We all have a story to tell. Some of us shout it from the rooftop, while others share the tale by a cozy fire. That doesn’t matter. What DOES matter is that our story holds our reader’s attention from the moment we say – ONCE UPON A TIME to THE END. One way to keep our reader’s attention is to make sure we include the six senses – or setting. This blog series will explore all six senses. The first is the SENSE OF TOUCH
How important is the sense of touch?
To expand – what impression will your reader have if your character’s skin feels like leather vs. silk? Or the clothes your character wears – velvet vs. cotton? In each case your readers will have a different reaction. If you continue to debate the importance of touch, try this experiment.
Touch a piece of fabric and examine your impression. If it is smooth – how do you feel? If it is rough – how does that change your reaction?
The sense of touch is used in writing to help evoke emotions. The inspiration for CHRISTMAS IN THE HIGHLANDS happened when my husband and I visited Sterling Castle in Scotland. It was snowing those fat, fluffy snowflakes that make you long for a cup of hot cocoa while you snuggle with the person you love beside a roaring fire. All three of those images play a major role in my romance novel.
We know how we feel about our characters. We can picture them in our mind’s eye. The challenge is making sure our readers feel the same way. I often tell my students that unfortunately we can’t go home with our readers. We can’t look over their shoulders and explain how soft the rose petals feel beneath our character’s bare feet, or how cold the snow feels against their skin. In each case an emotion and reaction will be evoked.
What emotion do you want your readers to feel?
Have a GREAT day writing,
Pam
