In this video, I’m exploring a fascinating challenge for writers—how to make abstract concepts and emotions resonate with readers.
Inspired by writing wisdom from E. L. Doctorow, I discuss how sensory descriptions can transform your writing and how you might translate the intangible into something your readers can almost touch, smell, or see—even when it’s something as abstract as evil, sorrow, or hope.
Hello, Jane Cleland here. “Any thoughts on how to describe an emotion or an abstract concept so that it resonates with readers?” Well, remember what E. L. Doctorow said: that the idea is not to describe the rain, but to describe what it feels like being rained upon. That’s interesting, right? And for that, we go to our sensory descriptions. So, how does whatever that emotion or abstract concept feel? Can you make it tangible? Does it have a smell? What about the sight of it, the taste, and so on?
And, if you’re saying, “No, it doesn’t. I’m talking about wanting to embrace evil. It doesn’t have a smell.” Oh, are you sure about that? What would it smell like? To someone who wants to embrace it, I bet it smells musky, in a good way. Maybe it smells sexual, in a good way. But to someone who is trying to resist evil, it would smell like a rotten egg, fetid. So, this is where imagination comes into play. Now, of course, it doesn’t have a literal smell. Use your imagination. What does it smell like? When they look out the window and see approaching evil, what do they see? And this will help you come up with tangible ways to describe it, and it also can lead to interesting metaphors.
I bet you can do it. I’d love to hear your thoughts on how you work to describe intangibles, whether it’s an abstract concept or an emotion. Put it in the comment section. And if this video had value, would you like it? Would you share it? Would you, uh, subscribe to the channel? That opens up features that let these videos become even more valuable for you. Thank you.
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