Episode 35: Beyond Sight and Sound (How to Use Smell, Touch, and Taste)

Discover how character-driven description, writing with your senses, and editing descriptive passages bring stories to life. This podcast for fantasy authors delivers writing immersive description, showing vs telling through senses, and editing tips for indie authors so you can create strong, unforgettable prose.

Rebecca Hartwell [hartboundediting.com] and Agnes Wolfe [authorsalcove.com] dive into why these “lesser” senses often go underused, and how to weave them in with intention. Whether you’re writing action scenes, quiet moments, or emotionally-charged character beats, you’ll walk away with practical tools for elevating your story and editing with confidence.

You’ll learn:
How to decide which senses matter most for your character
Why touch and smell reveal more than you think
When too much description becomes purple prose
Tips for adding sensory depth without overloading your prose
Why slower scenes need more sensory detail—not less
How to connect senses with POV for stronger immersion
What mistakes most authors make with sensory description