#218: The Importance of the Senses with Tom Bromley
For this week's contest, we're bringing you something a little different: a takeover by Tom Bromley â author, ghostwriter, and instructor for Reedsy's new online novel writing course, a 101-day journey to your first draft. The winner of this week's contest will win an extra special prize: a full scholarship for Tomâs course, plus personal feedback on their winning story. For your chance to receive free tuition (worth $1250) and get feedback from an industry pro, read on! Here's Tom:
One of the common mistakes I notice new writers make is relying on visual details alone to describe scenes. In fact, other senses are often the key ingredients in bringing a setting to life. In her brilliant book A Natural History of the Senses, Diane Ackerman says that the use of touch, âby clarifying and adding to the shorthand of the eyes, teaches us that we live in a three-dimensional world.â Using the non-visual senses stops descriptions from feeling like still-life paintings. Theyâre great, too, for triggering responses: âSmells detonate softly in our memory like poignant land minesâŚHit a tripwire of smell and memories explode all at once.â Iâm a big believer in bringing in as many senses as possible when describing: one of my student groups played âSensory Bingo,â with a âfull houseâ score if all were included!
Iâd love to see settings and stories where the beginning is all about a non-visual sense. Start the scene with a different sensory detail and build the description and piece out from there. Remember: the more you can make this detail specific, the stronger it will be. Good luck! â Tom
ďťż
Special update: The results đ
After reviewing the judges' top picks and choosing his winner, here was Tom's feedback on the shortlist and winner he chose, which he has kindly given us permission to share with you all! Here's Tom again:
Itâs been such a pleasure reading through the entries to this weekâs competition. Itâs always revealing to set a literary hare running and see how writers respond and adapt to the same starting points. The breadth and depth of the stories that came back was deeply impressive and it made my job of choosing a winner all the more difficult.
This was a competition where the focus was on the use of the different senses. Itâs a difficult skill to get right, but when those details are in place, it really helps to make the writing sing. The use of the word details is particularly important: as so often with writing, the more specific the observation, the more it resonates in the readerâs mind.
Nina Chyll had a brilliant start with âWe could smell the war before it dawned over the horizonâ. I think the use of a smell as a way in is such a great device and the contrast of details here, everything from âthe muggy smoke of burning soupâ to washed sheets âsmelling crisply of starchâ pulled together to capture the scene well.
Hannah Andrewsâ The House Always Win began with âthe low battery cry from a lonely smoke detectorâ: itâs a start that feels full of foreboding and tension, which is a great way to draw the reader in. Suma Jayachandarâs 1861 also had some wonderful lines, such as âthe cold air smells of the sea, salt and rebellionâ.
My winner was Danielle Barrâs Whale Song. This was a powerful story, beautifully told. The use of emotion is such an important part of fiction and Danielle began brilliantly with this: âAgony broils, but anguish simmersâ. The story then used the senses and details to slowly reveal the protagonistâs situation in hospital.
The writing was sprinkled with wonderful observations throughout. The protagonist recognises one nurse âby the sharp antiseptic smell of hand sanitizer mingling with shea butter.â Another nurse, Bailey, is âsupposed to wash her hands, but I never hear the thwump thwump of the hand sanitizer foam when she breezes in.â With just these observations alone, we begin to get a sense of these characters. They are a good example of the big difference that small details can make.
Well done to all the shortlisted authors and congratulations to Danielle. And thank you to everyone who took part: I hope you enjoyed the prompts and wish you all the best of luck with your writing!
â Tom
If you're interested in hearing more from Tom, and the new How to Write a Novel course, you can learn more here.
đĽ Winner
âWhale Songâ by Danielle Barr
đ Winner of Contest #218
âď¸ Shortlisted
âThe Case Against Michaelâ by Jonathan Page
âď¸ Shortlisted for Contest #218
â1861 - A Reunion in Calcuttaâ by Suma Jayachandar
âď¸ Shortlisted for Contest #218
âGoodbyeâ by Alice Brooks
âď¸ Shortlisted for Contest #218
âThe Book of Misrevelationâ by Nina Chyll
âď¸ Shortlisted for Contest #218
âHer Last Letter â by Amanda Wisdom
âď¸ Shortlisted for Contest #218
âThe House Always Winsâ by Hannah Andrews
âď¸ Shortlisted for Contest #218
This week's prompts
Write a story that begins, ends, or changes with a song played by a busker.
Fiction â 27 stories
Stories
âWhale Songâ by Danielle Barr
đ Winner of Contest #218
âForged in the Breachâ by Kevin Logue
Submitted to Contest #218
âThe Case Against Michaelâ by Jonathan Page
âď¸ Shortlisted for Contest #218
âRuminationâ by MichaĹ Przywara
Submitted to Contest #218
âCrochetâ by AnneMarie Miles
Submitted to Contest #218
âMida's Touchâ by Rebecca Miles
Submitted to Contest #218
âThe Lock Ticklerâ by Howard Halsall
Submitted to Contest #218
âDonât Smell the Rosesâ by Livana Teagan
Submitted to Contest #218
âNo Stars for Youâ by Nina H
Submitted to Contest #218
âAn Unseen Pathâ by Scott Christenson
Submitted to Contest #218
âThe Newly Deadâ by Jonathan Page
Submitted to Contest #218
âThis Wall of Silent Darknessâ by Michelle Oliver
Submitted to Contest #218
â1861 - A Reunion in Calcuttaâ by Suma Jayachandar
âď¸ Shortlisted for Contest #218
âOperation William Wallaceâ by Rebecca Detti
Submitted to Contest #218
âBIRDS OF PARADISEâ by Jolanta Polk
Submitted to Contest #218
$250
Prize money
333
Contest entries
97
Stories
Ended on 23:59 - Oct 06, 2023 EST
Won by Danielle Barr đ
Title: Whale Song
Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.
Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!