /><br />That sort of thing and those sort of examples are so incredibly helpful to me!Lindsay Harrelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09379628592162011068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-42131020585939820302012-10-11T10:27:43.693-04:002012-10-11T10:27:43.693-04:00Louise, what a great exercise! I'll have to tr...Louise, what a great exercise! I'll have to try it. I think it would be a great way to learn to incorporate the 5 seneses naturally, and not bog down the scene like Katie mentioned.Barbara Hartzlerhttp://www.barbarahartzler.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-85490301962293681662012-10-11T09:29:37.198-04:002012-10-11T09:29:37.198-04:00I'm reading this really excellent craft book r...I'm reading this really excellent craft book right now by Lisa Cron called Wired for Story: The Writer's Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence.<br /><br />In it, she calls attention to a lot of writing myths, and gives the reality. Then goes on to explain why.<br /><br />One that I just read, that relates a lot to this post, was this:<br /><br />Myth: Sensory Details Bring a Story to Life<br />Reality: Unless They Convey Necessary Information, Sensory Details Clog a Story's Arteries<br /><br />She goes on to explain why. But I thought this was fascinating.<br /><br />She doesn't discourage writers from using sensory details, but she does encourage writers to make sure they add necessary information to the story....in regards to mood, or character building or plot advancement (like Jody mentioned in one of her points above).<br /><br />Interesting, huh? Katie Gansherthttp://www.katieganshert.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-12342051942171151062012-10-11T09:22:16.847-04:002012-10-11T09:22:16.847-04:00I think when we're writing that first draft, w...I think when we're writing that first draft, we are so busy getting the story down that we can easily overlook the little details in a scene, so what I've started to do in my re-writing and editing phase is sit with my eyes closed for a moment and "look" around the scene to see, hear, smell, taste and touch the things my characters can. I think it's easier to do it in the editing phase because I'm not so feverish to get the story written - it's already there, I'm just adding depth and detail at that point. <br /><br />Last weekend I visited a historic site in southeaster Minnesota - a house built in 1855 - so that I could see and touch "life" in that time period (my WIP is set in 1857) - it was harder to smell, taste and hear it, because that would require real 19th Century people eating, cooking, laughing, dancing, fighting, talking, etc., but I could get a better sense of those things when I saw where they cooked, where they ate, where they danced, the piano they played, the issues of the day, and so on.Gabrielle Meyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12479898337766911768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-69062045730152355862012-10-11T08:05:45.049-04:002012-10-11T08:05:45.049-04:00I went to Arizona and New Mexico this summer, unde...I went to Arizona and New Mexico this summer, under the wings of two Native American sisters. They not only taught me alot about Navajo culture, but I learned the insanely important place that roasted pin(y)on nuts have to the Navajo. How to harvest them, how to roast them, that they only fall every few years, etc. I got to smell the inside of a hogan, to feel the dry air of the mountains and touch the sap in a ponderosa pine. To see how big the sky was and how the cloud patterns looked against the mountains.<br /><br />I was unplugged and on high alert for half that trip. It made a huge difference when I used all my senses to experience what is all around me.<br /><br />Oh, and the gym bag analogy? Spot on, Jody! If I turn around, there are 4 hockey bags in varying stages of microbial mutation. Gack. Ugh. I'm sure there's a cure for stupid in one of those bags.Jennifer Majorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12696261499182486196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-71586666465951957082012-10-11T08:02:55.498-04:002012-10-11T08:02:55.498-04:00This reminds me of an exercise we used to do once ...This reminds me of an exercise we used to do once in a while in my college dance class - grab a notebook and pencil, find a place to sit, and just record everything happening around us, using as many of our five senses as we can. The first few times, most of the students relied heavily on sight and sound, but by the end, they'd learned to stretch their other senses, too. It's an exercise I think I'll take up again, as practice for thinking of all five senses in my fiction writing, too.Louisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17840731400749105419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-81820021034820274502012-10-11T07:10:11.606-04:002012-10-11T07:10:11.606-04:00Jody, you were here??? I the UP for the colors? Wh...Jody, you were here??? I the UP for the colors? Why didn't I know this? I hope you weren't too close to me and I missed you. I just missed Serena Miller this summer. She even stayed in my town and I never knew she was here until afterwards. But if I had to guess, I'd say the picture above was taken near Munising. If you're ever headed to the Keweenaw, let me know. :-)<br /><br />Oh yeah, nice post on sensory details, by the way. :-) Naomi Rawlingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02431203734855694561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-86067912903714330842012-10-11T07:04:55.935-04:002012-10-11T07:04:55.935-04:00This is absolutely great advice and something I tr...This is absolutely great advice and something I try to do in my novels. Thanks for posting!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com