Sitting here breathing in the scent of horse, all kinds of scenes are conjured in my mind. There’s nothing like the scent of dirt, horse sweat, and hay. I love that smell! It does something visceral to me. Since starting a habit of riding my horse everyday, my writing is blossoming. I’m more prolific sitting here breathing the scent of yesteryear. When all people had to travel were horses or feet, they had to have carried the scent of the animals. And it seems to help me get in character and scenes.
And what about music? I listen to the same cd’s for the entire time I’m working on a project. Just the music and lyrics drifting in the air seem to spur me into the story I’m working on. I can sit in a quiet house and mull over a scene for over an hour- push the button on the cd player, the familiar strains form words that float from my finger tips.
Sight- do you have pictures of your hero or heroine or maybe the area your book is set in? I bet some of you do. This particular book all I have is a photo (you’ve seen several times on my blog ;0) of the hero and I have an 1888 map of The Dalles as well as a topographical map of Oregon at my elbow. These are my sight enhancers.
Taste- can’t get through the morning hours of writing without my hot chocolate and the afternoon without my green tea. Hot in the winter - cold in the summer. If I don’t have these libations my brain doesn’t function no matter the music, the scent, or the sights! LOL
Touch- Ahh, that’s a tricky one to get the scenes flowing. I would say the only thing tactile about my writing is the fact I’ve worn the letters off of eight of the keys on my keyboard! Oh! Or the times I run my fingers over the Pool Boy’s smooth, waxy head and pat his waxy, rotund belly for inspiration and luck. ;)
What do you use to enhance your senses to make your stories come to life or your writing prolific? Or am I just strange???
5 comments:
Well, Paty, you may be weird, but I don't think it's because of this! Having sensual triggers for a story makes a lot of sense to me. I can't say that mine are as thought out as yours, but they're their. It's the feel of the keyboard, the chair, all the ordinary things that take me out of one mode and thrust me into another.
Music and horses are great triggers. Sounds as if your riding is enhancing your writing! Perhaps because you write in a bygone era, these things help pull you back. Wrtiting contemporary might be slightly different though if I am writing a story set near the sea, it sure helps to go to the sea!
Glad Mr. Poolboy is doing his job---
Neat blog.
Alice
Ah yes, Paty, nothing like the smell of horses or the earth after a fresh rain.
I do my best "Writing" while driving, or gardening. The hard part is remembering what I've mind written until I get to a piece of paper or my laptop. Ha!
I have little things that inspire me: Stones that say "Believe" and "Imagine". A pillow on my writing chair so my old broken tailbone injury doesn't ache. Deciding to take up snowboarding in your late 30s has its drawbacks...
I'm jealous about all the rubbing and patting on the pool boy.
Thanks Alice! I was afraid this blog was a little on the strange side and then when no one was responding... Well let's just say I was worried!
Danita- some day when you visit, I'll let you fondle the pool boy all you want! LOL
Oh, Paty. It's because you're strange, of course. ;)
Seriously tho, I don't think I have sensual triggers, though I do incorporate the sense in my writing. And being in certain places has triggered book ideas for me, but I don't think it happens on a daily basis. I'm jealous yours do though!
Great post Paty! Makes perfect sense.
Using the senses is a huge part of writing for me (when I'm writing).
I, too, listen to certain music when I'm writing or even when I'm reading. I read a lot of Regency and Historical so I just pop in a classical CD or even soundtracks to Emma or Sense and Sensibility, or if I'm reading a Scottish Historical I'll put on Celtic music and it makes the story so much stronger.
It's amazing how our senses can trigger our creative juices and we start conjuring up a great story in our head.
I applaud you for putting yours down in writing and not letting them get away. :)
Fun post! Thanks!
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