Ways to incorporate all five senses in your scenes
This is the most obviously incorporated into every scene. But be aware:
Where is the character (and what does that look like)
What is the lighting in the room like
(I’m going to keep it there, but this could be much longer.)
Yes, of course they hear dialogue, but there’s a lot more, too! Also think about:
How many people are around them (and how they’re adding to the noise)
Whether they’re listening to music
Background noise (such as birds or wind)
This is probably the second most underutilized! Characters don’t have to be feeling pain or something to be feeling something. Also consider:
How their clothes feel on them
The temperature and humidity of the room
If they like to fidget with things around them
Our sense of smell is the one most connected to memories. Using it is not only realistic to the character but very grounding for the reader. So use it!
What food is in the room that the character might smell (or restaurants they’re walking by)
Plants or animals that have a very distinct scent
Perfume or cologne (and it doesn’t have to be a complicated apple and honey, you can just have a citrus perfume)
To be honest, this is probably the least important one just because the opportunity will only present itself once the character is eating. But, when they are eating:
Is the flavor pungent or dull (and which type of flavor(s) is it best categorized as)
Is it familiar or more foreign
Is the character going to eat quickly or not, and why
Grounding your readers in the scene is important, and this means going beyond what is directly relevant to the plot. Add in layers of what’s happening and what they can sense and your writing may start to pop.
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