How to Use Sensory Details and Emotions in Storytelling

Learn to use sensory details and emotion to write compelling narratives.

Writing a personal narrative is a first-person story about yourself that includes your experiences, the people you know, your thoughts and reactions, lessons learned, and so much more. Stories define who we are. Sharing, telling and writing your story provides others insight into the experiences that shaped you, the trials and times that have tested you and changed you. Stories are the way we get to know each other. Stories are filled with sensory details and emotions that take us to that moment in time.

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Where do you start?

Think about a topic that important to you. Think about the stories you share with others; this is an excellent place to start. Do you have stories that are about

A funny and entertaining experience
An event that was life-changing
A personal experience you had with a relative or friend
A lesson learned over time
A special relationship you had with someone
A tragic or painful moment in time

Personal narrative stories have the power to

Connect us. Stories bring people together, create community and connect us as humans by how we feel and respond to their messages.
Transcend. Stories transcend our ethnicity, language, religion, heritage and individuality.
Inspire. Stories inspire and motivate us as they tap into our emotions, curiosity, and imagination.
Challenge. Stories challenge our perspectives and assumptions.
Trigger. Stories have the power to trigger every human emotion, from hope, faith, joy to anger, sadness, despair.
Are Memorable. Stories have the power to be remembered and retold.
Simplify. Stories help us make sense of the world around us so we can share that understanding with others.

Storylines Always Include Introduction, Body, Conclusion

When you are writing the personal narrative, keep foremost in your mind who will be reading the story. In your story, you seek to bring the reader into your moment in time that you are sharing and writing about. Your storyline has an introduction, body and conclusion. For example,

Introduction. This where you define what you are describing and from which point of view you will be presenting the story. A good opening paragraph has the power to capture the reader’s attention, hook them and give them a reason to read on.

Body. This is where you provide the reader a clear understanding of what happened and how you responded. You can tell the story chronologically or group by type or importance. In the storyline, you can share the experience with sensory details and emotion.

Conclusion. The final section or paragraph is the closing, where you sum up and define the story’s point. Did you learn a lesson, idea, or learning experience?

Interview and Record Yourself

Before I begin writing my personal narrative, I will take time to interview myself with questions about the event or experience with questions like,

What happened?
Who was with you, and what role did they play?
How did it make you feel?
Why is the story important to you?
What are some of the necessary details to share?
What did you learn?
Why is the story important to you?
What was the chronology of the event or experience?

This is essentially a brainstorming session where I jot down a few notes and created an outline.

I have found it valuable even to record myself telling the story. The recording helps me organize the storyline. In the recording, I will include the dialogue I remember having with others in the story.

Narratives Are Filled with Sensory Details and Emotions

A personal narrative can be filled with vivid imagery about sensory details and emotions that help the reader see, feel, hear, smell, touch, and taste what you are writing about. You are helping the reader develop a mental movie and experience. Create the picture that is in your mind. For example, think of

Sight. What does the object or scene look like? Include sensory details of color, shape and appearance. Use words like bleary, colorless, faded, flashy, glistening, gloomy, hazy, misty, radiant shiny, striped, tarnished, dim, and twinkling.

Touch. What does the object feel like to handle, rub against, or hold? Include references to texture, temperature, humidity, and physical response. Use words like abrasive, barbed, bumpy, carved, caked, cold, dirty, fat, feathery, jagged, leather, narrow, soggy, soiled, scratched, thorny, rubbery, tough, prickly, metallic, most, and sticky.

Smell. What do you smell? As you close your eyes, slowly breathe in the scents? Include the sensory detail of the aroma that fills your scenery perception. Is it intense or subtle, pleasant or nauseating, natural or contrived? What does the smell remind you of? Use words like aroma, heavy, comforting, laden, heady, pungent, rich, spicy, reek, whiff, putrid, rancid, sickly, damp, delicious, fresh, perfumed, sweet, tangy, fishy, citrusy, floral, and minty.

Sound. Who or what is making the sound? What kind of sound is it? Is it loud or soft, grinding or screeching, melodic or irritating? Use words like blare, buzz, cheer, clamor, clang, murmur, sizzle, squawk, yelp, hiss, creak, rustle, hush, rant and roar.

Taste. How would you describe the taste? Is it sweet, sour, salty, bitter or savory? Does the sensory detail taste like a fruit, vegetable, meat, or spice? Use words like sharp, tart, dry chalky, sour, smoky, bitter, burnt, dusty, earthy, musty, ripe, grassy, vegetative, fresh, fatty, rich, smooth, creamy, bland, delicious, rotten, zesty, and nutty.

Use references to emotions in your personal narrative. This is about the feelings you experience. It is about happiness, sadness, fear, disgust, anger and surprise. For example, consider

Enjoyment. This emotion is about being happy, calm, good. We express enjoyment by smiling, laughing, and indulging. We feel enjoyment by feeling close and connected, safe and secure, participating and being absorbed in activities you like, or simply being relaxed and peaceful. Use words like happiness, love, relief, joy, pride, excitement, satisfaction, compassion and amusement.

Sadness. This emotion can be related to a specific event or person, or it could simply be the way you feel. Use words like gloomy, hopeless, unhappy, troubled, lost, resigned, lonely, heartbroken, disappointed and sad.

Fear. This emotion takes place when you feel any form of threat. Fear can be mild or very intense. Use words like nervous, anxious, worried, doubtful, horrified, desperate, confused, stressed, panicked, and terrified.

Anger. This emotion arises when you experience injustice or have a situation that is becoming harmful/toxic. It makes you feel trapped, threatened, unable to defend yourself. Use words like irritated, mad, cheated, insulted, annoyed, peeved, frustrated, bitter, and contrary.

Disgust. This emotion happens when you react to an unpleasant or unwanted situation. The emotion is similar to anger but can lead you to dislike yourself, other people, or situations. Use words like dislike, loathing, offended, horrified, revulsion, nauseated, uncomfortable, withdrawn, aversion.

Personal Narrative is Your Story

When you choose that story to write about, remember, it is your story. Write and tell your story in a way that best expresses the moment in time from your point of view. Bring the story to life with sensory details and emotion. Use words and phrases that are descriptive, emotional, active, precise and exciting. When you are done, let the story sit for a day or so. Then come back with fresh eyes. Read your personal narrative aloud. Highlight the areas that need development and deleting. With a little bit of extra attention, your story is complete.

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