According to Donald Murray in chapter 20 of Write to Learn, "Writing is a visual art". I most definitely agree with Murray on this. However, when I think about it my mind can’t help but wander to the thought of illustration and bringing the ‘visual to the reader’ through the five senses. I know, as a writer, for me this is the hardest part of writing. I can throw together a research paper and I can write a blog and if you want me to make up some captivating drama then I can put together a real tear-jerker; but when it comes to those five senses I really struggle.
I recall sitting in numerous writing classes listening to others read out their work, discussing “the natural flow of her natural blonde waves” or “the threatening stench of the meal presented on the table” or “the warm smoothness of her grandmother’s hand on her own”. It is all so captivating and enchanting and yet it is always a stumbling block for me in my writing.
Is there a solution to my problem? To my lack of sensory description? I hope so! Perhaps the solution lies in reading illustrative pieces and absorbing them like a sponge, and, as the age old saying goes, the practise that leads to perfection.
Maybe there is hope for me yet...
~Lauren Bersaglio.
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I think adding sensory aspects to writing is important to! It makes it jump off the page and come alive.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about my writing, nothing seems to really work when I try to describe things using the senses. Even when things seem to sound fine in my head, they never really work on paper. Maybe its just about going for it and learning as your progress?
ReplyDeleteI have a hard time with this as well. I think it does come from reading others work and letting your ideas flow from that. Also a lot of brainstorming might help!
ReplyDeleteI agree. Maybe allowing yourself to just go for it? I guess I often feel stupid when I write using the senses. But if we could just allow ourselves to be free ad explore our own writing, perhaps it would work out better in the end.
ReplyDeleteSo true. It often feels that when you put in those sensory descriptions they sound oh so cheesy and over done. But for some reason read in someone elses work they are just part of a description and not a sore thumb that sticks out.
ReplyDeleteI think it has alot to do with your own personal voice and how that translates into the adjectives that you use. What Murray may describe one way could be described by someone else much more subtley but give the same results.