  Fantasy
This week: Sensory: Sight and Sound in Fantasy Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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Looking at sight and sound, two of the senses, and some uses within fiction writing. Description and dialogue are two aspects but not the only ones for us to explore in order to create fantasy worlds and develop characters. |
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When it comes to writing details and developing that coveted "show don't tell" skill set, using the senses comes in handy for any genre. It can bring the reader into the world, show fantastical and familiar elements and give interesting details about the characters involved. However, it's not always easy to add the senses in a way that doesn't stick out like an onion in the kitchen (okay, that was a stretch, but I tried).
I will admit, I'm not the best when it comes to using the senses in writing. In fact, part of my final edit of a novel includes added more sensory moments into the story when it will help a scene. That is why I picked it as a topic and I will go over the other senses at a later date, but first, let's look at sight and sound.
Sight (Description and more...)
Certain writing has more on the visual side than others but sight is a common one that gets used in both active and passive forms. We like to know what the character sees and it doesn't matter if you've done the story in first person or third person, we still get to know those details often times. Description is a big sight factor, as the details are often visual, though other senses can be used as well.
There are a few descriptions that include the visual aspects that include: character's appearance, setting, and special items needed or discovered. The details can vary along with the question of how much the reader needs to know, but it should be one of the senses that gets used on a regular basis for sure.
However, how a character views something can do more than show the reader the item/person/etc. Each character is going to look at a different item, or notice different details about someone. So, how the thing is described or noticed will also say something about the character or even the world. One writing activity to showcase this factor is to write a few different scenes from different characters' points of view who go in a room and see a glass on table. How they view it, what things in the room they notice and any other stray thoughts will show information about that particular character.
Sound (Dialogue and more...)
Sound can be useful as well, though I find it a little harder to work in when compared to sight but easier than some of the other senses. It also links to a common used item within story tell and that is dialogue. What characters here, sounds or verbal, can be useful when adding tension, evoking emotions or giving information the reader might need to know.
Dialogue/speech tend to be on the sound side of the senses because the character's are hearing something. Information is relayed and it's incorporated in the story without too much effort. However, there are other noises that can be used as well.
During actions, a point of view character, might notice certain sounds in particular. Certain sounds can bring back memories or create situations that affect the characters in different ways. Again, more potential depending on the path the writer takes with the story. There are even words that have sound to them, ones that are created based on how they are spelled.
Though, how a sound is shown in a story can be a little tricky at times. I have to admit that I've found some poems and short stories that separate a sound as it's own sentence, often combined with exclamation marks to be a little distracting at times. Often it's something like "Crash!" or something similar. I can see the appeal and reason but it doesn't always work. Showing sound can be tricky but useful for stories.
Both sight and sound are senses that we often include in our stories, some might have to put more thought into their addition than others. Showing what the characters' see and hear will help show many different elements, including those that relate to speculative fiction. The result is all in how you write it. |
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How does sight and sound show character and world building within a story?
Last month, I did a newsletter discussing single novels versus series and my appreciation for the standalone story. It seemed to strike a few chords as I received a fair number of responses. Here are a few:
Comment by Shadowstalker-- Covid free 
I like to take the middle ground sometimes. While I do write many a series, I also try to make each book in the series stand alone. This way everything is resolved within one book, BUT if you pick up the next book in the same world, it feels like you are continuing a series, with references to the previous story that adds flavor and depth, but aren't really needed to enjoy and understand the story in your hands.
- The middle ground can be fun too. I've read a couple books from an author that is same world but different story/main character, and that does work at times.
Comment by Annette 
This was a well-needed newsletter in the fantasy genre. My main body of work is a serial and every time I come up with something new, it immediately wants to morph into a series in my head. I think as a writer, I can also benefit from allowing myself the one-novel approach in order to actually finish something instead of keeping myself in that constant "never finished" state that series have.
- Thanks Giselle. That is a good way to look at it, giving permission to finish one instead of worrying about all that can come after.
Comment by Smee 
Well I guess having ploughed my way through dozens of series, including Sword of Truth, Wheel of Time and Song of Ice and Fire at least 3 times each, probably more like 5 for WoT (I would re-read the series in anticipation of new books coming out) I'd have to say I'm quite the fan of the series.
When I read a series it imparts the feeling that I'm reading exactly what the author wanted. Less compromise, less holding back. They have the space to completely let loose their idea and play with it. Similar to trying to cram a book into a single 2 hour film, some stories just don't deserve to be crammed into a single book. And I love that freedom.
- Nice. I keep meaning to read through WoT but haven't made it past book 3. One of these days maybe I can make it through.
Comment by Lawless - Proud Pantser
I am one for writing stand alone stuff. I got the idea for my novel a long time ago and not once have I thought about it being more than one book. Not that I couldn't come up with something for the same group of characters to do since I am quite fond of them. I just don't want to get involved in trying to write a series. I see too many new writers pop up and say "I have an idea for an epic story and so far it spans ^insert number of books here^ books!!!" While I appreciate being that ambitious, I can't see myself ever managing to keep things straight enough to pull off something like that.
- Ah. It's okay to just want to write one, at least so I think. Though I'm more the type who goes "oh this is one book" and it ends up more. I also thought a story would be 80,000 words and it ended at almost 180,000. Oops.
Comment by Jeff 
My reading habits are a lot like yours, where I can certainly appreciate a good series (and some of my favorite stories are series), but I usually like to try different authors rather than spending all my reading time in one specific narrative world. I keep wondering if I should try a shared universe type of thing where different perspectives are written by different people, like the Star Wars or Forgotten Realms books. And when it comes to writing, I think I have the opposite problem. I'll start out thinking, "I want to write a 100,000-word novel!" And then it ends up being a 5,000-word short story. 
- lol. Yep, same reading but complete opposite writing. I get ideas for Quickie, Paradise Cove, Draw Your Swords, and such that I hope will fit the smaller word counts and later it's, nope, another novel or series. 
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Fantasy: June 24, 2015 Issue [#7065]
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