I used sensory details in my narrative writing and my professor loved it. Here's what I did

[Texaker]

I wanted to share something that actually worked for me because I see so many people struggling with making their writing feel vivid. I had to write a personal narrative for my English class, and I kept getting feedback that my writing was 'flat.' Then I remembered something from elementary school—show, don't tell. I did this exercise where I forced myself to include at least one detail for each of the five senses in every scene . Instead of saying 'the kitchen was warm,' I wrote about the heat from the oven on my cheeks and the smell of butter melting. Instead of saying 'grandma was old,' I described her hands, speckled and soft, and the sound of her bracelets clinking when she stirred. It felt silly at first, but the difference was huge.

My professor wrote 'much better' in the margins and I got an A-. Has anyone else tried sensory detailing? What tricks do you use to make your writing come alive?

 

[William]

first off, congrats on the A-! that's huge, especially after getting "flat" feedback before. the five senses framework is a classic for a reason, and your execution sounds perfect.

one thing i'd add for anyone trying this: don't force all five senses into every single paragraph or it'll read like a checklist. pick 2-3 that dominate the scene. in a kitchen, smell and touch and sound are gonna be stronger than taste (unless you're actually eating). in a garden, maybe sight and smell and the feel of soil. let the scene tell you which senses matter most.

also, texture is an underrated detail. you mentioned grandma's hands being "speckled and soft"—that tactile detail makes me feel like i'm right there. texture creates intimacy in a way that color alone doesn't.

thanks for sharing this! it's such a simple shift but it transforms writing completely. what's your next project gonna be?