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Do You Smell Something good?

Revise #1 fr the Haunted Writing Clinic is HERE

How many memories do you have wrapped up in a smell? Favorite cookies from Grandma? Perfume sprays from that special night?

The other day, I was cooking dinner and I had chicken broth in one pan and vanilla extract in another. The two combinations together reminded me of Thanksgiving and I suddenly got a familiar yearning for family.


Scents have a way of moving on our emotions the same way sights can draw us into another world or time. Don't overlook the power of scent to spur your imagination while writing. If a certain smell -perfume- elicits feelings of romance, and the character in your story is in love, spritz our favorite fragrance while you write. Are you writing a home scene where everyone is happy, comfy, and cozy? Bake some chocolate chip cookies and let the scent circulate around you. At best, light a candle you love. Your home will smell wonderful and your creative nose will inspire your pen.

Comments

  1. Tara TylerOctober 11, 2012 at 6:11 AM

    you are full of awesome advice!
    i had to award you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Laura Hughes, MittensMorgulOctober 11, 2012 at 6:53 AM

    I've heard that our strongest emotional memories are linked to smells. It makes sense, because when we're born most of our other senses aren't fully developed, but we recognize our parents by smell. It's tied in to, and can trigger, our most basic emotions. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Alex J. CavanaughOctober 11, 2012 at 7:24 AM

    Smells can really trigger memories. I've gotten better at using them in my stories.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousOctober 11, 2012 at 7:34 AM

    Smells can be such strong triggers. The thick overwhelming smell of heavy perfume and cigarette smoke from my English friend when she hugs me; the musty comforting smell of books at a library; the mixed scent of perfume and body that I can still conjure from playing hide and seek in my grandma's coat closet. Great post and reminder to add this dimension to our writing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sarah FaulknerOctober 11, 2012 at 8:10 AM

    You are so right, scents really set the mood and sometimes bring to mind memories. I need to work on including more scents in my writing.
    ~Sarah Faulkner

    www.inklinedwriters.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yolanda RenéeOctober 11, 2012 at 8:13 AM

    Talynn,

    Still you amaze. Such wonderful snippets of information to make our writing better. Thank you.
    Vanilla, and Chicken broth, love Fall and the cooking that goes with it.

    Hopping over to the guery!

    Thank you for everything!

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownOctober 11, 2012 at 8:30 AM

    This sounds silly, but my grandmother ate a clove of garlic everyday for her health and to keep away mosquitoes. Whenever I smell garlic, I think of her, and all of the wonderful things she taught me in the garden.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Brianna ShrumOctober 11, 2012 at 10:52 AM

    Hullo! So, for whatever reason, my computer occasioanlly turns into the devil and won't allow me to do things, like comment on your query for Corrupted Quills! Darn technology. I'm not sure where to give you said comments, because, as I said, my laptop is evil. :-/ Thus, I opted to just tell you here and see what you thinketh.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Rachel SchieffelbeinOctober 11, 2012 at 11:14 AM

    Oh, I thought you were going to say to use scents in your story (also good advice) but I had never thought about using while I'm writing! What a great idea. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Suzanne FurnessOctober 11, 2012 at 11:19 AM

    I agree scents really can evoke memories and a sense of well being. I love scented candles.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Jenny S. MorrisOctober 11, 2012 at 12:25 PM

    So true! I love the smell of fires burning in the fall and winter. And I don't think I've used the sense of smell enough in my writing.

    Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sherry EllisOctober 11, 2012 at 2:01 PM

    Scents really can evoke strong feelings. Great advice!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Brianna ShrumOctober 11, 2012 at 5:10 PM

    Darn technology! I suppose I shall post my comment for your query here. ^_^ I love it! What a great ide afor a story, and the voice is very gripping. The only tiny crit I have is with this line: "When River learns they’re looking for Shae, too, it’s up to River to protect Shae and find out who is after Shae and why they want her." I would consider changing it to "When River learns they're looking for Shae, too, it's up to River to protect her and find out..." Very small thing. And I vote for The Memory Keeper! Good luck!

    ReplyDelete

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