Harnessing the Power of Smell in Our Writing

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Sensory perception is a powerful tool in our writing, especially the sense of smell. What a character smells can—

• Affect memory
• Impact life experiences
• Form judgments—positive or negative
• Destroy relationships
• Solve problems
• Impact taste

Each literary element can be enhanced with the power of smell. When we overlook this gem, our story lacks an aspect that of what makes us alive.

Characterization

A character’s reaction to smells often reveals personality and character. Smell can effectively be used to show culture, attitude, social status, character growth and change, and career preferences.

Plot

Smell can lead and enhance the storyline. This sensory perception allows the writer to draw on memory, create and show settings, uncover environmental issues, and lead characters into more information about themselves or the storyline. Smell often deepens stress, conflict, and tension.

Emotion

Smells are like time travel. They escort us back into our memories to evoke feelings the character might or might not want to relive. Our character experiences seven universal emotions: surprise, fear, anger, sadness, disgust, happiness, and contempt. The savvy writer links smells to these emotions, firmly rooting the reader in the character’s experience. Smells can also impact a character’s pain, guilt, loss, courage, betrayal, or triumph. 

Symbols

Symbols are emotionally linked to the character to represent something intangible. Consider colors: does the character smell roses, a symbol of her grandmother, when encountering red? Symbols are often used to foreshadow events in the story that affect emotion as a positive or a negative.

Dialogue

Harnessing smells is a powerful tool to weave throughout the pages of a cleverly written story. What a character says appeals to the reader and adding a sense of smell to the dialogue builds the credibility of the scene.

When I was a child, I attended a family reunion in which I ate corn on the cob, a hot dog, and watermelon. On the four-hour drive home, I got sick and vomited the meal. To this day, I can’t handle the smell or the taste of corn on- the cob, hot dogs, or watermelon. The triggers make me nauseous, and I’m that kid again puking my guts out at the side of a road.

Writer, don’t hold back from using your personal experiences to add a touch of “flavor” to your story.

What about your characters? Do they have a fondness or an aversion to specific smells?

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DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. 

She is the former director of the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, Mountainside Marketing Retreat, and Mountainside Novelist Retreat with social media specialist Edie Melson. Connect here: DIANNMILLS.COM