“The five senses: visual, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory (smell), and gustatory (taste).”<\/p>\n
Previous posts about using sensory detail in writing:\u00a0 visual<\/a>, auditory<\/a> and olfactory<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now, let’s explore using the sense of touch to embellish and enhance writing.<\/p>\n Sometimes, the best way to learn is by example, learning from what others have written.<\/p>\n “At school, the guilt and sadness were like wearing clothes still damp from the wash,” and “Whenever I moved, I felt as though I were touching something icy.” \u2014Family Life<\/em> by Akhil Sharma<\/a><\/p>\n I know what that feels like, so when I read this, I can feel those damp clothes and know what the author wants to convey.<\/p>\n Here’s an example of using movement in writing:<\/p>\n “By the thirteenth loop, my hands were cement-scuffed and my head was spinning from being at knee height for so long, but the parade of hoping, bear-crawling, push-upping women showed no sign of slowing.” \u2014 Natural Born Heroes<\/em> by Christopher McDougall<\/a>, describing parkour (a\u00a0training\u00a0discipline using movement developed from military\u00a0obstacle course training.)<\/p>\n McDougall could have written “I was worn-out” or “I was tired.”\u00a0 Instead he uses specific details: “cement-scuffed” and “my head was spinning.” He employed strong verbs: “bear-crawling” and “push-upping.”<\/p>\n With this type of strong writing, readers can feel the chafed hands and most of us probably can relate to “head-spinning.” I can see “bear-crawling” and “push-upping.”<\/p>\n A note about parkour: “Practitioners aim to get from one point to another in a complex environment, without assistive equipment and in the fastest and most efficient way possible. Parkour includes\u00a0running,\u00a0climbing,\u00a0swinging,\u00a0vaulting,\u00a0jumping,\u00a0rolling,\u00a0quadrupedal movement, and other movements as deemed most suitable for the situation.” \u2014 Parkour, Wikipedia<\/a><\/p>\n Looking at websites about physical activities (martial arts, gymnastics,dance, etc) could help you find action verbs.<\/p>\n In Vex, Hex, Smash, Smooch, Let Verbs Power Your Writing<\/a>,<\/em> Constance Hale<\/a> regales readers with her unique style about usage of the English language, especially strong verbs.\u00a0 Constance has been dubbed \u201cMarion the Librarian on a Harley, or E. B. White on acid.” Kathy Myers wrote an excellent review of Vex, Hex, Smash, Smooch<\/a>.<\/p>\n Practice using strong verbs and specific descriptive words to make your writing strong and create images the reader can see and sense.\u00a0 You can go to Parkour Images<\/a>, choose a photo and describe it, using sensory detail. Just write!<\/p>\n
![\"Parkour\"](\"http:\/\/thewritespot.us\/marlenecullenblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Parkour.jpg\")
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