I got your attention with the smelly underpants. Don't deny it.
Today's blog is about smells- good and bad. When I read I like it when an authors describes smells. The smell of a setting, the smell of a character, the smell of an object, the smell produced by an action- they all help paint a better picture in my imagination.
I've been listening to the Lost Symbol in the car and there is a specific scene (don't worry I'm not giving away anything and if you've read it you know what I'm talking about) where Brown creates a pivotal moment centered around the smell of Ethanol. Woah. I so felt it. The burn. The noxious fumes. I was gripping the steering wheel at this part.
When we write we use words to describe sensory stimuli for the five senses. The best writers I believe cover all FIVE. A few months ago, I noticed my writing only utilized four senses. Smells were mentioned minimally in my WIP. So I went through the entire thing and where I felt it was needed, I described the smell of that moment.
How do you guys feel about the description of smells in what you read and write?
Your header did get my attention! I'm still chuckling. I love writing that includes smells and tastes. Amy Tann is fantastic at this. I can hardly read one of her food passages without my mouth watering. I think I need to work more on smells in my writing. I think sight, hearing and touch are the senses I deal with most.
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