An awesome way to keep your readers engaged is to write with all five senses. Autumn is a wonderful time of year to practice. The colorful, crunchy leaves and spicy aromas of fall are sure to prompt you to write with all your senses.
Why is sensory writing so engaging? When you give readers smells and sounds, they experience the story. It’s more than words on a page. They are drawn in and watch the story unfold around them. They can see it, taste it, feel it.
Autumn surrounds you with wonderful examples to inspire you:
- Smells: pumpkin spice, wood smoke, baked apples.
- Tastes: apple cider, pumpkin pie, spiced tea.
- Textures: misty fog, a crisp breeze, a comfy blanket.
- Sounds: a bonfire, crunchy leaves, geese flying south.
- Sights: kids playing in colorful leaves, bright-colored pumpkins, multi-colored squash.
Try it out: Choose one autumn memory and describe it using all five senses. It doesn’t have to be a full story or even complete sentences—bullet points are fine. It’s just a chance to practice sensory writing and letting autumn inspire you. Set your timer for 15 minutes and enjoy the writing experience.
As you get used to writing with your senses, you’ll find yourself including more sensory details in your rough drafts. But you will always get another chance to include the five senses as you edit. One of your editing rounds can be to look for places to include smells, tastes, sights, textures, or sounds.
Invite your reader in and let them experience your story. And let this wonderful season of autumn inspire you.
For more on sensory writing, you can read the article, Show, Don’t Tell.
Janet Eriksson 