tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post7643172098388523804..comments2024-03-28T17:30:06.439-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: Revision and the five sensesJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-29937453010710296952016-04-12T20:17:01.468-04:002016-04-12T20:17:01.468-04:00Kaye - good to see you here! I agree that getting ...Kaye - good to see you here! I agree that getting taste in EVERY scene could be challenging. I suppose references could be oblique, maybe in the form of metaphor - something like "her disappointment was a bitter pill to swallow" only more elegant and creative. :)Julie Tollefsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01579825918764925361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-28310181451432292442016-04-12T16:43:47.298-04:002016-04-12T16:43:47.298-04:00I'm a big proponent of using all five senses, ...I'm a big proponent of using all five senses, too, although I wouldn't try to get taste into each scene, personally. I think it looks too obvious when you can't artfully weave it in. However, lack of a sense could be a reference to that sense, too, like having a woman who couldn't taste wine. Or a lack of any other sense.<br />Kaye Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05596677617002735674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-35125314214893454552016-04-12T11:45:45.389-04:002016-04-12T11:45:45.389-04:00Oh, Kevin, I didn't realize that was a possibi...Oh, Kevin, I didn't realize that was a possibility. Cancer sucks. Best wishes to your wife, and thank you for stopping by.Julie Tollefsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01579825918764925361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-48014734786351559902016-04-11T20:13:44.874-04:002016-04-11T20:13:44.874-04:00Interesting post.
One of the side effects that t...Interesting post. <br /><br />One of the side effects that they did a lousy job of warning my wife about with chemo is that she could lose all sense of smell and taste for weeks at a time. Everyone talks about nausea, but nobody mentions about how one may lose smell and taste for long periods. Kevin R. Tipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04170714419133752724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-55421836236532089382016-04-10T21:50:37.294-04:002016-04-10T21:50:37.294-04:00Thanks, Jim. That makes sense (ha!). I write in Sc...Thanks, Jim. That makes sense (ha!). I write in Scrivener, too, and love all the neat things like that you can do with it.<br /><br />KM - I think the sense I have the most trouble including is smell. I need to work on it!<br /><br />Gloria - I love lilacs! In college, I lived on a street called Lilac Lane - lined with lilac bushes. It was wonderful. I'm fortunate that Nancy is the founder of our local Sisters in Crime chapter. I've learned so much from her.Julie Tollefsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01579825918764925361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-22027860325270730962016-04-10T19:01:41.174-04:002016-04-10T19:01:41.174-04:00Julie, we had Nancy Pickard at one of our writing ...Julie, we had Nancy Pickard at one of our writing workshops last fall. She was amazing. I try to include different senses throughout my books, but since my main character doesn't like to cook, I'm a little limited there. However, she does like to eat so I do bring in the sense of smell and taste. For me, there is no sweeter scent than lilacs in spring, some roses later, or the smell of bread or other yeasty things baking. A turkey at Thanksgiving or Christmas is also a wonderful smell. I'll be going through my final edit of book seven shortly, and I'll be looking for more ways to add the sense of taste and smell. Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-2275576822856544362016-04-10T14:48:52.619-04:002016-04-10T14:48:52.619-04:00Senses do make a story come alive. I usually use a...Senses do make a story come alive. I usually use a pretty bare-bones style, and I think keeping a checklist is probably a good idea. <br /><br />It's easiest when I'm so immersed in a scene I can almost smell, hear & taste things. I don't use touch nearly enough.KM Rockwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03973749764907859829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-26979545660669443232016-04-10T14:38:05.602-04:002016-04-10T14:38:05.602-04:00Julie -- I write in Scrivener and keep track for e...Julie -- I write in Scrivener and keep track for each scene there. I don't try for even-handedness. The more scenes I can pack in the better -- but only if they make sense. When I am about to rewrite a scene, I note what senses are missing so as I do the rewrite I am primed for opportunities to add others.<br /><br />~ JimJim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-22632046596589254582016-04-10T14:34:45.980-04:002016-04-10T14:34:45.980-04:00Jim - I'm curious, do you keep a scene-by-scen...Jim - I'm curious, do you keep a scene-by-scene tally for senses, then? And do you try to be somewhat even-handed throughout the manuscript? <br /><br />EB - I totally agree. Appeal to different senses draw me into the story every time.<br /><br />Margaret - I think I need a checklist. I keep a list of problems I know I need to fix and I'll review manuscripts with certain goals in mind (increase micro-tension, consistent character voice, etc.) but I don't have a master list of things to check in every story. Julie Tollefsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01579825918764925361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-2978903061692492792016-04-10T09:20:25.222-04:002016-04-10T09:20:25.222-04:00Using all five senses is on my revision checklist....Using all five senses is on my revision checklist. I frequently write about food, the preparation and consumption, which makes it easier, as does writing about gardens. Describing the scent of summer rain hitting an asphalt street? Frustrating.Margaret S. Hamiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07979191318652199350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-37463223238293623952016-04-10T06:41:52.179-04:002016-04-10T06:41:52.179-04:00Good advice! I was reading a new anthology and not...Good advice! I was reading a new anthology and noticed the most popular and experienced author used all the senses in her story. It made the story visceral and increased the tension--one of the few stories that captivated me.E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-84356493580505297602016-04-10T06:26:36.519-04:002016-04-10T06:26:36.519-04:00I keep track of the number of senses for each scen...I keep track of the number of senses for each scene other than sight, which is nearly impossible to miss. I insist on at least one other sense per scene and prefer two more. I rarely hit all five senses in a scene as taste is tough for me to find any reasonable use in most scenes.<br /><br />~ Jim<br />Jim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.com