Rare Scottish Proboscis…For the next writing prompt, I’d like you to turn your attention to the most neglected part of the sensory setting in most stories — the olfactory.
What does it smell like in this scene — a freshly rain-washed morning? The inside of a week-old noodle box? The insole of a teen basketball star’s shoes?
Describing scent can be a lot of fun, but it’s not enough just to mark your territory. You need that odour to drive the story forward in its own way.
‘Because she smelled of Jasmine, he…’
‘The funk of untreated sewage seared her nose hairs clean away, so she…’
‘Rich, raw and coppery, the smell rose up from the entrails as she…’
Well, you get the idea. Now let’s see you WRITE it:
Use your 100 words to not only add sensory depth through scent, but to drive the story forward on the strength of the smell alone.
I’d love to see what you come up with — feel free to share in the comments below — or send me a snip of 140 characters or less on twitter, @kcdyer! Speaking of twitter, as we are teetering on the edge of 900 followers, I rashly promised a random draw for a book AND a real English Cadbury chocolate bar [is there any other kind?] when we hit the big 900. Spread the word to join in the fun.
And of course, there will be…
More soon…!
~kc
[If you are reading this post and wondering just what the heck is going on, you might want to click HERE to read the genesis of the ‘kc 100 word challenge’. And if this challenge isn’t for you, another route to jumpstart your writing is the Famous Yahtzee Method! Either way….This Day We Write!]
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