How can you create multi-sensory stories?

Creative writing allows for multi-sensory storytelling to thrive. In this type of writing, there is high importance placed on stimulating descriptions that make readers feel as though they are in the story.

If you are writing a story, and want to make it multi-sensory, use words that paint pictures in the mind. Describe what things look like with colorful details. Add sound details to make scenes come alive. Talk about how things feel, like rough or smooth textures. Mention smells and tastes to bring more depth to the story. Lastly, show how characters feel inside, letting readers connect with their emotions. By using all the senses, the story becomes like a movie playing in the reader's mind, making it engaging and real.

Imagine que você está ouvindo o crepitar de uma fogueira enquanto narro você narra uma aventura ao ar livre; é quase como se você pudesse sentir o calor e o cheiro da madeira queimando. Isso é storytelling multissensorial: uma viagem envolvente que leva o ouvinte ou leitor além das palavras. É criar um mundo tão palpável que o público pode quase tocá-lo, e isso pode ser incrivelmente poderoso para transmitir mensagens e deixar uma impressão duradoura. Ao ativar diferentes sentidos, cada história se torna uma experiência única que pode ser sentida em múltiplas dimensões.

Creating multi-sensory stories isn’t just about adding details; it’s about making your audience feel like they’re part of the story. By engaging all five senses, setting the mood, being specific, showing instead of telling, and balancing descriptions with action, you can craft stories that leave a lasting impression and truly resonate with your readers.

Multi-sensory storytelling is like seeing a film in a 4D movie theater — you don't just see it and hear it, you can also feel it and smell it. Multi-sensory storytelling is an immersive art form that makes your audience a part of the experience. You want them to feel as though they're living and participating in your story.

Your words should not only help in the audience in visualising but also feeling the emotions of the characters of your story. The audience should feel as if they are present in the scene when the story is being told. The easiest way to do so is by explaining minute details of expressions and scenes of your story.

To create multi-sensory stories using words, the key is to employ vivid metaphors and descriptive language that engage all the senses. For example, talking about the "smell of Christmas atmosphere" can evoke the scent of pine, cinnamon, or freshly baked cookies, creating a vivid mental picture. Similarly, mentioning the "sound of sending an email" can conjure the familiar clicks and tones of a digital environment. Describing the "touch of soft rubber" can make readers almost feel the texture. These sensory details build neuroconnections in the brain, offering a richer and more immersive experience for the listener or reader, making your storytelling deeply engaging and memorable.

Most of us have one predominant sense. But there are five: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. You tend to use words driven by your predominant sense. e.g. "I see (visual) what you mean." vs "I hear (auditory) what you're saying." To appeal to a wide range of people you need to vary your words to appeals to different senses. This means spending time identifying the sensory words you're using and choosing alternate phrases which appeal to different senses.

Paint Pictures with Words. Craft descriptions that immerse your audience in vivid imagery. Help them see the colors, the settings, and the characters as if they were right there. Words like "the crimson sunset washed the sky in fiery shades" or "the gleam in her eyes sparkled with unspoken promises" allow readers to form mental pictures. When readers can clearly imagine the scenes unfolding, your story becomes a movie in their minds, enhancing engagement and retention.

One of the best lessons I've gained from Andy Harrington is to relive the story to your audience. Consider using words like... If you're there with me Imagine standing at this corner As you walk down the flight of stairs Invite your audience into your story and start describing the available senses- see, hear, feel, taste and smell. A word of caution is to do it moderately or else your story becomes too elaborated.

To create multi-sensory stories with images, consider using visuals that are surprising or out of context to heighten engagement and curiosity. For example, a visual labeled "WTF" could initially shock or intrigue your audience. Then, revealing it stands for "Wednesday, Thursday, Friday" or "Worse than Failure" provides a context that shifts their perspective and evokes a range of sensory and emotional responses. This technique of using unexpected imagery can effectively stimulate the audience's imagination and create a memorable storytelling experience.

What works for me is to have a bold picture that's enlarged to fit the entire slide. You may add a few words for narrative purposes. Images like graphs, scene of your story, representation of your metaphor or even context of your story.

In a multisensory story, images go beyond mere visual stimuli. They are tools to complement the senses. I appreciate not showing what I've described, and vice versa. This is important because showing what has already been told often leads to disappointment. Try describing in words a terrifying monster or a beautiful person. Then, create an image of this terrifying monster or beautiful person. Now, create two test groups: - Group A only reads the description. - Group B reads the description and sees the images. Now, assess the impact each group felt from the experience. Generally, Group A's experience is better. Therefore, use images to complement, never to illustrate or retell the description.

Pense na trilha sonora de um filme e como ela guia suas emoções; é assim que você usa sons em storytelling. Sons de passos apressados podem acelerar o coração do ouvinte, sugerindo perigo ou urgência. O canto suave de pássaros pode transportar alguém para um cenário tranquilo, enquanto o som da chuva pode ser tanto calmante quanto melancólico. A chave é escolher sons que complementem e aprofundem o que a narrativa quer transmitir, criando uma tapeçaria sonora que envolve o ouvinte numa experiência imersiva e dinâmica.

Incorporating sounds into storytelling can greatly enhance the multi-sensory experience. For instance, using music can significantly alter the emotional resonance of a message. Different types of music can evoke varying emotional responses, thereby changing how the story is perceived and experienced by the audience. This technique capitalizes on the strong connection between sound and emotion in the brain. Moreover, some novels have experimented with this concept by including a soundtrack or a list of songs on the last page, providing readers a more immersive and emotionally rich experience as they connect the story with the music. This approach not only enriches the narrative but also creates a deeper, more memorable impact on the audience

For in-person speakers and presenters, check out Stream Deck (paired with OBS or Ecamm Live). You could customize audio effects and play them by hitting a few buttons/hotkeys on the device. Example, sad tone, awkward silence tone, claps, happy tone and suspens tone could be inserted into your speech or story. Works like magic for me!

Weave in Sounds That Linger. Sound is often an overlooked element in storytelling, but it holds the power to deepen the sensory experience. Introduce your audience to the sounds within your narrative—whether it's the soft murmur of a stream, the crackle of leaves beneath footsteps, or the distant hum of traffic. Use it to amplify tension, bring calm, or heighten emotions. Let your readers hear the world of your story, making it more real and alive.

Imagine que ao descrever uma cena de cozinha, você menciona o aroma de cebolas caramelizando na frigideira. Essa descrição pode despertar lembranças de jantares em família e fazer o leitor quase sentir o cheiro reconfortante. Com o sabor, é como narrar a explosão azedinha de uma limonada caseira em um dia de verão, provocando aquela sensação refrescante em quem ouve. E o tato? É tão simples quanto evocar a textura de um velho casaco de lã, que traz à mente a sensação de conforto e proteção. Ao explorar esses sentidos, você não apenas conta uma história, mas oferece uma vivência, uma ponte entre palavras e sensações reais.

Incorporating smells, tastes, and touch into storytelling can profoundly enhance the multi-sensory experience. Smell is particularly powerful because it directly connects to the brain's limbic system, responsible for emotions and memories. For example, describing the smell of cold, fresh winter mornings can instantly evoke vivid memories and feelings. Similarly, the taste of a familiar dish or the texture of a cherished object can bring stories to life, creating a tangible connection with the audience. These sensory details make narratives more immersive, allowing readers or listeners to experience the story in a more profound and personal way.

Integrate scents, flavors, and tactile sensations into the storytelling experience through sensory props or interactive elements. Use food, beverages, or scented objects to evoke specific memories, emotions, or cultural associations. Incorporate tactile materials, textures, or interactive surfaces to engage the audience's sense of touch and kinesthetic awareness.

To create multi-sensory stories, great storytellers understand when and how to trigger different senses. Defining the goal of your storytelling is crucial. Depending on your objective, you can utilize various tools to trigger multi-sensory experiences. The key lies in knowing which sensory detail to use and when. Sometimes, the way a story is told is just as important as the story itself. By skillfully weaving sensory triggers into the narrative, you can create a more immersive and impactful experience for the audience.

Craft an Experience, Not Just a Story. A multi-sensory story doesn’t simply convey information—it creates an experience that lingers long after the last word is read. Think of your story as an immersive world where your audience can fully engage with their senses. Each detail should serve a purpose, transporting them from passive reading to active participation. Let them feel, see, hear, taste, and smell the story as it unfolds, and they will carry the experience with them.

1. Be Specific and Vivid. Specific details make your story more believable and engaging. Avoid generic descriptions; instead, focus on the unique aspects of your scene. E.g., "The cafe was filled with the rich scent of freshly ground coffee beans, and the soft hum of conversations and clinking cutlery created a cosy, welcoming ambience." 2. Show, Don’t Tell. Use sensory details to show what’s happening instead of telling your audience. This technique makes your storytelling more immersive and engaging. Eg: Instead of saying "It was a cold night," you could say, "The icy wind cut through her coat, making her shiver uncontrollably."

Create cross-modal associations by aligning sensory stimuli with specific narrative elements or themes. Design interactive experiences that encourage audience participation and multisensory engagement. Experiment with synesthetic storytelling techniques that blur the boundaries between different sensory modalities to create unique and memorable experiences.

SenseSessions is something I used to do before the pandemic. It took place in movie theaters. We would pick a movie that had drinks or foods in it. Let's think of coffee for instance. At the right time, when that coffee was featured on the screen, a brigade of waiters would invade the room with a coffee cup for each moviegoer. We were sponsored by the food and drink brands. Sometimes they would even create a special menu for after the movie. Sometime we would crest a short story to be presented before the movie. It was an amazing experience. We sold out in minutes, even before social media.

Balance Your Descriptions. While sensory details are important, balance them with action and dialogue to keep your story moving. Too much description can slow down the pace.

Knowing when, how much is too much. Dumping too many multi-sensory elements on the audience tends to leave them exhausted. As it will turn out to be a perfect recipe for disaster.

This one is tricky, one of the trickiest challenges in public speaking. There's a saying: people's attention is limited; "they can either listen to you or read your slides - never both." Instead of trying to cater to every learning type, incorporate different learning styles into your presentation, like drawing notes on a musical staff. The variation in notes and pauses, like in music, keeps the audience attentive and involved. The change in pace and sensory receptor load will keep your audience energized and engaged. Don't overdo it. In music, there are also refrains and other themes that make it pleasing.

Engage the heart through emotional depth. A multi-sensory story begins with emotional resonance. To captivate your audience, you must first connect to their emotions. Whether it’s joy, sorrow, nostalgia, or excitement, make them feel. Ask yourself, how can your story tap into universal human emotions? Paint with words that stir the soul.

Craft multi-sensory stories with vivid descriptions invoking sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. 🌻Set immersive atmospheres with detailed sensory elements. 🌻Convey characters' sensory experiences for deeper immersion. 🌻Use sensory imagery to symbolize emotions or themes. 🌻Incorporate interactive features to enhance engagement. 🌻Create emotional connections through relatable sensations.