Going Deeper in a Scene: Using the Five Senses

You know those books where you feel as though you’re standing right next to the main character? It’s as if you’re experiencing it all yourself instead of merely through reading about it. You’re in the scene. You’re in the moment. And it’s amazing.

But then, you go to write a scene like that and you stutter. How can you create an atmosphere that will have the same effect for your readers? How can you go deep in a scene? How can you make your readers lose themselves in your story so that there’s no return?

Let me tell you.

Using the Five Senses

When you go somewhere for the first time, you’re subconsciously reacting to it through the five senses: touch, hearing, sight, smell, and taste. And this is exactly what your character should be doing as well.

When you bring these senses into a scene, suddenly, the reader can experience it so much more vividly. All at once they’re transported to the moment along with the character and it plunges them in.

If this is a new tactic for you, consider doing some writing exercises where you practice each sense and then bring them all together in a scene. I’ve included some prompts below that will use each sense.

There’s many tips and tricks to engage your reader more. Perhaps through witty dialogue or better prose, the suggestions are endless. But, when it comes down to it, engaging the five senses is the main course of action.

Consider having this in mind next time you go somewhere. Even if it’s not somewhere new, think of your surroundings and what you’re touching, hearing, seeing, smelling, and tasting. This can help you as a writer, especially when you try to engage all the senses next time you write a scene! Having this practice ahead of time can be invaluable.

But don’t feel as though you have to engage all the senses in every scene. I’m talking about scenes where you want to take it to the next level by raising the intensity or taking your readers to a deeper level emotionally. Even then, don’t feel as though you have to engage all five, sometimes one or two is all that’s needed.

If you feel as though you’re saying, “and he touched something wet and heard the sound of a bird and saw a magnificent waterfall…”, yeah… don’t feel that’s necessary. Don’t say it just to say it. If he’s feeling something wet, make that matter to something that’s going to happen later on. Like a bit of foreshadowing! Unless you’re just using it as a touch of description, that’s great too but don’t go overboard.

Most importantly, have fun! If you’re enjoying the scene and really feeling it in your heart, then chances are your readers will too. That’s all that matters.

Your turn!

How do you go deeper in a scene? Do you use the five senses to engage readers in scenes? Did you try out the prompts I included?

Blessings, Allyson