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20.23: The Lens of the Senses

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Manage episode 487489875 series 2547755
Content provided by Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler, Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler, Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

How does a room sound? Does your childhood have a taste? What is the smell of summer?

In this episode, we dive into the sensory layers that anchor worldbuilding, character, and perspective. We explore how invoking smell, sound, touch, and taste can transport readers more powerfully than sight alone. What makes a setting feel real and lived in on the page? How do the where and the when hit our reader's and character's senses— and how real is too real?

Thing of the Week: Darkfield

Homework: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 exercise from C. L. Polk: list five things your character can see, 4 things they can hear, 3 things they can touch, 2 things they can smell, and 1 thing they can taste.

P.S. Our 2025 writing retreat (on a cruise! In mexico!) is over 50% sold out! Learn more and sign up here.

Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, and Howard Tayler. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.

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941 episodes

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20.23: The Lens of the Senses

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Manage episode 487489875 series 2547755
Content provided by Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler, Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler, Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

How does a room sound? Does your childhood have a taste? What is the smell of summer?

In this episode, we dive into the sensory layers that anchor worldbuilding, character, and perspective. We explore how invoking smell, sound, touch, and taste can transport readers more powerfully than sight alone. What makes a setting feel real and lived in on the page? How do the where and the when hit our reader's and character's senses— and how real is too real?

Thing of the Week: Darkfield

Homework: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 exercise from C. L. Polk: list five things your character can see, 4 things they can hear, 3 things they can touch, 2 things they can smell, and 1 thing they can taste.

P.S. Our 2025 writing retreat (on a cruise! In mexico!) is over 50% sold out! Learn more and sign up here.

Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, and Howard Tayler. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.

Join Our Writing Community!

Writing Retreats

Newsletter

Patreon

Instagram

Threads

Bluesky

TikTok

YouTube

Facebook

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Kinsta: https://kinsta.com
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  continue reading

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