Sensory details add realism to your writing and make the reader feel more connected to the work. Let’s get those creative juices going and do some practice working with sensory details as writing prompts. Look at the suggestions below and see if anything stands out to you. Can you combine more than one of these in a story?
Scent
- heavy maple sweetness combined with hints of vanilla
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chemical stench of plastic thrown on a fire
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flowery fabric softener embedded in a scarf
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rotten, waterlogged stump of a browning Christmas tree
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new leather on shiny boots
Tactile
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scratchy wool sweater making a rash
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granular salt being spread on the driveway
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warm, fluffy slippers
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sharp serrations on a bread knife
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velvety smooth ice covering a lake
Sound
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wind blowing through bare branches
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tired, strained rumble of the heat turning on
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crunch of compacting wet snow
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dishes being stacked in a busy diner
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church choir’s voices drifting out closed wooden doors
Taste
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savory root vegetables roasted with thyme
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dregs at the bottom of a fourth cup of black coffee
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citrusy glue on an envelope
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decadent, moist chocolate layer cake
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bitter stomach acid from a winter flu
Sight
There were so many great images, we included one extra!
Have fun and let us know which one(s) you worked with!
Ruth Coe Chambers
I liked sound and enjoyed thinking of wind blowing through bare branches. I used something similar in a recent novella as I had an unsavory character recall the pleasure of wind blowing through pine trees, giving off sound, feeling of a breeze and the scent of pine.
Arielle Haughee
Those are wonderful story details, Ruth. I bet it turned out to be a great novella!
alicia minor
Great story prompts. Thanks. I sometimes use sensory details in my stories. They add color to the stories. It’s a challenge but at the same time fun and keeps you being creative. I will keep this for future reference when inspiration kicks in. Happy writing you all!
Arielle Haughee
They sure do add color! Hope you find these helpful later. :o)