I first bumped into "Perfume" when I was searching for a movie poster for a high school graphic design project. Now, 8 years later, I'm bumping into the book version on a Substack post that I found after the author commented on one of my Notes. Life certainly likes to keep us on our toes.
Anyways, this was a really insightful post! I think the description technique that I tend to forget most frequently is "by effect". Recently, I watched this video by one of my favorite Youtubers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMSYAxJeCu4&t=1760s) on writing description. In it, he'd also analyzed several famous books and noted that one of the most compelling ways to describe setting is to capture its emotional effect on the characters. I'll certainly be thinking about this technique a lot throughout this week.
Well, you sure beat me to it. I only heard of Perfume in the last year. I think that "by effect" technique and the triggered memory option take, by far, the most skill. Something to look into further. Deconstructing the work of others is probably the way I learn the most. Thanks for that video link. Great resource.
Really interesting classifications. I have anosmia, so I don't have a sense of smell, and writing smells and characters' perceptions of them is a real challenge for me. I've largely relied on technique 1 because, as you say, it lets the reader do most of the work. I've mixed in a few of the others for good measure, but it's mostly conjecture on my part... I can't imagine writing (or reading!) and entire book about smells!
Oh, that's fascinating. Yes, #1 definitely makes the most sense for you. I supposed you've learned these by observing the comments and expressions of other people along the way. I'm glad we don't have to always write what we know. (pthththh.) As for an entire book about smells, apparently it's a hit with some people. For me, it was a bit over the top. Hah.
Funny, we romanticize castle life, but just yesterday I read an account of what castle life was really like.
And then this .... Very instructive of how to evoke the olfactory senses through words in a powerful way.
Can't imagine having to live with the blend of all those smells together, though.
No thanks.
Oh, my. Yes. So true! More things we take for granted. General sanitation.
I first bumped into "Perfume" when I was searching for a movie poster for a high school graphic design project. Now, 8 years later, I'm bumping into the book version on a Substack post that I found after the author commented on one of my Notes. Life certainly likes to keep us on our toes.
Anyways, this was a really insightful post! I think the description technique that I tend to forget most frequently is "by effect". Recently, I watched this video by one of my favorite Youtubers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMSYAxJeCu4&t=1760s) on writing description. In it, he'd also analyzed several famous books and noted that one of the most compelling ways to describe setting is to capture its emotional effect on the characters. I'll certainly be thinking about this technique a lot throughout this week.
Well, you sure beat me to it. I only heard of Perfume in the last year. I think that "by effect" technique and the triggered memory option take, by far, the most skill. Something to look into further. Deconstructing the work of others is probably the way I learn the most. Thanks for that video link. Great resource.
Proust was the most famous - the smell of Madeleines...!!!
Ah, good one! Thanks!
Really interesting classifications. I have anosmia, so I don't have a sense of smell, and writing smells and characters' perceptions of them is a real challenge for me. I've largely relied on technique 1 because, as you say, it lets the reader do most of the work. I've mixed in a few of the others for good measure, but it's mostly conjecture on my part... I can't imagine writing (or reading!) and entire book about smells!
Oh, that's fascinating. Yes, #1 definitely makes the most sense for you. I supposed you've learned these by observing the comments and expressions of other people along the way. I'm glad we don't have to always write what we know. (pthththh.) As for an entire book about smells, apparently it's a hit with some people. For me, it was a bit over the top. Hah.