21 Senses Revisited

LC, founder of eFrog Press, hosts the Take the Leap blog and regularly blogs about all things ebook!

In my last blog post I introduced the 21 Senses exercises developed by two of the finest writing teachers I have ever known—Gary Bradshaw (1948-1994) and Frank Barone, active poet and retired teacher (derived from the 21 Senses exercises in Donald Murray’s A Writer Teaches Writing).

Now that we have covered the traditional senses (sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste), let’s explore the next four that can challenge a writer to add specificity.

SENSE OF THE SPECIFIC

This Sense shows the specific detail that makes one object different from other objects of the same kind.

I reached into the green-mesh bag of soccer balls for the game ball. Quickly I set aside two black-and white marked MeKasa soccer balls. These played well for practice, but I wanted the best ball for the game. Digging deeper into the bag, I rolled out two black-and-white MeKasas, yellowing from age. Shaking my head, I pulled out two Umbro soccer balls. Blue and red diamonds twisted around the balls. The hand stitching that bound them together spelled quality and pleased me. Grabbing one, I pressed in on it. Slightly under-inflated, this ball would flatten against the foot like a mushroom when kicked. Picking up the second Umbro, I pressed in on it, and, finding it firm, I tossed it to the referee.

SENSE OF THE GENERAL

This Sense gives three examples that lead the writer to make a general conclusion.

At the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) counter, the youth banged his fist down and emitted a long, “Sheesh.”

The lady behind the counter shook her head and repeated, “I cannot process your application until your parole officer files a fitness report on you.”

Behind me, I notice, stands a youth wearing a blue denim jacket. When he turns sideways, I can barely read the words “Hells Angels” scrawled across his back. Suddenly, I am convinced I am standing in a line for juvenile delinquents.

SENSE OF PEOPLE

His short pants fit tightly around his thighs and his long pants show two inches of ankle. His shoulders have broadened and his arms show promise of muscles. Glasses and braces fill up his face as does the rest of his mouth. He talks constantly, or as long as we can stand to listen to his chatter. But if you want to get to know my son better, you only need to watch his sensitive fingers caress the piano and hear the melodies he can draw from its keys.

SENSE OF SKEPTICISM

This Sense poses a serious, universal question that challenges the status quo.

In September she found the beach more alluring on Fridays than the classroom. On Mondays with skin tinged red and hair sun lightened, she sat in class borrowing a neighbor’s notebook and hastily scribbling across a page. By November, Friday holidays had grown to two-to-three-day absences per week. Zeroes piled up in the grade book beside her name, becoming so heavy that even Hercules could not lift them. Then in late January, shocking me almost speechless, she asked, “What do I have to do to get a decent grade?” Do such students really believe, after a semester of no work, that they can even pass?

SENSE OF THE SPECIFIC

This Sense shows the specific detail that makes one object different from other objects of the same kind.

The Challenge

We have introduced 9 of the 21 senses for writers. Which sense do you need to focus on? Which sense is a strong element of your writing style?

Tags: active verbs, active writing, Donald Murray, sensory detail, writing fluency