SWRT 304 | Writing Senses with Paulette Stout
August 29, 2024
Author Paulette Stout talks about writing with the senses.

“When I create, I try to bring the five senses forward into the setting so that readers can just feel like they’re living in that world and forget that they’re reading.”

– Paulette Stout

 

 

AUDIO

 

 

 

VIDEO

 

Paulette Stout is the 17-time award-winning author of fast paced—and spicy—contemporary women’s fiction that tackles social issues often ignored. Her stories feature brave characters finding their voices and transforming into their best selves. Paulette is also the co-host of The Best of Book Marketing Podcast and works by day as the Director of Brand Marketing at a global software company. Her fourth novel, What We Give Away, releases next February.

blue click pen on top of gray book near clear drinking glass

 

 

SHOW NOTES

 

What we talked about:

Paulette talks about her current novel. (6:58)

What is the book about? (8:46)

How Paulette creates a scene including the senses. (11:45)

How does Paulette work with the senses without bogging down the writing? (12:40)

The problem of focusing on one sense. (15:28)

What about common areas or settings in our books? (18:40)

Struggles with senses? (21:45)

Focus on your characters experience with the setting instead of the setting itself. (25:55)

What about touch? (29:10)

Favorite sense to write? (31:20)

The problem with smells. (35:25)

Using senses to establish time of day. (38:12)

What kind of feedback does Paulette get about her sense filled writing? (39:00)

How do you incorporate senses into intimate moments? (43:00)

Free yourself from the confines of your experience. (47:20)

Sex advances the story! (51:00)

How do you write settings that you’ve never been to? (55:00)

 

 

LINKS

 

Things We Mentioned:

Thesaurus of the Senses by Linda Hart 

 

Have thoughts, questions, other examples? Join the conversation at the Story Works Writers Facebook group

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About Your Hosts

Alida

Alida Winternheimer is an award-winning author with an MFA in writing from Hamline University. She pursues her fervor for all things story as a writing coach, developmental editor, and teacher. Two of her short stories were nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She is the author of The Story Works Guide to Writing Fiction Series. Alida lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her Golden Retriever, Seva the Wonder Dog. She camps, bikes, and kayaks in her free time. Unless it’s winter, in which case she drinks chai by the fire. You can find more at www.alidawinternheimer.com.

Kathryn

Kathryn Arnold writes fantasy and anything else that sparks her creativity from her home in Kingston, Washington. She currently earns her living as an insurance underwriting assistant, where she also creates marketing and web copy. When not writing, she plays (and teaches) piano and keyboard in a band (or two), and is working on starting a ministry team with her husband. You can find Kathryn at www.skyfirewords.com.

Robert

Robert Scanlon was born in Australia, but whisked off to England when only a baby. After many years complaining about the weather, he did the sensible thing and moved back to Australia. Despite a career in the music industry, followed by decades teaching public speaking, Robert is an introvert who adores reading. Robert grew up on a diet of sci-fi masters, eventually discovering he had read the library’s entire science fiction section. Now he has to write his own. Robert is the author of Constellation, book one of the Blood Empire space opera series. Find out more at www.RobertScanlon.com